Buddhist School of Philosophy MCQs with Explanations
About the Topic: Buddhist School of Philosophy explores the core philosophical doctrines, logic, and epistemological traditions evolved by various Buddhist thinkers over the centuries.
Lord Buddha preached the following four noble truths. Put them in correct order using the codes given below:
A. There is suffering.
B. There is a cessation of suffering.
C. There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering.
D. There is the cause of suffering.
Codes:
Correct Answer:
(A) ADBC
After attaining enlightenment, to preach his thoughts, Gautama Buddha arrived at Rishipattan (Sarnath), where he delivered his sermon to five Brahmans. It is also known as Dharmachakra Pravartana. The sermon was related to sufferings, the cause of suffering and its solution. The concept of eight-fold path forms the theme of ‘Dharma Chakra Pravartana Sutta’ which means sermon of the turning of the wheel of law. He prescribed ‘Noble Eightfold Path’ and ‘Four Noble Truths’ which were accepted as basic tenets by all Buddhist sects.
The four noble truths in chronological order are as follows-
There is suffering.
There is the cause of suffering.
There is a cessation of suffering.
There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering.
Ques: 2
In the Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was also known as:
Correct Answer:
(C) Padmapani
“Padmapani or “Lotus-Bearer” is one of the most common epithets of Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of infinite compassion. This superbly modelled sculpture stands in a tribhanga or tri-bent pose. A Bodhisattva is a living being (sattva) who aspires to enlightenment (bodhi) and carries out altruistic practices. The Bodhisattva ideal is central to the Mahayana Buddhist tradition as the individual who seeks enlightenment both for himself or herself and for others.
Ques: 3
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. Sthaviravadins belong to Mahayana Buddhism.
2. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism.
3. The deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.
Which of the statements given below is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(B) 2 and 3 only
Sthaviravadins belong to the Hinyana set of Buddhism. Lokottaravadin sect was an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism while deification of Buddha by Mahasanghikas fostered the Mahayana Buddhism.
Ques: 4
Consider the following statements:
1. Deification of the Buddha
2. Treading the path of Bodhisattvas
3. Image worship and rituals
Which of the above is/are the feature/features of Mahayana Buddhism?
Correct Answer:
(D)
1, 2 and 3
Mahayana Buddhism believes in Buddha’s extraterrestrial power and divinity. It believes in many forms and incarnations of Buddha. Mahayana Buddhism is based principally upon the path of Bodhisattva. Bodhisatta are enlightened beings who postpone their own salvation in order to help all sentient beings. Mahayana Buddhism believes in idol worship and rituals.
Ques: 5
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(B) 2 and 3 only
The word Bodhisattva is a compound word from bodhi (enlightenment) and sattva (essence, spirit). Boddhisatva is the goal and ideal of Mahayana Buddhism. The Mahayana Buddhist do not aspire to enlightenment purely to free themselves from suffering, but they do so out of compassion to liberate other sentient beings. They delay achieving their salvation to help all sentient being on their path to do it. Thus, statement (1) is wrong whereas (2) and (3) are correct.
Ques: 6
The largest and the most evolved rock-cut Chaitya hall of the Hinayana phase is situated at:
Correct Answer:
(C) Karle
The Chaitya is the largest and most evolved cave temples of the Hinayana phase of Buddhism, situated at Karle in Pune district of Maharashtra.
Ques: 7
Which Indian Buddhist monk had been sent to China in the first century A.D.?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna was an eminent personality in the court of Kanishka. Hiuen Tsang called him as one of the world’s four great guiding powers. In the book “Madyamik Karika” he has discussed the theory of relativity. He is also known as the ‘Indian Einstein’. According to Chinese mythology, Nagarjuna travelled to China and preached Buddhism.
Ques: 8
Both Jainism and Buddhism believe that:
Correct Answer:
(A) Philosophy of karma and transmigration of soul were correct.
Both Buddhism and Jainism believe in the concept of Karma, which states that our past actions affect our present and future life. One could do evil in this life and be reborn as a worm in the next life. Similarly, afflictions in this life are often explained away as the effects of Karma of a previous life (or from misdeeds earlier in this life). Both of them believe in the philosophy of Karma and rebirth.
Ques: 9
According to philosophy of Buddhism:
Assertion (A): Rejected the concept of Rebirth.
Reason (R): Soul is mortal.
Choose the correct option:
(a)
(A) and (R) both are true, and (R) is the proper explanation of
(A).
(b)
(A) and (R) both are true, and (R) is not the proper explanation of
(A).
Correct Answer:
(D)
is not true, but (R) is true.
Pratiyasamutpada is the essence of Buddhist teachings. The invincibility of Vedas and immortalization of soul propounded by Brahmin Grantha’s was inadmissible in Buddhism. Even though they rejected the immortalization theory of soul, they accepted the principle of rebirth and theory of Karma. According to them, life originates due to the causes of various preconditions which are interdependent. One type of state comes into being as a result of another previous state. So, it is clear that Assertion (A) is not correct, but Reason (R) is correct.
Ques: 10
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct about Buddhism?
1. It did not reject caste and class.
2. It challenged highest social ranked Brahmins.
3. It pointed certain castes as low.
Choose the correct answer from the code given below codes:
Correct Answer:
(C) 1, 2 and 3
Although Buddhism had accepted the caste system up to some extent but they challenged the social rank of Brahmins who were at the top during that period. In Buddhism, some of the castes were placed as low.
Ques: 11
Anatmavada (no-self) is the doctrine of:
Correct Answer:
(C) Buddhism
Anatman or Anatmavada (the doctrine that atman or "I" does not exist) is the doctrine of Buddhism.
Ques: 12
Which among the following state ‘Odantipur’ Education Centre was situated?
Correct Answer:
(B) Bihar
Odantipur (also called as Uddandapura) was a prominent educational centre of ancient time. It was situated in Magadha, now Bihar, India. It was established by the Pala emperor Gopala first.
Ques: 13
Vallabhi University was situated in –
Correct Answer:
(D)
Gujarat
Vallabhi, one of the most important centres of Buddhist learning, was situated in Gujarat. It is also known as Vallabhi pura and was the capital of ancient Maitraka dynasty.
Ques: 14
Nalanda University was founded during the dynasty of
Correct Answer:
(C) Gupta
Nalanda was a large Buddhist monastery in the ancient kingdom of Magadha (modern-day Bihar) in India. Historians often described Nalanda as a University. Nalanda flourished under Gupta Empire and was famous for Buddhist religious philosophy.
Ques: 15
Who was the founder of Nalanda University?
Correct Answer:
(B) Vikramaditya
Nalanda University was the world’s first International University founded in the 450 AD. During the reign of the Kumar Gupta. The great archaeologist Alexander Cunningham identified this site as Nalanda University in 1915-16.
Ques: 16
Consider the following statements, what is the difference between chaityas and viharas.
Correct Answer:
(B) Chaitya is a place of worship while Vihar is a dwelling place.
A Chaitya Griha Buddhist cave is a meeting or assembly chamber which is often used for prayer, while viharas are the shelter accommodations of the monks during the rainy season.
Ques: 17
Consider the following statements:
1. The early chaityagrihas and viharas of Guntuphalli in West Godavari district are rock cut.
2. The chaityas and Viharas of Eastern Deccan are usually rock cut.
Which of these statements are correct:
Correct Answer:
(A) Only 1 is correct
Guntuphalli is in west Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. It has rock cut Chaityas and Viharas. There are pieces of evidence of construction of chaitya and viharas from 249 century BC to 5-6 century AD. Chaitya and Viharas of eastern Deccan are generally constructed using bricks. Pieces of evidence of Buddhist architecture built using bricks is found in large number from Nagarjunkaond, Bejwada, Moli, Ghantshala, Amravati and Chejali etc.
Ques: 18
Which of the following form of Buddhism was prominent during the Sultanate period?
Correct Answer:
(C) Vajrayana
In the medieval period, Vajrayana sect of Buddhism was most prominent. Vajrayana mostly flourished in the 8th century. The principles of Vajrayana found in 'Manjushri Moolkalp' and 'Guhyasamaja'.
Ques: 19
With reference to Indian history, who among the following is a future Buddha, yet to come to save the world?
Correct Answer:
(C) Maitreya
Maitreya makes his first appearance in Buddhist scriptures in the Lakkavatti Sutta of Pali Tripitika. In this sutta, the Buddha spoke of a future time in which the dharma is entirely forgotten. Eventually, "Another Buddha- Maitreya will gain awakening, his monastic Sangh numbering in the thousand, the Buddha said. This is the only time the historical Buddha is recorded as mentioning Maitreya.
Ques: 20
With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:
1. Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Jainism.
2. Sarvastivadin held that the constituents of phenomena were not wholly momentary, but existed forever in a latent form.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct Answer:
(B) 2 only
Sautrantika and Sammitiya were the sects of Buddhism, not Jainism. So, statement 1 is incorrect. Sarvastivada literally means "Doctrine that all exist". Sarvastivadin described a complex system in which past present and future phenomena are all held to have some form of their own existence. Like all Buddhist, the Sarvastivadins consider everything empirical to be impermanent but they maintain that the dharma factors are eternally existing realities. Impermanence, also called Anitya, is one of essential doctrines and part of three marks of existence in Buddhism. This doctrine was presented by Buddha himself. The doctrine asserts that all of conditioned existence, without exception, is "transient, evanescent, inconstant". This impermanence is a source of Dukkha (sufferings). Therefore, statement 2 is correct.