New Questions And Ideas

The following ways were used by Buddha to spread his message to the people:

1. He conveyed his teaching in Prakrit language which was very commonly used at the time.

2. He motivated people to think over his messages so people were more involved in his teachings.

(a) False

Buddha taught people to be kind to animals. He was against the practice of sacrificing animals.

(b) True

Sarnath is a place in varansi where Buddha taught for the first time after enlightenment. He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.

(c) False

Karma means action or the work we do. Buddha believed that Karma effect our current and next lives.

(d) True

Buddha did meditation for several days under a Peepal (Banyan) tree in Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment.

(e) True

Atman means individual soul whereas Brahman means universal soul. Upnishadic people believed that Atman and Brahman were the same.

The Upanishadic thinkers wanted to find answers of following questions:

1. What happens after death?

2. Is there any life after death?

3. Why should sacrifices be performed?

4. Is there something permanent in universe which lasts even after death?

Followings are the main teachings of Mahavira:

1. Person who wishes to know the truth must leave his/her home.

2. One must follow the principle of Ahimsa (Non-violence), very strictly.

3. One must not hurt or kill any other living being as life is dear to all.

Anagha was travelling to Varansi on a school trip. Sarnath, a place in varansi is the place where Buddha taught for the first time. After attaining enlightenment in Bodh Gaya he travelled to varansi where he started spreading his teachings. The story and message of Buddha are inspiring hence Anagha’s mother wanted her to know the story of Buddha.

Everyone except men had to take permission from his/her master before joining sangha. The servants had to take permission from the kings, the wives from their husbands and the slaves from their masters.

It wouldn’t have been easy for the slaves to join the sangha because:

1. Slaves had no rights.

2. Slavery was very common and masters were not very kind.

3. Slaves did all kind of tasks for their masters and if slaves joined sangha then who would have worked for their masters.

NOTE: Slave is a person who is the property of another person. A slave has to obey all the commands of master. He has no right as a human.

The Ideas and questions mentioned in the chapter are the following:

Questions

1. Is there a life after death?

2. What was Buddha trying to teach Kisagotami?

3. How did the beggar convince sages to share food with them?

Ideas

4. One should follow the principle of ahimsa.

5. One should renounce worldly pleasure in search of truth.

Discussion:

1. What was Buddha trying to teach Kisagotami?

Explanation: Kishagotami had lost her son so she was taken to Buddha. He asked Kishagotami to get mustard from a house where no one had died. She found no such house. Buddha wanted to convey her that death is a natural thing one must not lose hopes after losing a loved one. This teaching is very important even today.

How did the Beggar convince sages to share food with them?

Explanation: The sages worshipped the universal soul. The beggar proved that he was also a part of universal soul, hence the sages shared food with him. This teaches us that we must respect every living being because we are part of universal soul or Brahman.

2. One should renounce worldly pleasure in search of truth.

Explanation: Both Jainism and Buddhism teaches that, in the search of truth one must reject all worldly pleasures. Buddha believed that life is full of sufferings and unhappiness because of our cravings and desires. Buddha termed it as tanha or thirst.

Nowadays a lot of people are renouncing the world and wealth in search of truth and peace, a short list is given below.

NOTE: The students are encourages to search the answer to this question themselves.