Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Ancient India: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings

Question:

Read the passage and answer the questions:

The Buddha (and other teachers) taught orally through discussion and debate. Men and women (perhaps children as well) attended these discourses and discussed what they heard. None of the Buddha's speeches were written down during his lifetime. After his death (c. fifth-fourth century BCE) his teachings were compiled by his disciples at a council of "elders" or senior monks at Vesali (Pali for Vaishali in present-day Bihar). These compilations were known as Tipitaka - literally, three baskets to hold different types of texts. They were first transmitted orally and then written and classified according to length as well as subject matter.

The Vinaya Pitaka included rules and regulations for those who joined the sangha or monastic order; the Buddha's teachings were included in the Sutta Pitaka; and the Abhidhamma Pitaka dealt with philosophical matters. Each pitaka comprised a number of individual texts. Later, commentaries were written on these texts by Buddhist scholars.

As Buddhism travelled to new regions such as Sri Lanka, other texts such as the Dipavamsa (literally, the chronicle of the island) and Mahavamsa (the great chronicle) were written, containing regional histories of Buddhism. Many of these works contained biographies of the Buddha. Some of the oldest texts are in Pali, while later compositions are in Sanskrit.

When Buddhism spread to East Asia, pilgrims such as Fa Xian and Xuan Zang travelled all the way from China to India in search of texts. These they took back to their own country, where they were translated by scholars. Indian Buddhist teachers also travelled to faraway places, carrying texts to disseminate the teachings of the Buddha.

Buddhist texts were preserved in manuscripts for several centuries in monasteries in different parts of Asia. Modern translations have been prepared from Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan texts.

Name the religious book that deals with philosophical matters.

Options:

Abhidhamma Pitaka

Vinaya Pitaka

Dipavamsa

Mahavamsa

Correct Answer:

Abhidhamma Pitaka

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (1) → Abhidhamma Pitaka

Abhidhamma Pitaka: The Abhidhamma Pitaka is a significant part of the Tripitaka, which is the traditional collection of Buddhist scriptures. Among the three pitakas (baskets) in the Tripitaka, the Abhidhamma Pitaka is focused on systematic and philosophical analysis. It delves into the intricate and detailed aspects of Buddhist doctrine, particularly in the fields of philosophy, psychology, and metaphysics.

The Abhidhamma Pitaka breaks down the core teachings of Buddhism into their constituent elements and offers an analytical and philosophical examination of various aspects of the Dharma, such as the nature of consciousness, mental states, causality, and the ultimate nature of reality. It is a key resource for scholars and practitioners seeking a deep understanding of Buddhist philosophy.

So, the correct option is [1].