Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

History

Chapter

Ancient India: Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings

Question:

Which Buddhist text included rules and regulations for those who joined the Sangha or Monastic order?

Options:

Buddhacharita

Abhidhamma Pitaka

Vinaya Pitaka

Sutta Pitaka

Correct Answer:

Vinaya Pitaka

Explanation:

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 Tripitaka- Literally, three baskets to hold different types of texts. These 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; the Abhidhamma Pitaka dealt with philosophical matters. Each Pitaka is comprised of a number of individual texts.