Which of the following statements are TRUE about Mahayana Buddhism?
(A) Mahayana Buddhists did not believe that Buddha was the one who could ensure salvation.
(B) Mahayana Buddhists saw Buddha as the saviour.
(C) Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts.
(D) Bodhisattas used their accumulated merit to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world.
(E) Bodhisattas used their accumulated merit to help others.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (B), (C), (E) Only
(A) Mahayana Buddhists did not believe that Buddha was the one who could ensure salvation. Incorrect. Early Buddhist teachings had stressed self-effort in achieving nibbana, but in Mahayana the idea of a saviour emerged: it was believed that he was the one who could ensure salvation.
(B) Mahayana Buddhists saw Buddha as the saviour. Correct. The Buddha, earlier regarded as a human being who attained nibbana through his own efforts, came to be seen as the saviour.
(C) Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts. Correct. This is how the concept of the Bodhisatta developed at the same time.
(D) Bodhisattas used their accumulated merit to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world. Incorrect. The Bodhisattas used their merit not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world, but to help others.
(E) Bodhisattas used their accumulated merit to help others. Correct. Their merit was used to help others; the worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of this tradition.
NCERT (2026-27): “10.1 The development of Mahayana Buddhism … By the first century CE , there is evidence of changes in Buddhist ideas and practices. Early Buddhist teachings had given great importance to self-effort in achieving nibbana. Besides, the Buddha was regarded as a human being who attained enlightenment and nibbana through his own efforts. However, gradually the idea of a saviour emerged. It was believed that he was the one who could ensure salvation. Simultaneously, the concept of the Bodhisatta also developed. Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts but used this not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world, but to help others.…” |