Read the passage and answer the questions:
Siddhartha was the son of a chief of the Sakya clan. He had a sheltered upbringing within the palace. His first journey into the world outside was traumatic. When he saw an old man, a sick man and a corpse he realised that the decay and destruction of the human body was inevitable. He left the palace and set out in search of his own truth. After many attempts he finally attained enlightenment, and came to be known as Buddha. He taught dhamma or the path of righteous living. Sutta Pitaka mainly focuses on the teachings of the Buddha. According to Buddhist philosophy, the world is transient (anicca) and constantly changing; it is also soulless (anatta) as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it. Within this transient world, sorrow (dukkha) is intrinsic to human existence. The Buddha emphasised individual agency and righteous action as the means to escape from the cycle of rebirth and attain self realisation and nibbana.
What is the meaning of the term 'Buddha'?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → The Enlightened One
After he attained enlightenment, Siddhartha came to be known as the Buddha or the Enlightened One.
NCERT (2026-27): “4. The Buddha and the Quest for Enlightenment … Siddhartha explored several paths including bodily mortification which led him to a situation of near death. Abandoning these extreme methods, he meditated for several days and finally attained enlightenment. After this he came to be known as the Buddha or the Enlightened One. For the rest of his life, he taught dhamma or the path of righteous living.” |