Read the passage and answer the questions:

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. It is by following the path of moderation between severe penance and self indulgence that human beings can rise above these worldly troubles. In the earliest forms of Buddhism whether or not god existed was irrelevant.

Which of the following statements are True about the teachings of Buddha?

A. The Buddha regarded the social world as of divine origin.
B. The Buddha advised kings and gahapatis to be humane and ethical.
C. The Buddha believed that collective effort was required to transform social relations.
D. The Buddha emphasised individual agency and righteous action to escape from the cycle of birth.
E. The Buddha asserted that the extinguishing of ego and desire would end the cycle of suffering.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

B, D, E only

The correct answer is Option (4) → B, D, E only

Given statements about the teachings of Buddha:

A. The Buddha regarded the social world as of divine origin.
B. The Buddha advised kings and gahapatis to be humane and ethical.
C. The Buddha believed that collective effort was required to transform social relations.
D. The Buddha emphasised individual agency and righteous action to escape from the cycle of birth.
E. The Buddha asserted that the extinguishing of ego and desire would end the cycle of suffering.

Explanation:

The Buddha regarded the social world as the creation of humans rather than of divine origin. Therefore, he advised kings and gahapatis to be humane and ethical. Individual effort was expected to transform social relations. The Buddha emphasised individual agency and righteous action as the means to escape from the cycle of rebirth and attain self-realisation and nibbana, literally the extinguishing of the ego and desire – and thus end the cycle of suffering for those who renounced the world. According to Buddhist tradition, his last words to his followers were: “Be lamps unto yourselves as all of you must work out your own liberation.”