SSC CGL GK: Important Facts About Jainism

1. BUDDHISM
MOST IMPORTANT GK FACTS
SSC CGL 2018

3. • Buddhism is based on the teachings of Gautam Buddha.
• Buddhism is the 4th largest religion of the world.
• The concept of Buddhism is expressed by Four Noble Truths.
1. Dukkha – Pain or suffering
2. Samudaya – Origin of suffering
3. Nirodha or Nirvana – Ending of suffering
4. Marg – Path to follow for ending of suffering (8 fold path)
Introduction

4. Gautam Buddha
• Gautam Buddha was born as Siddartha and belonged to Shakya kshtriya clan.
•He was also known as Shakya Muni.
• He was born in 563 B.C in Lumbini, Nepal.
• He attained Moksha in Kushinagara, U.P .
• He attained enlightenment under a Pipal tree at Bodhgaya, Bihar.
• He gave 1st sermon at Sarnath, U.P .

5. • 5 symbols of Buddhism :
1. Bodhi Tree or Pipal : Symbol of enlightenment
2. Wheel : Symbol of Dharmachakrapravartan (Death)
3. Stupa : Mahaparinirvana
4. Horse : Mahabhinishkraman
5. Elephant + Lotus : Birth
• Mahaparinirvana – Attainment of Moksha by Buddha.
• Dharmachakrapravartana – Record of 1st teaching by Gautam Buddha when he attained
enlightenment.

6. • Mahabhinishkraman – Buddha encountered old, sick, dead, begger and left palace & comfort
at the age of 29 with his horse.
• Gautam Buddha did not believe in : 1. Soul and God 2. Supremacy of Brahmins 3. Authority of
Vedas. 4. Rituals and sacrifices.
• Buddhist literature was written mainly in Pali while Jain literature was written in Prakrit mainly.

7. • Noble 8 fold path
• Right View
• Right Intention
• Right Speech
• Right Action
• Right Livelihood
• Right Effort
• Right mindfulness
• Right Concentration

8. • 4 Buddhist councils :
• 1st in 483 B.C in Rajgriha or Rajgir under the patronage of Ajatshatru .
• 2nd in 383 B.C in Vaishali under patronage of Kalasoka .
• 3rd in 250 B.C in Patliputra under the patronage of Ashoka
• 4th in 1 AD approx in Kashmir . Kanishka was king.
• In modern times, 2 councils were held:
• 5th Buddhist council took place in Mandalay, Myanmar in 1871 .
• 6th Buddhist council took place in Yangon, Myanmar in 1954 to 1956.

9. • 3 Main texts of Buddhism (Tripitakas)
1. Vinaya Pitaka - Primarily concerned with aspects of the discipline of Monks.
2. Sutta Pitaka – Buddha’s lectures or teachings.
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka – About Dharma and phenomenon.
• Milinda Panha : A famous ancient Buddhist text. It is a record of a dialogue between the
Buddhist sage Nagasena, and the Indo-Greek king Menander of Bactria.

10. • Division of Buddhism :
• Mahayana : Believe in Idol worship, the higher wheel, Buddha as God. Largest
followers. In China, India and Japan mostly.
• Hinayana(Therevada) : Buddha as a human saint, believe in symbol worship, lesser
wheel, believed in old teachings. In S.E.Asia, Srilanka, Tibet, Cambodia, Myanmar
mostly.
• Vajrayana : Mantras and rituals. Followed mostly in Tibet. Closer to Mahayana form.
• Zen : It lays special emphasis on meditation. Found mainly in Japan. Form of
Mahayana thought.