Buddhism: For Prelims 2021

Buddhism
for Prelims 2021

- By KaptaanJackSparrow
Content added in 2021 edition

is marked with *
2/13/2021 By KaptaanJackSparrow 1
Note to the reader:
These notes on Buddhism is a compilation of various sources (mentioned at last).
At times, you may feel exhausted after reading these notes as they cover Huge
information. It is advised here that instead of merely cramming everything, try to understand
the concepts and where you have to literally cram the information try to create your own
sort of cheat codes for it.
At few places (like Buddhist literature) try to go through the slides rather slowly so
that efficient reading might help you in understanding the trends of information. Given the
fact that Jainism and Buddhism are now UPSC favorite (who knows may be they wont even
ask any questions from these topics in coming years :p), what appears to be an overload of
information for some is just the beginning for UPSC examiner. Revise more to retain more.
This file need atleast 6 revisions to remember 80% of its content. Expecting 100%
will be too mechanic to ask.
Best wishes,
Kaptaan
Buddhism:
1. Intro:
• Buddhism is known for its adaptability to different cultures.
• It has never interfered with local cultures or original beliefs of peoples. Hence, it
has easily spread to most countries of Asia and remains as a powerful cultural
force.
• The overcoming of dukkha is its central preoccupation.
• Both Buddha and Mahavira questioned Vedas and their validity.
• Against Brahmanical order of caste. It neither accepted God nor rejected.
• Buddhas followers come from a number of background like king, wealthy men,
workers, slaves, gahapatis, craftspeople etc.
Buddhist Philosophy:
1. Neither accepted nor rejected god.
2. Advocated middle path.
3. It didn’t believe in permanence of soul.
4. Emphasised on Ahimsa. Triratna (Three jewels):
1. Buddha
2. Dhamma
#Buddhist:
1. Doesn’t include the belief in a creator deity. 3. Sangha
(No personal god).
2. They believe in Karma.
Buddhism denies that there is any such soul self in a living being, but does assert that
there is a cycle of transmigration consisting of rebirth and redeath as the fundamental
nature of existence.
2. The Buddha:
• Buddha = The enlightened.
• Siddhartha = Born of Suddhodana in Kapilavastu on the border between Nepal
and India, around the year 563 CE. Gautama was his clan name.
• Siddhãrtha meant “one who has achieved his aim”. Married to Yashodhara.
• Great Renunciation = exchanged his royal dress for a hunter’s garb and became
really a mendicant in search of the supreme ideal. [Age of 29]
• Seeking Enlightenment = first tried meditation techniques from two teachers. He
felt that these were valuable skills. Most of the time returned to consciousness.
Concluded that meditation was inadequate. Later joined a group of like-minded
Brahmins in a forest near Gaya where he practiced intense fasting for six years,
only eating the bare minimum ⟹ physical weakness, Ultimately, he rejected this
path also.
• Middle path = “Middle Way”, avoiding extreme austerity and enjoyment, a way
largely defined by moderation and meditation would lead to enlightenment.
• Attaining enlightenment = month Vaisakh, sat underneath a large Pipal tree –
later known as the Bodhi tree, not to rise till he had attained enlightenment.
Ascended one by one four stages of trance (dhyana). The last stage was marked
by pure consciousness and equanimity.
• ‘Spiritual defilements’ = at last stage that he felt that all the evil passions
(craving, desire, hatred, hunger, thirst, exhaustion) which are at the root of
people’s suffering had been overcome. All fears, doubts, and delusions about the
future destiny were at rest. He had progressed beyond ‘spiritual defilements’. He
had attained enlightenment!
• He decided to proclaim his teachings to other humans so that they could also
attain enlightenment. Holy city of Benares on the river Ganges to preach the
doctrine.
• First sermon = proclaimed himself a Tathagata (the one who has attained what
is really so) or “The Buddha” and preached the first sermon at Saranath, near
Varanasi.
• The first sermon is preserved as a discourse (Sutta) called ‘Setting in Motion the
Wheel of the Dharma”.
• Order:
Arhants = saints who enlightened by Buddha and later on preached same.
Sangh = all Buddhists put together
Viharas = During rainy season difficult to travel, saints will stop and residences
were donated by kings or wealthy patrons in due course of time they became
permanent institutions known as Viharas or monasteries.
• Death: Buddha died at age of 80{Kusinagar, Sal tree}, natural death, didn’t
choose any successor. He felt that the Sangha governed by his Dhamma (his
teachings) and the Vinaya (his code of rules) would be sufficient.
The Theravada tradition generally believes that Buddha was offered

some kind of pork that led to demise, while the Mahayana tradition
believes that the Buddha consumed some sort of truffle or other
mushroom.
3. Four Noble Truth:
• First Sermon consisted of them only.
i) The Truth of Misery (Dukkha) = It is plain truth that suffering is an intrinsic
part of life. Birth itself is a suffering and is the gateway for other sufferings like
disease, old age and death. It is real, not illusory.
ii) The Truth of the Cause (Samudaya) = There is a cause for suffering. the
primary cause is desire or craving (Trishna or Raga). Our craving is un-ending.
iii) The Truth of Cessation (Nirodha) = To put an end to suffering is to put an
end to both desire and ignorance. Final liberation, Nibbana (in Sanskrit ‘Nirvana’).
iv) The Truth of the Path (Marga) = Eightfold Path.
4. Eight Fold Path:
• They shouldn’t be treated as ‘stages’, rather they should be cultivated together on
continuous basis.
i) Right View: no ‘I’, ‘self’ is convenient name for a ‘collection’ of processes like
feelings, perceptions which are ever-changing, dependent and contingent.
ii) Right Thinking:
iii) Right Speech
iv) Right Action
v) Right Livelihood
vi) Right Effort
vii) Right Mindfulness
viii) Concentration
5. Buddha’s Idea of Human Destiny:
• Humans are trapped in a repetitive cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth.
• Laid emphasis on Law of Karma.
• Our goal is to break this “Vicious cycle” and to attain Nirvana = complete liberation
from suffering by putting an end to desire, the cause of suffering.
• dukka, meaning ills, sufferings, misery, evil, etc;
• anicca (or anitya in Sanskrit), the impermanent or transient quality of all earthly
things, especially the so called ‘pleasures’ of life;
• anatta (or anatman) absence of a permanent or enduring self within the human
individual, as against the usual conception of an eternal element within human.
• From both anicca and anata is derived the dukka.
6. Precepts:
• Three kinds of precepts as means of cultivating Sila (virtue)
(i) ‘Five Precepts’ (Punchasila) = observed by all, monks and laypeople alike;
1) “Not harming” living beings (Non- violence)
2) “Not Taking what is not given” (Non- stealing)
3) “Misuse of sensual pleasures’ (complete celibacy for monks and nuns; for
the lay persons, adultery or any sexual harassment is forbidden).
4) “Avoiding false speech” or gossip (Non-lying)
5) “Unmindful states due to drinks or drugs”
(ii) ‘The Eight Precepts’ (Asntanga Sila) = observed by novices preparing for
monastic life;
(i) ‘Ten Precepts’ (Dasa sila) = observed more rigorously & on a long term basis
according to the status of the practitioner or to suit a particular occasion.
7. Scriptures of Buddhism:
• Lang = Dialect close to Pali
• Inner meaning of the life of the Sangha was expressed in the songs of the early
monks. They were called the ‘Songs of the Elders’ Theragatha by monks, Therigathi,
by the nuns.
• Scriptures divided into three main parts, called Tripitaka.
i). Sutta Pitaka: collection of Buddha’s sermon => core teachings of Buddhism. Divided
into five called Nikayas or Agamas.
ii). Vinaya Pitaka: rules governing the daily life of monks and nuns, instructions on the
organization of the Sangha and how to keep the sangha working harmoniously.
iii). Abhidhamma Pitaka: (Abhidharma in Sanskrit) is higher and advanced formulation
It seeks to avoid some of the inexactitudes of colloquial conventional language as is
sometimes found in the Sutta. It gives a precise and detailed description of the
“principles behind the mental and physical processes of the Buddha’s teaching” and
states everything in psycho-philosophical language, expressing the ‘ultimate’
(paramattha) teachings.
⟹ Sutta Pitaka divided into five groups called Nikayas and Agamas. Last of them
contains the commonly known texts:
• collection of • collection of religious • collection of previous

important religious poems composed by birth stories
and moral saying bhikkhunis • Few Jataka
mentioned
in Khuddaka Nikaya.
Dhammapada Theragathi Jataka
Buddhavamsa: contains legends of verses about
Others 24 Buddha preceding Gautama.
Ceylonese chronicle: Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa,

Cylavamsa
Vaipalya sutras
Mahavamsa:
Pali epic poem.
Mahavamsa means “Great Chronicle”.
The first version of Mahavamsa dates back to 3-4th
century BC during the reign of King Vijaya. {Sri Lanka}
7-B*. Buddhist Literature:
• Sutta Pitaka: Over 10k suttas or sutras related to Buddha and his close
companions. First Buddhist council, patronage of king Ajatasatru with the monk
Mahakasyapa presiding, at Rajgir.
• It is divided into various
sections as shown in graphic:
*Portion added in 2021 edition

• Vinaya Pitaka: Monastic rules for monks and nuns.
• It can also be called as Book of Discipline. Its three books are Suttavibhanga,
Khandaka and Parivara.
Suttavibhanga
Basic code of Monastic discipline is known as
Patimokkha.
Khandhaka
Two volumes viz. Mahavagga and Cullavagga.
Mahavagga deals with the awakening of Buddha Parivara
and his great disciples.
Covers the summary
Cullavagga deals with the first and second of analysis of rules
Buddhist councils and establishments of
mentioned in first
community of Buddhist nuns and rules for
two books of Vinay
Buddhist community.
Pitaka.
• Abhidhammapitaka:
Deals with the philosophy and doctrine.

Milinda Panha:
- Milinda Panha means “Questions of Milinda”.
- It contains the dialogue of Indo-Greek
king Meander and Buddhist monk Nagasena.
- It has been written in second to first century BC and
initially written in Sanskrit. Lalitavistara:
- There is only one copy in Sri Lankan Pali of this In Sanskrit Lalit is a Lotus. Lalitvistara is a Sanskrit
work. It was printed in the 6th Buddhist council in text that deals with the biography of Buddha.
1954.
Divyavadana:
Udanavarga: Divyavadana means divine tales. It contains
Udanavarga is an early Buddhist Sanskrit text. It has anthology in 38 stories and is a Sanskrit text which
verses attributed to Buddha and his disciples. deals with Mauryan and Sunga History.
The Asokavadana is a story in it which deals with
Udana: the legends of Asoka.
Udana is a Pali text included there in the Sutta Pitaka’s
Khuddaka Nikaya. It contains the story of “Blind men
and Elephant”.
Buddha Charita:
- Buddha Charita is an epic style Sanskrit work
by Ashavaghosa.
- It mainly deals with Buddha’s Life.
- Asvaghosa also wrote a Sanskrit Drama
“Sariputra Prakaran” which deals about
Sariputta or Sariputra the disciple of Buddha.
Mahāvibhāsa Śāstra:
- Early Sanskrit work on Buddhism.
- Vibhasa means a compendium and has 3
prongs.
- It is attributed to Vasumitra and deals with not
only Buddhism but also Vaisheshika and
Samkya philosophies.
Symbols of Worship:
• Many sculptors did not show the Buddha in human form – instead, they showed
his presence through symbols.
• The empty seat = meditation of the Buddha
• Lotus and bull = birth
• Horse = renunciation
• Bodhi tree = Enlightenment i.e. Nirvana
• The stupa = Death i.e. mahaparinibbana
• The wheel = first sermon of the Buddha
Councils*
To settle rival disputes#
Settle diff. among 18 sects

=> finally only two; Hina &
Maha
#Third Council:
• Est. of Sthaviravadins as true followers and expulsion of others as heretics.
• Final compilation of Tripitaka.
Fourth Council:
• Division of all sects in only two Sarvastivadins & Mahasanghikas = Mahayana.
• And the rest (incl. Sthaviravadins) = Hinayana
• Codification of Sarvastivadins doctrines as Mahavibhasa.
Sthaviravadins:
• Also known as Theravadins.
• Buddha as god of gods or as superhuman.
• World teacher. Language used is Pali.
• Simplest Buddha philosophy, summed up in three words anatan, anitya, dukkha.
Sarvastivadins:
• Idea is that all things exist and that too continuously i.e. in past, present and future.
• Flourished in KS & GND under Kanishka patronage. Also known as Hetuvadins.
• Their doctrines compiled in Mahavibhasa.
Mahasanghikas:
• Buddha is transcendent = superhuman.
• Greater importance to Boddhisattva than Arhats.
• Opposed to Sthaviravadins, there are nine words based philosophy.
• Discredited intermediate (antarabhava) between death and rebirth, as opposed to
Sthaviravadins. [Coz they believed Dharma do not exist in past and future.]
8. Schism in monks:
• Sangha: Internal functioning of sanghas was based on the tradition of ganas and
sanghas, where consensus was arrived after a discussion and in case failed decisions
⟹ voting shall follow.
• Elders in the council needed stricter discipline in Sangha ⟹ Buddhist religion had to
be focused on meditation and concentration, to be pursued primarily by monks in
monasteries and that the lay people’s task was only to support the monasteries.
• Group of monks, the Vajjians, argued that the emphasis on monastic life ⟹ lay
people could scarcely hope for salvation. ⟹ Ten Precepts relaxed in a way that it
could be practiced by the “common people.” They also wanted lay people to have
equal representation.
• Theravada Buddhism ( the “Doctrine of the Elders”)
9. Stupas:
• Chaityas = sites with special trees or unique trees with small shrines attached with
them came to be known as chaityas.
• Four places:
Lumbini = Born, Nepal
Bodhgaya = Enligetened, Gaya[Bihar] {Mahabodhi Temple is here}
Sarnath = 1st sermon, confluence of rivers Ganga and Varuna [UP]
Kusinagara = Nirvana attained, Gorakhpur [UP]
• Why to build stupas? Relics of Buddha such as his bodily remains or objects used by
him were buried here ⟹ mounds known as Stupa.
• Ashokavandana [Buddhists text]= Ashoka distributed the relics in cities so number of
Stupas were constructed.
• Kings as well as normal laypeople contributed for the stupas.
• Anda; above it Harmika = balcony type structure represented
abode of god; arising from it yashti = a mast surmounted by
umbrella
Sanchi Stupa: Emperor Asoka who laid the foundations of
• Who has contributed? Sunga, Andhra-Satavahanas, Gupta has enriched it.
• Vessantara Jataka.
• Sanchi is famous in the world for stupas, monolithic Asokan pillar, temples,
monasteries and sculptural wealth. World Heritage site.
• Shalabhanjika can be seen at Sanchi stupa. According to popular belief, this was a
woman whose touch caused trees to flower and bear fruit. It is likely that this was
regarded as an auspicious symbol and integrated into the decoration of the stupa.
The shalabhanjika motif suggests that many people who turned to Buddhism
enriched it with their own pre-Buddhist and even non-Buddhist beliefs, practices
and ideas.
• Animals include elephants, horses, monkeys and cattle.
10. *Random points:
• Kutagarashala: Travellers (Teachers of different sect) and laypersons used to hold
discussion/debates about the validity of their philosophy at Kutagarashala - Literally,
a hut with a pointed roof – or in grooves where travelling mendicants were halted.
• As Buddhism travelled to new regions as Sri Lanka, texts like Dipavamsa (Chronical of
island) and Mahavamsa (great Chronical) were written containing regional histories of
Buddhism.
• Theris = respected women who had attained liberation.
• Boddhisattas = 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.
• Three jewels = Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.
• Buddhism = first human statues to be worshipped.
• Ashoka erected a pillar at Lumbini to mark the fact that he had visited the place.
Hinayana {Lesser Vehicle}
Believed in original teachings of Buddha. Individual salvation through self
discipline, no idol worship. Religion without god as Karma is the God here. Asoka
patronized it. Pali used.
Mahayana {Greater vehicle}

Believed in heavenliness of Buddha, sought salvation of all through help of Buddha and
Bodhi sattva, believe in Idol worship. Madhyamika and Yogcharya are its two schools.
Sanskrit used. Kaniska and later Harsha propagated it.
Vajrayana {Vehicle of Thundervolt}

Salvation through magical powers called as Vajra. The distinctive feature of
Vajrayana Buddhism is ritual, which is used as a substitute or alternative for the
earlier abstract meditations. Shaivism + Buddhism. Appeared in Eastern India.
Hinayana Mahayana
Firm to letter of Buddha’s teaching. To the spirit than letter.
Developed with the Sangha as centre. With individual.
Mainly Pali. Sutras in Sanskrit.
Salvation by works. Salvation by faith.
Centred around acts of Buddha. Around symbolism of his life.
Stressed righteous action => Law of
Above law of Karma was law of Karuna.
Karma.
Ideal is Arhat Ideal is Boddhisattva.
*
 Hinayana faced further dissension in other schools.
 Sthaviravada (or Theravada in Pali): Oldest of Hinayana, called “Doctine of elders”. Proposed
Buddha as God of Gods, ‘Superhuman’, philosophy in three words Anatman, Anitya, Dukkha.
 Sarvastivadins (Sanskrit counterpart of Sthaviravada) held the existence of all things, physical
as well as mental. Kanishka patronized it. Also called Hetuvadins.
 Sauntantrika is off shoot of Sarvastivadins, which is more critical in nature.
 Sammitiyas rejected the doctrine of soullessness.
 Mahayana developed two schools Madhyamika and Yogcharya.

 Madhyamika: mid of uncmompromising realism of Hinayana and
idealism of Yogcharya. Called “Qualified realism’’
 Yogcharya: Idealism. World was built by consciousness, and had
no more reality than a dream.
12. Mudra:
• Abhaya Mudra = no fear; peace protection
• Bhumisparsha Mudra = calls upon Earth to witness Buddhas enlightenment
• Dharmachakra Mudra = first sermon
• Dhyana Mudra = meditation
• Vajra Mudra = gesture of Knowledge
• Vitarka Mudra = discussion and transmission
• Gyana Mudra = knowledge
• Karana Mudra = expels demons and removes obstacles
Q. Why Buddhism declined?
• Became victim of Brahaminism.
• Monks gave up Pali and took Sanskrit
• Viharas became centre of corrupt practices, dominated by ease loving people.
• Vaishnavism and Shaivism.
Q. What is pavarana in Buddhism?

During rainy season monks preached Buddhism. At the close of the retreat, the
monks met together to confess their offences, if any committed during rainy
session. This ceremony called pavarana {uposatha or upavastha}
Q. Andhrakas was a general term for = followers of Mahasanghikas settled in

Eastern ghats and around Nagarajunkonda Amravati.
Sangha:
• Governed on democratic lines.
• Enforced discipline among members.
• Elected their president (Sanghathera) and two speakers, one on dhamma and
other on Vinaya.
• System of formal resolutions and ballot voting.
• Seats per seniority.
• Quorum = Atleast 10 monks present.
• Novices and women were not entitled to vote or to constitute the quorum.
Short note on Buddhist Cosmology:
• Similar to Hindu cosmology => universe is cyclic.
• There are ‘Buddha cycles’ and ‘Empty cycles’. We are in Buddha cycle, in which
four Buddhas have taught and a fifth Buddha {Maitreya} is yet to come.
• Samsara is the beginning less cycle of repeated birth, existence, death and
rebirth.
• Samsara ends if one achieves nirvana.
Concept of Pratyeka-Buddhas
• Sthaviravadins counted no less than 25 Buddhas and large number of Pratyeka-
Buddhas.
• Pratyeka-Buddhas literally lone Buddha or silent Buddha or private Buddha are
those who achieved salvation of their own w/o teachers or guides but could not
teach the truth to others.
• They are often mentioned in Jataka stories at a time when no Buddha was
mentioned.
• They leave no sangha as a legacy to carry on dhamma.
Concept of Bodhisattvas
• In Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is not a being who will soon
become a Buddha, rather a being who would bide his time until even a small insect
had reached the highest goal.
• Jataka stories show that the Bodhisattva can be incarnated as men or even as animals.
• The great vehicle contains numerous Bodhisattvas, chief of whom, is Avalokitesvara.
• Bodhisattvas believe that eventually all being will attain Nirvana and become Buddha.
 Avalokitesvara: also called Padmapani, his special attribute is compassion, and
helping his hand reaches even to Avici, the deepest and most unpleasant of Buddhist
pugatories.
 Manjushri: whose special attribute is to stimulate understanding, depicted with a
naked sword in one hand, to destroy error and falsehood and a book in another,
describing ten great spiritual perfections.
• Vajrapani: a sterner Bodhisattva, is the foe of sin and evil, and is like Indra bears a
thunderbolt in his hand.
• Maitreya: gentle, future Buddha worshipped as Bodhisattva.
• Kshitigarbha: the guardian of purgatories, like a governor of a model prison making
lives of al tolerable, helping them to earn remission of sentence.
More in Great vehicle:
• GV agrees with LV that world is full of dukkha but it is more optimistic. Contains much
as good as well evil.
• The divine Buddha is usually called Amitabha{Immeasurable glory} and Amitayus
{Immeasurable age}
• Sanskrit became the language of GV in India, many other regions followed local
language.
• Vaipulya Sutra: mainly sermons of Buddha, but greater length than Sutta pitaka.
• Lalitavistara: earliest GV text, flowery narrative of life of Buddha, more supernatural
account.
• Two chief philosophical schools of GV: Madhyamika and Yogacharya.
Nagarajuna
• Contemporary of Kanishka.
• Wrote Madhyamika Karika, formed basic text of school.
• Nagarjuna made and argument that Samsara, the immeasurably long process of
transmigration of soul did not exist.
• If the world of change was unreal than Nirvana was also unreal i.e. no difference of
b/w Samsara and Nirvana.
• Sunyavada: this philosophy of Nagarjuna called the void.
Diamond Vehicle
• Ideas of magical mysticism.
• Chief divinities were called taras {Saviouresses}, spouses of Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
• Tantra, developed along side Tantricism.
• Famous for sic syllables, “om mani padme hum”
• Didn’t neglect mental training, but direction was altered i.e. purpose was to achieve
supernatural powers.
• Sexual rites too took place.
Diamond Vehicle
• Ideas of magical mysticism.
• Chief divinities were called taras {Saviouresses}, spouses of Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
• Tantra, developed along side Tantricism.
• Famous for sic syllables, “om mani padme hum”
• Didn’t neglect mental training, but direction was altered i.e. purpose was to achieve
supernatural powers.
• Sexual rites too took place.
References:
• Various NCERTs
• AnC by Nitin Sir
• Primary reference NIOS material.
• Krishna Reddy book
• Wonder that was India, AL Bhasam
• Romila Thapar book
• Ancient India by RS Sharma
• Google :p
^Here I have not included art/architecture etc. It is included in Architecture

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Buddhism

for Prelims 2021

Content added in 2021 edition

The Theravada tradition generally believes that Buddha was offered

• collection of • collection of religious • collection of previous

Dhammapada Theragathi Jataka

Ceylonese chronicle: Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa,

*Portion added in 2021 edition

*Portion added in 2021 edition

Settle diff. among 18 sects

Mahayana {Greater vehicle}

Vajrayana {Vehicle of Thundervolt}

 Mahayana developed two schools Madhyamika and Yogcharya.

Q. What is pavarana in Buddhism?

Q. Andhrakas was a general term for = followers of Mahasanghikas settled in

^Here I have not included art/architecture etc. It is included in Architecture

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