Monday, February 28, 2005

life and teachings of Gautama Buddha for B. A. I


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Question: Describe the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha.
Possibility: V. Imp for April 2005

Main Feature:

The total number of words is less than 1000.

It means, that it can be written in thirty-five to forty minutes and will cover five to six pages.

Point Form and shortest but effective explanation:

Thus the Answer follows:

Buddha was the greatest person of his period. He showed the light to the humanity pained by the worldly affairs. There was magic in his voice and his preaching attracted numerous people. Buddhism spread to various other countries of the world just after the death of Buddha. His life was also a great example for humanity just like his teachings. A brief description of his life and teachings is as follows:

Birth of Gautama Buddha: Buddha propounded Buddhism. He was born in 623 BC in Kapilvastu. He belonged to suryavanshi kshatriya family and Gautam was his gotra. That is why Buddha is also called Gautama. Buddha was called Siddharta in his childhood. Shuddhodhan was the name of his father. Maya was his mother. Buddha was born at Lumbini Vana. The mother of Buddha died soon after his death. It is a traditional story that a person Asit had forecasted that Buddha would become a world-famous king in history. He further clarified and warned that if Buddha would watch a sick man, an old man, dead body, and a mendicant, he would give away the worldly life and propound a world-famous religion.

{ 623 BC in Kapilvastu, suryavanshi, Siddharta, Shuddhodhan-his father, Maya-his mother, born at Lumbini Vana, Asit had forecasted- world-famous king in history, a sick man, an old man, dead body, and a mendicant – forecast of four scenes} A summary of the following explanation. It has to be omitted while writing an answer. However, you can use it intelligently to impress the paper checker.

Childhood and MarriageGautami, the foster mother of Buddha looked after Buddha in his childhood. His father raised a magnificent palace in view of the forecast on his future. Every arrangement was made for Buddha in the palace. The king instructed the attendant to make sure that no old man, a sick man, a dead body or a mendicant should near his palace. However, Gautama was not happy within the four walls of the palace and he became said. The king also married Gautama to Yashodra. Even the marriage did not change the mood of Gautama.
Remember it: A Hint for two marks question. Omit it in writing the answer: { Gautami, the foster mother, married Gautama to Yashodra}
Leaving of the home:


Gautama happened to watch the scene of illness, old age, the life of a recluse and death. This vision disturbed his mind. He started pondering over the causes of such miseries. It is a traditional account that once a big feast took place in the palace of Gautama where even the drinks were served. After the end of the party, Gautama remained awake late at night. Gautama started remembering the happenings of the party. He developed an aversion for a luxurious life. He became so dejected that he decided to give away the worldly life. He went to the room of his wife. He just looked at his sleeping wife and son Rahul and left for the forest forever.

It is said that he studied Upanishads and tried to get the true knowledge from the Brahmins but he was not satisfied. He then tried to do strong meditation for six years but did not achieve anything. Ultimately, he sat in a deep meditation near a Pipal tree near Gaya. After 40 days he was enlightened and called Buddha.
Preaching:

After getting enlightenment, Buddha started spreading the message of true knowledge. He gave his first sermon at Sarnath near Benaras. Five people became his followers at Sarnath. After the number of his disciple increased day after day. Buddha also established a church of his followers who were called Bhikshus. They preached for the next 45 years in different regions.

Death:


Mahatama died at Kushinagar (Dist Gorakhpur) at the age of 80.
Teachings:

The teachings of Buddha are as follows:
1. Four main Truths:
(1) The world is a house of miseries.
(2) Desire is the cause of miseries.
(3) By ending the desires, the miseries can be ended and the man can get Nirvana.
(4) The man should adopt the middle path to achieve Nirvana.
2. Eight-Fold Path: The eightfold path is needed to end the desire. The eightfold path is based on the following eight instructions: i. Right knowledge ii. Right resolve iii. Right work. iv. Right memory. v. right speech. vi. right livelihood. vii. right thought viii. right meditation. 
The eight-fold path of Buddha is also called the Middle Path.
3. The Karma Principle: Buddha opined that the man gets as per his Karma. The man could not change the effects of his karma by doing yajna and pujas.
4. Opinion on Vedas: Buddha denied the spirituality of the Vedas. He also did not believe in the Vedic gods. He gave importance to the reasoning than the Vedas in order to achieve true knowledge.
5. Non Violence: There is great stress on non-Violence in Buddhism. According to Buddha, it is a great sin to kill a living being or to torment a living being.
6. Views on Soul: Buddha believed that Atma was not permanent. He believed that when the carnal body dies, the soul also dies.
7. View on the worship of God: Buddha did not believe in the worship of god and goddesses. He is mum on the existence of the supreme god. However, he believed that there exists a supreme power, which directs the worldly existence.
8. Views on Yajna and human sacrifice: Buddha considered Yajna and Human sacrifice as wrong and useless practices. He did not accept the view of Hindu religion that the yajna and human sacrifices were the path of moksha. He stated that it was superstitious practices.
9. View on Caste System: Buddha was against the discrimination based on the caste system. He believed that all men were equal.
10. Stress on True Knowledge: Buddha stressed on the need for true knowledge, which was the only guaranty for the Nirvana. Hence he gave importance to knowledge in the life of man. The man remained in darkness due to ignorance.
11. Right Conduct: There is great stress on right conduct in Buddhism. Buddha gave the message of living a pure life and asked them to remain away from stealing, telling a lie and violence.
12. Believed in rebirth: Buddha believed in rebirth. He said a man took birth again and again. The reason for rebirth is the ego and desire. When the ego and desire are destroyed, the man gets Nirvana.
13. Nirvana: Buddha said the main aim of human life is to achieve Nirvana.
14. Opposed Extreme penance: Buddha did not support the strong penance. He believed that one could not get salvation by physical pains.
Many people became followers of Buddhism due to simple and logical teachings. It became so popular that it readily spread all over India and even to other countries.
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Dear Students: I am expecting a comment. Be Frank. Come out with your apprehensions and doubts.



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Sunday, February 27, 2005

B. A. II History Paper, Modern India Attention


1885 to 1947 material in a NEW FORM concerning chapters on Social Reforms Movement, Middle Class and INC, Gandhi Era and Parition of India.

Find on the following link here a material on the period 1885 to 1947 on Indian Independence history.

There is a huge bank of different type of questions (multiple choice question, reasoning questions, fill in the blanks, two lines questions). There are many well made, point form short answer and a large bank of 2 marks questions.
Also useful for Political Science students.

Friday, February 25, 2005

Short Answer for BA III

Question: - What do you understand from Feudalism?
Answer: - By feudalism we mean a tradition which was popular in Medieval Europe. Under this tradition, the king retained a small portion of land under his possession and divided the rest of the land among his big feudal lords, who were also called Dukes. The Dukes retained the small part of the land received from the kings, with themselves, and divided the rest of the land among the small feudal lords who were also called Barons. The Barons gave assurance to their feudal lords of military service whenever demanded. The small feudal lords further distributed the land, awarded to them, among the peasants. The peasants served their masters with full loyalty and were the economic strength of their masters. The peasants were called serfs of their feudal lords. The feudal lords tried to maintain the peace and order in their fiefdom. The administration of the fiefdom was under their complete control. They also looked after the judicial system of their area. This tradition of medieval Europe of interdependent relations, based on land distribution, was called Feudalism.

Question: - What were the important benefits of Feudalism?
Answer: - (i) Simple Administration: - The Feudalism made available a simple and straight policy for administration, which guaranteed law and order to the barbarians of the medieval Europe. The system continued for nearly one thousand years.
(ii) Emergence of morality: - This system also raised the sense of morality. The Europeans became aware of their rights and duties.
(iii) Protection to the weak: -The Dukes of the big lords took the responsibility to give protection to the weak in their fiefdom.
(iv) A Check on King: - The king could not become despotic. He always remained under the fear of strength of his big lords. Hence, he could not oppress the people.
(v) Maintained Peace: - In the absence of means of travel, it was the best guarantee of law and order.
(vi) Freedom from raising army: - The king was free from the responsibility of raising army. The feudal lords provided him soldiers.



Question: - What were the main causes of the decline of Feudalism?
Answer: -The feudalism dominated the Europe for seven hundred years. It declined in the fifteenth century because of the following reasons.
(i) By the end of medieval period the powerful emperors acquired the rule. They crushed the power of feudal lords.
(ii) The spirit of nationalism arose among the people. The emperors devoted themselves for the welfare of the people.
(iii) During the same period the new section of business class emerged. They readily paid taxes to the emperors for the protection of their foreign trade. The emperors raised their own standing army. With their permanent standing army they crushed the power of big feudal lords.
(iv) England and France got engaged in long drawn wars. Many big feudal lords were killed in such wars especially in the Seven Years War. The emperors acquired the lands without facing any opposition.
(v) The emperors also snatched the fiefdoms of the heir-less feudal lords, which gave a big setback to the feudalism.
(vi) The invention and the full-fledged use of the gunpowder also increased the strength of emperors. They did not find the need to depend upon the support from the feudal lords.
(vii) The emperors also started demanding cash payments from the feudal lords instead of military service rendered in lieu of their obligation under feudal system. It destroyed the strength of the army of feudal lords and gave a deathblow to feudalism.

Question: - Give two main reasons for the rise of Towns.
Answer: - Use of Currency: -The towns emerged with the rise in the use of currency when the demand for the finished goods increased. The businessmen increased the production. The surplus protection found the acceptance in the export market. The foreign traders were paying in gold or silver spices. It increased the supply of coins. In the internal market, within a country the transactions were undertaken under barter system. Even there, the traders gradually shifted to the use of currency to make transaction. In this way with the increase in the use of currency the trade flourished tremendously and it helped in the rise of towns, which were the places where all the commercial activity could take place.
2. Industrialization: - The world population had only confined itself to the villages and banked on agricultural production before the coming of industrialization. Most of the economic needs were met within the limits of a village life. All the economic activities were bound to agricultural activities in one or the other way. As far as the towns or cities of the earlier times were concerned, they existed as administrative centers or a center of some specialized skill. The cities were also the center of foreign trade of a country. However, a very small number of people were involved or concerned with activities in a city or town. But a complete change took place after industrialization. The city became the vital hub of all the major economic activities. The cities, which came up with emergence of industrialization, were not the administrative center or center of specific skill but they were raised only and only by the industry. They were industrial centers. These industrial cities attracted the people towards them due to the attractiveness of their industrial activities. Hence, the importance of cities increases.

Question: - What do you understand by Capitalism?
Answer: - Capitalism is a system of an elaborate business organisation. A single individual or a group of individuals owns this business orgainsation. They have a large amount of money with which they can buy a large quantity of raw material and good tools and employ as many workers as are required for their production and commercial activity. The only aim of their activities is to earn more and more 'profit'. So, there are two fundamental basis of capitalism. Firstly, in capitalism, the produce from the industrial activities and the machinery is the personal property of the identity that employed the capital. Secondly, the aim of whole of the production process is to earn the maximum profit. As far as the workers are concerned, they only get wages and nothing else over and above that. The ultimate result of capitalism system is that, the money gets concentrated in few hands and those few people then start big corporations, which acquire monopoly in their field of business.

Question: - What were the main causes of the rise of Capitalism in Europe?
Answer: - 1. Discovery of New Lands: - The invention of compass, the use of ships of large tonnage and encouragement to the courageous sailors by the European emperors, were the main causes of the rise of capitalism in Europe. In the fifteenth and sixteenth century, sailors discovered the new lands. With the passage of time, colonies were established there and a regulated trade was started. With the increase in the export of goods, the money was generated and more capital was invested in these areas to meet the rising demand for the goods. So a cycle of capital was set in.
2. Improved Implements: - In order to meet the rising demand and earn higher rate of profit, there was need for improving the quality and efficiency of the implements. With the quality and efficient implements the production could be increased. Increased production was a surety of higher profits. It is worth considering a fact that there was a competition going on among the workshops to acquire technically improved and quality wise better implements. Therefore, everyone was putting in his best efforts to develop a better tool and thereby, increase his production and output. Such a spirit behind the competition nurtured capitalism.
3. Banking System: The banking system also promoted capitalism. The level of trade had increased with the discovery of new lands. The Trans-continental trade was not possible through coin and paper currency. Only banking system could have facilitated this Trans-continental trade. In actual practice, it is a fact that, the banking system and capitalism are fundamental basis of each other. Both of them were essential for each other for their mutual survival. Capitalists encouraged mercantilism and the commerce. Mercantilism, in itself, emerged as a big profession. Then, banks performed two major jobs. Firstly, to employ the deposits in other professions in form of loans on interest and secondly, to facilitate the financial exchange.