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State whether the following statements are True or False with reasons.Buddhism spread to several parts of India and beyond. |
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Answer» This statement is True. The teachings of Gautama Buddha did not make reference to the concept of God. Also, the sacred literature (Tripitkas) was written in the language of the common people, namely, Pali. Buddha made monasticism an inseparable part of his creed. The function of monasticism was to provide suitable conditions for personal and societal development. Thus, Jainism and Buddhism are perceived as ‘protest religions’. Both these religious traditions opened their doors to all sections of society. The right to salvation was no longer limited to a particular stratum of society. Understandably, Buddhism with its fewer rigid rules and regulations in comparison to Jainism was embraced by many. Buddhism gave great importance to the moral upliftment of human beings and directed people to lead moral lives. It insisted on virtues like charity, self-sacrifice, control over passions, and non-injury in thought and action. These virtues are also advocated in the Upanishads and also widely practiced through the Buddhist way of life. Buddhism thus spread far and wide even beyond the boundaries of India because of the patronage of the Mauryan emperor, Ashoka. As a missionary religion, Buddhism spread to foreign lands like Tibet, China, Japan, Mongolia, Burma, Java, Sumatra, and Sri Lanka. |
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