Buddhism and Jainism are two of the most ancient and influential religious traditions that emerged in ancient India. While they share some similarities in their philosophical and ethical teachings, they also have distinct beliefs, practices, and historical trajectories. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) can be an effective way to test one’s understanding of these religions, their core tenets, historical figures, and cultural impact.
MCQs on Buddhism and Jainism Practice Now
We present a series of MCQs that delve into the intricacies of Buddhism and Jainism, covering topics ranging from their origins and foundational principles to their sacred texts, practices, and contemporary relevance. Whether you’re a student, a scholar, or simply someone with a keen interest in these fascinating belief systems, these MCQs will challenge your knowledge and provide an opportunity to deepen your understanding of these rich spiritual traditions.
Buddhism and Jainism are two of the most ancient and influential religious traditions that emerged in ancient India, shaping the spiritual landscape of the subcontinent and beyond. While they share some similarities in their philosophical and ethical teachings, such as a emphasis on non-violence, detachment, and the pursuit of enlightenment, they also have distinct beliefs, practices, and historical trajectories.
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Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) can be an effective way to test one’s understanding of these religions, their core tenets, historical figures, and cultural impact. We present a comprehensive series of MCQs that delve into the intricacies of Buddhism and Jainism, covering a wide range of topics from their origins and foundational principles to their sacred texts, practices, significant events, and contemporary relevance.
These MCQs are designed to challenge both novice learners and those with a deeper familiarity with these belief systems, offering a unique opportunity to assess and reinforce one’s knowledge. Whether you’re a student studying world religions, a scholar delving into the nuances of these traditions, or simply someone with a keen interest in exploring the rich tapestry of spiritual thought, these MCQs will not only test your understanding but also provide valuable insights into the profound wisdom and enduring influence of Buddhism and Jainism.
MCQ on Jainism and Buddhism
Q1. When was Gautam Buddha born?
(a) 563 B.C
(b) 561 B.C
(c) 558 B.C
(d) 544 B.C
Q2. Which of the events of Buddha’s life is known as ‘Mahabhinishkramana’?
(a) His death
(b) His birth
(c) His departure from home
(d) His attainment of enlightenment
Q3. Gautam Buddha was born at
(a) Vaishali
(b) Lumbini
(c) Kapilvastu
(d) Patliputra
Q4. What is the original name of Buddha?
A) Siddhartha Gautama
B) Ashoka
C) Mahavira
D) Aryabhata
Q5. Where did Mahatma Buddha’s ‘Mahaparinirvan’ take place?
(a) Lumbini
(b) Bodh Gaya
(c) Kushinagar
(d) Kapilvastu
Q6. Gautam Buddha attained “Mahaparinirvana” in kingdom of
(a) Aung
(b) Magadha
(c) Malla
(d) Vatsa
Q7. Mahaparinirvana Temple is located at (a) Kushinagar
(b) Sarnath
(c) Bodh Gaya
(d) Shravasti
Q8. Who amongst the following was the last person converted by the Buddha?
(a) Anand
(b) Vasumitra
(c) Ghoshal
(d) Subhadda
Q9. What is the term used to refer to the Buddha’s teachings?
A) Dharma
B) Karma
C) Nirvana
D) Sangha
Q10. Where did Buddha reside during the last rainy season of his life?
(a) Shravasti
(b) Vaishali
(c) Kushinagar
(d) Sarnath
Q11. Who was Alara Kalama?
(a) A disciple of Buddha
(b) A distinguished Buddhist monk
(c) A king of Buddha’s time
(d) A teacher of Buddha
Q12. Where did Buddha preach his fi rst sermon?
(a) Kashi
(b) Sarnath
(c) Kushinagar
(d) Bodh Gaya
Q13. In Buddhist text “Dharmachakra Pravartana” is known as
(a) His (Buddha) sight
(b) First Sermon at Sarnath
(c) His religious norms
(d) Buddha rituals
Q14. Which philosophy accepts ‘Triratna’?
(a) Buddhism
(b) Nyaya philosophy
(c) Yoga philosophy
(d) Jainism
Q15. What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism?
A) To become wealthy
B) To attain enlightenment or Nirvana
C) To gain power
D) To seek revenge
Q16. What does ‘Triratna’ means in Buddhism?
(a) Tripitaka
(b) Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha
(c) Sheel, Samadhi, Sangha
(d) Satya, Ahinsa, Karuna
Q17. Who among the following conducted the first Buddhist Council ?
(a) Ananda
(b) Mahakassapa
(c) Moggaliputta Tissa
(d) Upali
Q18.Which of the following rulers convened the Fourth Buddhist Council in Kashmir?
(a) Ashoka
(b) Ajatashatru
(c) Kanishka
(d) Kalashoka
Q19. The first Buddhist council was held in which of the following cities.
(a) Nalanda
(b) Gaya
(c) Rajgir
(d) Bodhgaya
Q20. The Second Buddhist Council was held at which place?
(a) Rajgriha
(b) Vaishali
(c) Pataliputra
(d) Kashi (Varanasi)
Q21. Where was the third Buddhist Council held?
(a) Taxila
(b) Sarnath
(c) Bodhgaya
(d) Pataliputra
Q22. The Fourth Buddhist Council was held at which place
(a) Magadha
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Kashmir
(d) Rajgriha
Q23. Which of the following is NOT one of the Three Jewels (Triratna) of Buddhism?
A) The Buddha
B) The Dharma
C) The Guru
D) The Sangha
Q24. What is the term used to refer to the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth?
A) Karma
B) Samsara
C) Nirvana
D) Dhamma
Q25. Who is called ‘Crypto-Buddhist’?
(a) Shankara
(b) Kapil
(c) Ramanuja
(d) Patanjali
Q26. What is “Tripitaka”?
(a) Three monkeys of Gandhiji
(b) Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh
(c) Triratnas of Mahavira
(d) Collection of the preachings of Buddha
Q27. Which of the following is NOT one of the Four Noble Truths?
A) The truth of suffering
B) The truth of the origin of suffering C) The truth of the end of suffering D) The truth of the eightfold path to enlightenment
E) The truth of reincarnation
Q28. Tripitakas are the sacred books of the
(a) Jains
(b) Hindus
(c) Parsees
(d) Buddhists
Q29. Ashokaram monastery was situated at
(a) Vaishali
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Kaushambi
(d) Shravasti
Q30. The Stupa site which is not connected with any incident of Lord Buddha’s life, is :
(a) Sarnath
(b) Sanchi
(c) Bodhgaya
(d) Kusinara
Q31. What is the term for the state of being fully awake or enlightened?
A) Bodhi
B) Samsara
C) Karma
D) Nirvana
Q32. Who advocated ‘Neo-Buddhism’?
(a) Radhakrishnan
(b) Tagore
(c) Ambedkar
(d) Vivekananda
Q33. Who among the following is known as the ‘Light of Asia’?
(a) Gautama Buddha
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) Mahavir Swami
(d) Swami Vivekanand
Q34. What is the fundamental diff erence between Hinayana and Mahayana sects of Buddhism?
(a) Belief in Non-violence
(b) Caste free society
(c) Worship of God and Goddess
(d) Worship of stupas
Q35. Which of the following laid the foundation of idol worship in the country?
(a) Jainism
(b) Buddhism
(c) Ajivikas
(d) Vedic religion
Q36. To which Buddhist School did Nagarjuna belong ?
(a) Sautrantika
(b) Vaibhashika
(c) Madhyamika
(d) Yogachara
Q37. Buddhist centre of learning is (a) Vikramshila
(b) Varanasi
(c) Girnar
(d) Ujjain
Q38. What is the name of the tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment?
A) Bodhi Tree
B) Banyan Tree
C) Peepal Tree
D) Neem Tree
Q39. Vallabhi University was situated in
(a) Bihar
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Bengal
(d) Gujarat
Q40. Nalanda University was founded during the dynasty of
(a) Maurya
(b) Kushan
(c) Gupta
(d) Pala
Q41. Who was the founder of Nalanda University?
(a) Chandragupta Vikramaditya
(b) Kumargupta
(c) Dharmapal
(d) Pushyagupta
Q42. Why was Nalanda University famous in the world?
(a) Medical Science
(b) Philosophy
(c) Buddhist Religious Philosophy
(d) Chemical Science
Q43. Which of the following is NOT one of the Three Marks of Existence?
A) Impermanence (Anicca)
B) Non-self (Anatta)
C) Suffering (Dukkha)
D) Bliss (Sukha)
Q44. What is the term for a Buddhist monastery?
A) Stupa
B) Vihara
C) Pagoda
D) Chorten
Q45. Who has propounded the doctrine of momentariness?
(a) Buddha
(b) Jaina
(c) Charvaka
(d) Nyaya
Q46. Which form of Buddhism was prominent during the Sultanate period?
(a) Theravada
(b) Hinayana
(c) Vajrayana
(d) Tantrayana
Q47. What is the term for the wheel that represents the Buddha’s teachings?
A) Dharmachakra
B) Stupa
C) Mandala
D) Thangka
Q48. Which of the following is NOT one of the Three Poisons in Buddhism?
A) Greed
B) Hatred
C) Delusion
D) Envy
Q49. What is the term for the Buddhist teaching of non-violence or non-harming?
A) Ahimsa
B) Dharma
C) Karma
D) Samsara
Q50. What is the term for a Buddhist monk or nun?
A) Bhikkhu (male) / Bhikkhuni (female)
B) Lama
C) Roshi
D) Geshe
Q51. The originator of the Jain religion is
(a) Arya Sudharma
(b) Mahavira Swami
(c) Parshwanath
(d) Rishabh Dev
Q52. Which of the following is NOT one of the three jewels (ratna-traya) of Jainism?
a) Right Knowledge
b) Right Faith
c) Right Conduct
d) Right Livelihood
Q53. Where was Mahavira Swami born?
(a) Kundagram
(b) Pataliputra
(c) Magadha
(d) Vaishali
Q54.Mahavira Jain breathed his last at
(a) Rajgir
(b) Ranchi
(c) Pavapuri
(d) Samastipur
Q55. On the banks of which river did Mahavira Swami attain enlightenment?
(a) Swarnasikta
(b) Palashini
(c) Ganga
(d) Rijupalika
Q56. The word Tirthankara is related to
(a) Buddhists
(b) Christians
(c) Hindus
(d) Jains
Q57. The last Tirthankara of the present cosmic age is:
a) Mahavira
b) Parshvanath
c) Neminath
d) Rishabhanath
Q58. How many spiritual beings are believed to exist according to Jainism?
a) Two
b) Five
c) Seven
d) Infinite
Q59. Which one of the following was not a Jain Tirthankara ?
(a) Chandraprabhu
(b) Nathamuni
(c) Nemi
(d) Sambhav
Q60. Prabhasgiri is a pilgrim spot of : (a) Buddhists
(b) Jains
(c) Saivites
(d) Vaishnavites
Q61. In Jain Religion, which word is used for ‘Complete Intellect’?
(a) Jin
(b) Ratna
(c) Kaivalya
(d) Nirvana
Q62. Syadvad is a doctrine of
(a) Lokayatism
(b) Shaivism
(c) Jainism
(d) Vaishnavism
Q63. The Jain philosophy holds that the world is created and maintained by
(a) Universal Law
(b) Universal Truth
(c) Universal Faith
(d) Universal Soul
Q64. Which of the following is NOT one of the five great vows (mahavrata) of Jainism?
a) Non-violence
b) Non-stealing
c) Non-possession
d) Non-lying
Q65. Jainism originated in:
a) Northern India
b) Southern India
c) Central India
d) Eastern India
Q66. The Basic point of Jainism is (a) Act
(b) Loyalty
(c) Non-violence
(d) Disfavour
Q67. Which of the following is the earliest holy book of Jain?
(a) Twelve Angas
(b) Twelve Upangas
(c) Fourteen Purvas
(d) Fourteen Uppurva
Q68. The first disciple of Lord Mahavir was
(a) Jamali
(b) Yashoda
(c) Bipin
(d) Prabhas
Q69. “Samadhi Maran” related to Philosophy?
(a) Buddhist Philosophy
(b) Jain Philosophy
(c) Yoga Philosophy
(d) Lokayata Philosophy
Q70. Which of the following is the supreme principle or truth in Jainism?
a) Karma
b) Moksha
c) Anekantavada
d) Ahimsa
Q71. Jains are divided into how many major sects?
a) One
b) Two
c) Three
d) Four
Q72. The sect which believed in abiding nature of destiny:
(a) Jainism
(b) Ajivakas
(c) Charvaka
(d) Buddhism
Q73. Who used the caves of Barabar as their shelter-house?
(a) Ajivakas
(b) Tharus
(c) Jains
(d) Tantrikas
Q74. Which one of the following is not true about the Barabar hill caves?
(a) There are in all four caves on the Barabar hill
(b) Inscriptions of Ashoka are found on the walls of three caves
(c) These inscriptions inform us about the dedication of these caves to the Ajivikas
(d) These inscriptions date back to 6th century BC.
Q75. The famous pilgrimage of Buddhists as well as of Jains in Uttar Pradesh is at
(a) Sarnath
(b) Kaushambi
(c) Devipatan
(d) Kushinagar
Q76. What is the name given to a Jain ascetic?
a) Bhikku
b) Sadhu
c) Arhat
d) Siddha
Q77. The sacred formula of Jainism is:
a) Namo Arihantanam
b) Om Namah Shivaya
c) Om Mani Padme Hum
d) Sat Chit Ananda
Q78. Which holy book contains the teachings of Mahavira?
a) Kalpasutra
b) Acarangasutra
c) Both a and b
d) Neither a nor b
Q79. The doctrine of “anekantavada” means:
a) Non-violence
b) Non-attachment
c) Non-possession
d) Non-absolutism
Q80. The term “Arhat” refers to:
a) An enlightened soul
b) An ascetic
c) A lay follower
d) A sacred place
Q81. Jains follow a strict:
a) Vegetarian diet
b) Non-vegetarian diet
c) Can eat both vegetarian and non-vegetarian
d) None of the above
Q82. Who was the first Tirthankara?
a) Mahavira
b) Parshvanath
c) Rishabhanath
d) Neminath
Q83. What is the literal meaning of the term “Jain”?
a) Enlightened one
b) Ascetic
c) Conqueror
d) Seeker of truth
Q84. Which of these is NOT one of the three primary disciplines of Jainism?
a) Right Perception
b) Right Knowledge
c) Right Action
d) Right Belief
Q85. According to Jainism, what is the cause of rebirth?
a) Karma
b) Maya
c) Nirvana
d) Moksha
Q86. Which of the following is NOT a fundamental principle of Jainism?
a) Non-violence
b) Non-attachment
c) Non-possession
d) Celibacy
Jainism and Buddhism questions and answers
- Who is the founder of Buddhism?
a) Mahavira
b) Gautama Buddha
c) Adi Shankara
d) Guru Nanak
Answer: b) Gautama Buddha
- Which of the following is NOT one of the Three Jewels (Triratna) of Buddhism?
a) The Buddha
b) The Dharma
c) The Sangha
d) The Vedas
Answer: d) The Vedas
- What is the ultimate goal of Buddhism?
a) Moksha
b) Nirvana
c) Brahman
d) Samsara
Answer: b) Nirvana
- Who is the founder of Jainism?
a) Gautama Buddha
b) Mahavira
c) Adi Shankara
d) Guru Nanak
Answer: b) Mahavira
- Which of the following is NOT one of the Three Jewels (Triratna) of Jainism?
a) Right Faith
b) Right Knowledge
c) Right Conduct
d) The Sangha
Answer: d) The Sangha
- What is the ultimate goal of Jainism?
a) Moksha
b) Nirvana
c) Brahman
d) Samsara
Answer: a) Moksha
- Which of the following is a sacred text of Buddhism?
a) Vedas
b) Upanishads
c) Tripitaka
d) Bhagavad Gita
Answer: c) Tripitaka
- Which of the following is a sacred text of Jainism?
a) Vedas
b) Upanishads
c) Agamas
d) Bhagavad Gita
Answer: c) Agamas
- What is the concept of “ahimsa” in both Buddhism and Jainism?
a) Non-violence
b) Meditation
c) Reincarnation
d) Karma
Answer: a) Non-violence
- Which of the following is a fundamental principle of both Buddhism and Jainism?
a) Caste system
b) Idol worship
c) Detachment from material desires
d) Sacrificial rituals
Answer: c) Detachment from material desires
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What is the main difference between Buddhism and Jainism?
The main difference between Buddhism and Jainism lies in their ultimate spiritual goal. The ultimate goal of Buddhism is to achieve Nirvana, which is a state of liberation from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. Jainism, on the other hand, aims for Moksha, which is the complete liberation of the soul from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
What are the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?
The Four Noble Truths are the central teachings of Buddhism, which were expounded by Gautama Buddha after attaining enlightenment. These truths are: (1) Dukkha (suffering) is an inherent part of existence, (2) The cause of suffering is craving or desire, (3) The cessation of suffering is achievable by eliminating craving, and (4) The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to eliminate suffering.
What is the concept of “Ahimsa” in Jainism?
“Ahimsa” is the fundamental principle of non-violence in Jainism. It is the highest ethical principle and involves the practice of not harming any living being through thoughts, words, or actions. Jains follow strict vegetarian diets and go to great lengths to avoid harming even the smallest of creatures.
What is the significance of the Eightfold Path in Buddhism?
The Eightfold Path is a practical guideline prescribed by the Buddha for achieving enlightenment and ending suffering. The eight elements of the path are: Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. Following this path is believed to lead to the cessation of suffering and the attainment of Nirvana.
What are the three main principles of Jainism?
he three main principles of Jainism are: (1) Ahimsa (non-violence), (2) Anekantavada (non-absolutism or multi-perspectivism), and (3) Aparigraha (non-attachment or non-possession). These principles form the foundation of Jain philosophy and are believed to be essential for achieving spiritual liberation.