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Buddhist and Jain Terms
Key terms, councils, councils' venues and concepts of Buddhism and Jainism, for CAPF Paper I revision
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SubjectHistory
RevisionHistoryAncient IndiaBuddhismJainismPaper 1
Buddhism and Jainism arose in the sixth century BCE as part of the new religious ferment. Cover the right columns and recall the meaning. See mahajanapadas jainism and buddhism.
| Term |
Meaning |
| Buddha |
Siddhartha Gautama; born at Lumbini (Nepal); enlightenment at Bodh Gaya; first sermon at Sarnath; died at Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana) |
| Four Noble Truths |
Suffering exists; it has a cause; it can end; the Eightfold Path ends it |
| Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga) |
The middle path of right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration |
| Tripitaka |
The three "baskets": Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma Pitakas (in Pali) |
| Sangha, Dhamma |
The monastic order and the teaching |
| Hinayana and Mahayana |
The two main schools; Mahayana introduced worship of the Buddha and Bodhisattvas |
| Vajrayana |
The "thunderbolt vehicle"; tantric Buddhism |
| Bodhisattva |
A being who delays nirvana to help others |
| Council (approx) |
Venue |
Patron king |
Outcome |
| First (483 BCE) |
Rajagriha |
Ajatashatru |
Compilation of the Vinaya and Sutta Pitakas |
| Second (383 BCE) |
Vaishali |
Kalashoka |
Split into Sthaviras and Mahasanghikas |
| Third (250 BCE) |
Pataliputra |
Ashoka |
Abhidhamma Pitaka added; missions sent abroad |
| Fourth (1st century CE) |
Kashmir |
Kanishka |
Buddhism split into Hinayana and Mahayana |
| Term |
Meaning |
| Tirthankara |
"Ford-maker"; 24 in all; first was Rishabhanatha, 23rd Parshvanatha, 24th Mahavira |
| Mahavira |
Vardhamana; the 24th and last Tirthankara; attained kaivalya |
| Triratna |
Three jewels: right faith, right knowledge, right conduct |
| Five vows |
Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Aparigraha (non-possession), Brahmacharya (added by Mahavira) |
| Anekantavada and Syadvada |
Doctrine of many-sidedness; the "may-be" theory of relative judgment |
| Kaivalya |
Highest knowledge / liberation |
| Digambara and Svetambara |
"Sky-clad" and "white-clad" sects |
| Council |
Venue |
Outcome |
| First (about 300 BCE) |
Pataliputra |
Compilation of the 12 Angas; led to the Digambara-Svetambara split |
| Second (5th to 6th century CE) |
Vallabhi (Gujarat) |
Final compilation of the Jain canon (Agamas) |