Maarg Manthan · Topic 8.3

Buddhism (Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, Tripitaka)

Art & Culture › Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism · Topic 8.3

Buddhism is an Indian religion and philosophy founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, who was born at Lumbini in the Sakya clan around 563 BCE, attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, gave his first sermon at Sarnath and died at Kushinagar. Its core teachings are the Four Noble Truths of suffering, its cause, its end and the path, the Eightfold Path or Madhyama Marga, and the doctrines of impermanence, no-self and dependent origination. Its canon is the Tripitaka in Pali: Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma. The three jewels are the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

At a Glance

Founder Siddhartha Gautama, Sakya clan
Core teaching Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path
Canon Tripitaka in Pali
Three schools Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana
Language Pali and Prakrit
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Religion, Philosophy, Buddhism & Jainism

Where Does It Fit?

This is the third topic of the macro on religion and philosophy. It is the first of two linked topics on Buddhism, the next one being the councils that fixed its canon and split its schools. Previous topic: Hinduism. Next topic: Ajatashatru, Mahakassapa Second Vaishali, Kalashoka, Sabakami Third Pataliputra, Ashoka, Moggaliputta Tissa Fourth Kashmir, Kanishka, Vasumitra Result Canon…">Buddhist Councils (First to Fourth).

What Are the Key Events in the Life of the Buddha?

Event	Place and state or country	Symbol and detail
Birth (Mahajanma)	Lumbini, in present Nepal, in the Sakya republic of Kapilavastu	Lotus or bull. Born as Siddhartha, son of Suddhodana and Mahamaya. Wife Yashodhara, son Rahula
Great Renunciation (Mahabhinishkramana)	Left Kapilavastu at 29 with the charioteer Channa and horse Kanthaka	Horse. Seen sick man, old man, dead body and ascetic
Enlightenment (Nirvana or Sambodhi)	Bodh Gaya, Bihar, on the Niranjana river bank	Bodhi tree, a pipal. Age 35
First sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana)	Sarnath near Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, also called Isipatana	Wheel and deer. Given to five ascetics
Death (Mahaparinirvana)	Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, about 483 BCE at age 80	Stupa

What Are the Core Teachings of Buddhism?

Four Noble Truths (Arya Satya): dukkha or suffering exists; samudaya or desire is its cause; nirodha or the end of desire ends suffering; magga or the Eightfold Path leads to the end
Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga): right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration
Madhyama Marga: the middle path between extreme luxury and extreme self-denial
Three marks of existence: anicca or impermanence, dukkha or suffering and anatta or no permanent self
Pratityasamutpada: the doctrine of dependent origination, which holds that everything arises from causes
Nirvana: the end of craving and of the cycle of rebirth
Panchasila: five precepts: no killing, no stealing, no false speech, no wrong sexual conduct and no intoxicants
Triratna: Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha

What Else Should You Remember?

Alternate names: Gautama, Shakyamuni, Tathagata and Sugata are names for the Buddha; Dhamma is Pali for Dharma and Nibbana is the Pali form of Nirvana
Tripitaka: the three baskets: Vinaya Pitaka for monastic rules, Sutta Pitaka for discourses and Abhidhamma Pitaka for philosophy, all in Pali, as in Pali Literature
Theravada: school of the elders found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand, with the arhat as the ideal and Pali scriptures
Mahayana: the great vehicle with the bodhisattva ideal, worship of images, Sanskrit texts and spread in China, Korea and Japan; thinkers include Nagarjuna, Asvaghosha and Vasubandhu
Vajrayana: the thunderbolt vehicle with tantric methods, strong in Tibet, Bhutan and Ladakh
Sangha: the monastic order, which admitted women as nuns after the request of Mahaprajapati Gautami and Ananda
Royal patrons: Bimbisara, Ajatashatru, Prasenajit, Ashoka, Kanishka and Harsha
Language and literature: the Buddha taught in Pali, the language of the common people of Magadha; Jataka stories tell of his previous births
Art and architecture: stupas, chaityas and viharas are described in Buddhist Rock-cut & Stupa Architecture (Ajanta, Ellora, Elephanta Caves; Sanchi, Bharhut, Amaravati Stupas; Chaityas and Viharas) and the images in Buddhist Sculpture
Universities: Nalanda, Vikramashila and Odantapuri were major Buddhist centres of learning
Reasons for spread: use of the common language, opposition to rigid caste, support of kings and traders, and a simple moral code
Decline in India: loss of royal support, revival of Brahmanical Hinduism, internal division and Turkish invasions that destroyed monasteries
Modern India: Dr B R Ambedkar embraced Buddhism at Nagpur on 14 October 1956 with many followers; Buddhists were about 0.7 percent of Indians in Census 2011

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Events and places: matching birth, enlightenment, sermon and death with their sites
Teachings: Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path in order
Schools: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana
Texts: Tripitaka and Jataka
Common errors: placing Lumbini in India, or confusing the Buddha’s first sermon with his enlightenment site

As an analytical point, Buddhism challenged ritualism and birth-based hierarchy and offered a rational ethical path in a common language. Its art, universities and missions made it a bridge of Indian culture to Asia, a theme used today in cultural diplomacy.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Life events Matching with symbols
Teachings Truths and path
Mains Spread and diplomacy

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the four Buddhist Councils. Next topic: Buddhist Councils (First to Fourth).

Key People and Terms

Dukkha Suffering
Nirvana End of craving
Sangha Monastic order
Bodhisattva Being on the way to Buddhahood
Arhat Liberated person
Dhammachakra Wheel of law

Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.

Gautama Buddha and the Rise of Buddhism (Ancient History)
Doctrines and Features of Buddhism and Causes of its Spread (Ancient History)

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Born at Lumbini; enlightened at Bodh Gaya.
First sermon at Sarnath; death at Kushinagar.
Canon: Tripitaka, three baskets.
Path: Eightfold; truths: four.
Schools: Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana.

Do Not Confuse With

Theravada and Mahayana Arhat ideal with Pali texts versus bodhisattva ideal with Sanskrit texts
Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path The diagnosis versus the method
Nirvana and Mahaparinirvana Enlightenment versus death of the Buddha

Memory Hook

Born in Lumbini, woke at Bodh Gaya, preached at Sarnath, left at Kushinagar.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about the relevance of Buddhist ethics and the role of Buddhism in culture and diplomacy. These points give a balanced frame.

Ethics Middle path, compassion
Spread Art, monks, trade
Diplomacy Buddhist circuit, conclaves

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the core teachings of Buddhism and its contribution to Indian culture and Asian civilisation.”

How to Answer

Life Key events and places.
Teaching Truths and path.
Spread Schools and patrons.
Legacy Art and diplomacy.

GS Relevance

Prelims: life of the Buddha, teachings, Tripitaka, schools, patrons. GS Paper 1: Indian culture, religion and philosophy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is an Indian religion and philosophy founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, in the sixth century BCE. It teaches that life involves suffering caused by craving and that suffering ends by following the Eightfold Path. It rejects ritual sacrifice and birth-based hierarchy and spread from India across Asia.

Who founded Buddhism?

Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, born at Lumbini around 563 BCE in the Sakya clan, who became the Buddha or the enlightened one at Bodh Gaya. He taught for about forty-five years, mostly in the Gangetic plain, and died at Kushinagar about 483 BCE.

What are the Four Noble Truths of Buddhism?

The Four Noble Truths are: life has suffering or dukkha; suffering arises from craving or samudaya; suffering can end, which is nirodha; and the way to end it is the Eightfold Path, called magga. The Buddha announced them in his first sermon at Sarnath.

What is the difference between Theravada and Mahayana?

Theravada follows the older Pali scriptures, treats the arhat as the ideal and is found in Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand. Mahayana accepts later Sanskrit texts, stresses the bodhisattva ideal of compassion and image worship, and spread to China, Korea and Japan.

Why is Buddhism important for UPSC?

Buddhism is asked in Prelims through life events and places, the Tripitaka, councils, schools and Buddhist architecture and sculpture, and in Mains through its ethics, spread and use in cultural diplomacy. It links the history, art and philosophy sections of the syllabus, so it is a high-yield topic.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 The Buddha delivered his first sermon at Sarnath.

True

At Isipatana near Varanasi.

2 The Buddha attained enlightenment at Lumbini.

False

Lumbini is the birthplace; enlightenment was at Bodh Gaya.

3 The Tripitaka consists of Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma.