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Buddhism & Jainism

History9 of 11 papers15 questions

What UPSC asks

  1. What makes Mahayana differentThe Bodhisattva ideal, deifying the Buddha, the paramitas
  2. Which sect or school a name isSthanakvasi, Mahasanghikas, Sarvastivadins and what they produced
  3. Buddhist or Jaina?Texts, scholars and epithets like Nayaputta versus Tathagata
  4. Core Jaina beliefsSouls in rocks and water, the four forms of existence

Asked again and again

Mahayana versus Hinayana201620192020 Q222020 Q31Bodhisattva, deified Buddha, sects that led to Mahayana
Is this name Buddhist or Jaina?201720182022 Q552022 Q562024Texts, scholars, sects and epithets
Core Jaina beliefs about souls20232026Souls and forms of life
Buddhist schools and what they produced2017202020232024Mahasanghikas, Sarvastivadins and where they worked

How to study it

  1. Make a two-column sheet, Buddhist and Jaina, and sort every term you meet into it.
  2. Keep a third note for ideas found only in Mahayana.

Hardly ever askedThe lives of the Buddha and Mahavira, and the Buddhist councils

Written by AI from this area's own questions; not yet reviewed by a person. Counts come straight from the questions.