- Passage 1
Sanchi in the nineteenth century
The most wonderful ancient buildings in the state of Bhopal are at Sanchi Kanakhera, a small village under the brow of a hill some 20 miles north-east of Bhopal which we visited yesterday. We inspected the stone sculptures and statues of the Buddha and an ancient gateway …
The ruins appear to be the object of great interest to European gentlemen. Major Alexander Cunningham … stayed several weeks in this neighbourhood and examined these ruins most carefully. He took drawings of the place, deciphered the inscription, and bored shafts down these domes. The results of his investigations were described by him in an English work …
FROM SHAHJEHAN BEGUM, NAWAB OF BHOPAL (ruled 1868-1901), Taj- ul Iqbal Tarikh Bhopal (A History of Bhopal), translated by H.D. Barstow, 1876
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: Where are the ancient buildings in the state of Bhopal located?
Answer: The ancient buildings are located at Sanchi Kanakhera, a small village 20 miles northeast of Bhopal.
Question 2: What did the visitors inspect at Sanchi Kanakhera?
Answer: The visitors inspected stone sculptures, statues of the Buddha, and an ancient gateway at Sanchi Kanakhera.
Question 3: Who stayed in the neighborhood for several weeks and examined the ruins carefully?
Answer: Major Alexander Cunningham stayed in the neighborhood, examined the ruins carefully, and described his investigations in an English work.
Question 4: What historical work does the passage mention from Shahjehan Begum?
Answer: The passage mentions “Taj-ul Iqbal Tarikh Bhopal,” a history of Bhopal, translated by H.D. Barstow in 1876.
Question 5: What activities did Major Alexander Cunningham undertake during his visit to Sanchi Kanakhera?
Answer: Major Alexander Cunningham took drawings of the place, deciphered inscriptions, and bored shafts down the domes during his visit to Sanchi Kanakhera.
- Passage 2
How Buddhist texts were prepared and preserved
The Buddha (and other teachers) taught orally – through discussion and
debate. Men and women (perhaps children as well) attended these discourses and discussed what they heard. None of the Buddha’s speeches were written down during his lifetime. After his death (c. fifth-fourth century BCE) his teachings were compiled by his disciples at a council of “elders” or senior monks at Vesali (Pali for Vaishali in present-day Bihar). These compilations were known as Tipitaka – literally, three baskets to hold different types of texts. They were first transmitted orally and then written and classified according to length as well as subject matter.
The Vinaya Pitaka included rules and regulations for those who joined the
sangha or monastic order; the Buddha’s teachings were included in the Sutta Pitaka; and the Abhidhamma Pitaka dealt with philosophical matters. Each Pitaka comprised a number of individual texts. Later, commentaries were written on these texts by Buddhist scholars.
As Buddhism travelled to new regions such as Sri Lanka, other texts such
as the Dipavamsa (literally, the chronicle of the island) and Mahavamsa (the
great chronicle) were written, containing regional histories of Buddhism.
Many of these works contained biographies of the Buddha. Some of the
oldest texts are in Pali, while later compositions are in Sanskrit.
When Buddhism spread to East Asia, pilgrims such as Fa Xian and Xuan
Zang travelled all the way from China to India in search of texts. These they
took back to their own country, where they were translated by scholars.
Indian Buddhist teachers also travelled to faraway places, carrying texts to
disseminate the teachings of the Buddha.
Buddhist texts were preserved in manuscripts for several centuries in
monasteries in different parts of Asia. Modern translations have been prepared from Pali, Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan texts.
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: How were the Buddha’s teachings initially transmitted?
Answer: The Buddha’s teachings were transmitted orally through discussion and debate, attended by men, women, and possibly children.
Question 2: What is Tipitaka, and how was it compiled?
Answer: Tipitaka, meaning “three baskets,” refers to compilations of the Buddha’s teachings. It was compiled by his disciples at a council of elders or senior monks at Vesali after his death.
Question 3: What were the three categories or baskets in the Tipitaka, and what did each contain?
Answer: The three baskets were Vinaya Pitaka (rules for the monastic order), Sutta Pitaka (teachings of the Buddha), and Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophical matters).
Question 4: What were some regional histories of Buddhism written when the religion spread to new regions?
Answer: Regional histories like Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa were written, containing the history of Buddhism in regions such as Sri Lanka.
Question 5: How were Buddhist texts preserved in different parts of Asia, and what languages were used for the oldest and later compositions?
Answer: Buddhist texts were preserved in manuscripts in monasteries across Asia. Some of the oldest texts are in Pali, while later compositions are in Sanskrit.
- Passage 3
Rules for monks and nuns
These are some of the rules laid down in the Vinaya Pitaka:
When a new felt (blanket/rug) has been made by a bhikkhu, it is to be kept for (at least) six years. If after less than six years he should have another new felt (blanket/rug) made, regardless of whether or not he has disposed of the first, then – unless he has been authorized by the bhikkhus – it is to be forfeited and confessed.
In case a bhikkhu arriving at a family residence is presented with cakes or cooked grain-meal, he may accept two or three bowlfuls if he so desires. If he should accept more than that, it is to be confessed. Having accepted the two or three bowlfuls and having taken them from there, he is to share them among the bhikkhus. This is the proper course here.
Should any bhikkhu, having set out bedding in a lodging belonging to the sangha – or having had it set out – and then on departing neither put it away nor have it put away, or should he go without taking leave, it is to be confessed.
Questions / Answer:
Question 1: What is the stipulated period for keeping a new felt (blanket/rug) made by a bhikkhu?
Answer: A new felt (blanket/rug) made by a bhikkhu is to be kept for at least six years.
Question 2: What is the consequence if a bhikkhu has another new felt made before six years, without authorization?
Answer: If a bhikkhu has another new felt made before six years, without authorization, it is to be forfeited and confessed.
Question 3: How many bowlfuls of cakes or cooked grain-meal can a bhikkhu accept when presented at a family residence?
Answer: A bhikkhu may accept two or three bowlfuls of cakes or cooked grain-meal when presented at a family residence.
Question 4: What should a bhikkhu do after accepting two or three bowlfuls of food at a family residence?
Answer: After accepting two or three bowlfuls of food, a bhikkhu should share them among the bhikkhus.
Question 5: What should a bhikkhu do if he sets out bedding in a lodging belonging to the sangha and then departs without putting it away or taking leave?
Answer: If a bhikkhu sets out bedding in a lodging belonging to the sangha and departs without putting it away or taking leave, it is to be confessed.
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