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Q1: Explain the lifestyle of today’s men and women.
Ans: Some people choose to live in isolation from the rest of the world. They reside in the mountains or in other peaceful locations away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. They dress simply to cover their bodies and provide basic protection. They eat a lot of fruits and drink a lot of water. Many individuals give up the world because it brings them happiness. They don't want to be confined by the things of this world. There are a variety of medicines available to assist them avoid certain illnesses and live a longer life.

Q2: What were the teachings of Mahavira?
Ans: Mahavira imparted a great deal of knowledge. He aided others in making their lives simpler and more enjoyable. He preached on prosperity and life. He claimed that those who wish to know the truth must leave their homes. Men and women seeking the truth must leave their homes and practise ahimsa. People should not harm or kill other living creatures; this is the ahimsa rule, which must be strictly obeyed. People were expected to live a humble existence, be honest, not steal, and practise celibacy.

Q3: How did Buddha spread his messages to the people?
Ans: Buddha tried to persuade people to treat everyone with kindness. He attempted to teach that our actions, or Karma, affect us not just in this life but also in future incarnations. People should respect one another, he preached. He employed two different strategies to get his word out to the public. His teachings were given in Prakrit, a language that was easily understood by the common people. As a result, he was able to connect with the people more effectively. He also pushed people to think for them rather than mindlessly following him. All of this preaching assisted individuals in realising and comprehending his ideas.

Q4: Was it easy for the slaves to join Sangha?
Ans: No, joining the Sangha would not have been simple for the slaves. Slaves were not treated with respect in general. They were not viewed as humans at all. They were obligated to carry out the orders of their masters. Their masters had them at their mercy. Slaves had to obtain permission from their masters in order to join the Sangha. The masters would not easily relinquish control of the slaves. Slaves would not have had a simple time getting permission from their masters to join the Sangha.

Q5: List some important lessons and ideas from this chapter.
Ans: 

• Our acts, or karma, have an impact on us not only in this life, but also in subsequent incarnations. 
• Because of our unsatisfied ambitions, life is full of misery and unhappiness. Each living being ought to be treated with deference, and we should not harm or kill anything.
• Upanishadic thinkers were interested in learning more about the afterlife. They also wanted to know why sacrifices were made. Something in the universe, according to Upanishadic thinkers, was permanent and existed long after death. 
• Nothing should be harmed or killed. Every living being should be treated with respect.

Q6: Discuss the Monasteries of the Jainas and the Buddhists.
Ans:

• To begin with, both Jaina and Buddhist monks went from place to place throughout the year, teaching people about their religions. The only time they stayed in one place was during the rainy season, when it was very difficult to travel.
• As time passed on, the supporters of the monks built temporary shelters for them in gardens or they lived in natural caves in hilly areas.
• Then, several supporters of monks and nuns and they themselves, felt the need for more permanent shelters. These were known as Viharas (fagIt). The earliest Viharas were made of wood, and then of brick. Some were even dug out in hills, especially in western India.
• Generally, the land on which the Vihara was built was donated by a rich merchant or the ruler. The local people came with gifts of foods, clothings and medicines etc. for the monks and nuns. In return they taught the people their teachings.

Q7: Discuss the Sangha.
Ans:

• Both the Buddha and the Mahavira (the founders of the Buddhism and the Jainism) felt that only those who left their homes could gain true knowledge. They arranged for them to stay together in the sangha, an association of those who left their homes.
• The rules made for the Buddhist sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka. From this book we know that there were separate branches for men and women. All men could join the sangha. However, children had to take the permission of their parents, slaves that of their masters, those who worked for the king had to take his permission and debtors that of creditors. Women had to take their husbands’ permission.
• Men and women who joined the sangha led simple lives. They meditated for most of the time, and went to villages, towns and cities to beg for their food during fixed hours. That is why, they were known as bhikshus and bhikshunis. They taught others, and helped one another. They held frequent meetings to settle any quarrels that took place.
• Those who joined the sangha included brahmins, kshatriyas, merchants, labourers, barbers and slaves. Many of them wrote down the teachings of the Buddha. Some of them also composed beautiful poems, describing their life in the sangha.

Q8: Why did the Jainism not become popular among most of the people?
Or
What were the reasons of less popularity of Jainism?
Ans:

• It was very difficult for most men and women to follow main principles (or rules) strictly as desired by the founders and preachers of Jainism.
• Nevertheless, thousands left their homes to learn and teach the new way of life, preached by Jainism. Many more remained behind and supported those who became monks and nuns providing them with food.
• Jainism was supported mainly by traders. Farmers (the main portion of India’s population), who had to kill insects to protect their crops, found it more difficult to follow the rules.

Q9: Discuss Jainism in brief.
Ans:

• The word Jaina comes from the term Jina, meaning conqueror. Followers of Vardhamana Mahavira, who were known as Jainas, had to lead very simple lives, begging for food. They had to be absolutely truthful and honest. They were especially asked not to steal.
• The followers of Mahavira had to observe celibacy. And men preachers had to give up everything, including their clothes.
• Mahavira taught a simple doctrine: men and women who wished to know the truth must leave their homes. They must follow rules of ahimsa which means not hurting or killing living beings, very strictly.
• The Jain Munnies had to cover their mouth and nose with a piece of cloth, ensuring that they did not breathe to kill small insects.
• “All beings” said Mahavira, “long to live. To all creatures life is dear”. Ordinary people could understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers because they used Prakrit.

Q10: Write a short note on the following:
1. Upanishads
2. Panini, the grammarian.
Ans: 1. Upanishads:
(a) Background: Around the time that the Buddha was preaching and perhaps a little earlier, other thinkers also tried to find answers to difficult questions. Some of them wanted to know about life after death, others wanted to know why sacrifices should be performed. Many of these thinkers felt that there was something permanent in the world, something that would last even after death. They described this as the atman or the individual soul and the brahman or the universal soul. They believed that ultimately, both the atman and the brahman were the one and the same.
(b) Many ideas of the ancient thinkers were recorded in books called the Upanishads. These were part of the later Vedic texts (i.e., all three Vedas, other than the Rigveda are called the later Vedas).
(c) Upanishad literally means “approaching and sitting near” and the texts contain conversation between teachers and students. Generally, ideas were presented through simple dialogues.
2. Panini, the grammarian: He was a great scholar, who prepared a grammar for Sanskrit. He arranged the vowels and the consonants in a special order, and then used to create formulae like those found in Algebra. He used them to write down the rules of the language in short formulae (around 3,000 of them).

Q11: What were the main teachings of the Buddha?
Ans: The main teachings of the Buddha were:

• The Buddha taught that life is full of suffering and unhappiness. This is caused because we have cravings and desires (which cannot be fulfilled).
• Sometimes, even if we get what we desire, we are not satisfied (permanently) and want (or desire) even more and more (or other things). The Buddha described this as thirst or tanha.
• The Buddha taught that thirst or tanha or constant craving could be removed by following moderation in everything.
• He also taught people to be kind and to respect the fives of others, including animals.
• The Buddha believed that the result of our actions (called Karma), whether good or bad, affect us both in this life and the next.
• He also encouraged, people to think for themselves rather than to follow simply what he (the Buddha) said.
• The Buddha taught in Prakrit, which was the language of the ordinary people, so that everybody could understand his message.