Buddhism MCQs in English Part 3 of 4
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1. What is the primary difference between Mahayanism and Hinayanism regarding idol worship?
A)
Mahayanists worship idols, while Hinayanists do not worship idols but worship
symbols
B) Both Mahayanists and Hinayanists worship idols in the same way
C) Hinayanists worship idols, while Mahayanists only worship symbols
D) Neither Mahayanists nor Hinayanists worship idols or symbols
Answer: A) Mahayanists worship idols, while Hinayanists do not worship idols but worship symbols
2. In Mahayanism, the goal of salvation is for:
A)
A small group of individuals achieving personal enlightenment
B) A universal salvation for all beings
C) Individual liberation through meditation
D) A select few to attain Nirvana
Answer: B) A universal salvation for all beings
3. Which term did Mahayana Buddhism use to refer to its philosophy, contrasting with Hinayana Buddhism?
A)
The Greater Path B) The
Lesser Vehicle
C) The Greater Vehicle D) The
Path of Liberation
Answer: C) The Greater Vehicle
4. According to Mahayanists, who were the predecessors of Gautama Buddha?
A)
Bodhisattvas B)
Arhats
C) Six previous Buddhas D) Pratyeka
Buddhas
Answer: C) Six previous Buddhas
5. Who was the future Buddha in Mahayana tradition, expected to purify the world with his teachings?
A)
Metteya B) Sakyamuni
C) Vipasyi D) Maitreya
Answer: D) Maitreya
6. What was the key philosophical change from earlier schools to Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
The concept of non-self (Anatman)
B) The ideal shifted from Arhat to Bodhisattva
C) The focus on Nirvana and personal enlightenment
D) The worship of past Buddhas
Answer: B) The ideal shifted from Arhat to Bodhisattva
7. What is the role of Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
They are perfect beings who attain Nirvana and cease to reincarnate
B) They are future Buddhas who come to purify the world
C) They help other beings achieve enlightenment and salvation
D) They are Arhats who keep the teachings to themselves
Answer: C) They help other beings achieve enlightenment and salvation
8. In Mahayana Buddhism, how is the Bodhisattva ideal different from the Arhat ideal?
A)
Bodhisattvas renounce Nirvana to help others, while Arhats attain personal
enlightenment
B) Bodhisattvas seek personal salvation, while Arhats help others
C) Both Bodhisattvas and Arhats seek individual enlightenment, but Bodhisattvas
do so with supernatural powers
D) Bodhisattvas are considered inferior to Arhats
Answer: A) Bodhisattvas renounce Nirvana to help others, while Arhats attain personal enlightenment
9. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of Tantrik Buddhism regarding Bodhisattvas?
A)
Bodhisattvas are not considered divine beings
B) Bodhisattvas do not engage with the world after attaining enlightenment
C) Bodhisattvas are believed to possess consorts (saktis) and are treated as
gods and goddesses
D) Bodhisattvas are revered for their intellectual teachings alone
Answer: C) Bodhisattvas are believed to possess consorts (saktis) and are treated as gods and goddesses
10. What distinguishes Mahayanism from Hinayanism regarding the number of beings who can achieve salvation?
A)
Mahayanism aims for universal salvation, while Hinayanism aims for the
salvation of a few select individuals
B) Both schools believe in universal salvation for all beings
C) Mahayanism focuses on the salvation of monks, while Hinayanism emphasizes
lay salvation
D) Hinayanism allows for universal salvation, while Mahayanism only focuses on
a select few
Answer: A) Mahayanism aims for universal salvation, while Hinayanism aims for the salvation of a few select individuals
11.According to Mahayana tradition, how many Buddhas preceded Gautama Buddha?
A)
Four B) Five
C) Six D) Seven
Answer: C) Six
12.Which of the following Bodhisattvas is known as the guardian of the West and is associated with the Pure Land called Sukhavati?
A)
Avalokitesvara B)
Amitabha
C) Manjusri D)
Vairochana
Answer: B) Amitabha
13.Which Bodhisattva is associated with compassion and is said to have the ability to reach even the lowest Buddhist purgatory, Avichi?
A)
Vairochana B)
Manjusri
C) Samanta-bhadra D)
Avalokitesvara
Answer: D) Avalokitesvara
14.What is the primary attribute of Manjusri, the Bodhisattva who represents the wisdom aspect of the Buddha principle?
A)
Compassion B) Wisdom
C) Courage D)
Altruism
Answer: B) Wisdom
15.Which Bodhisattva is associated with the dharmakaya aspect of the Buddha and is regarded as the guardian of the centre?
A)
Samanta-bhadra B)
Vairochana
C) Amitabha D)
Maitreya
Answer: B) Vairochana
16.Who is considered the messianic Bodhisattva, waiting in the Tushita heaven for the appointed hour to come and save the world?
A)
Akshobhya B)
Maitreya
C) Avalokitesvara D)
Ratnasambhava
Answer: B) Maitreya
17.Which of the following is NOT a Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
Akshobhya B)
Amoghasiddhi
C) Ratnasambhava D)
Sariputra
Answer: D) Sariputra
18.What is the 'Three Bodies' (trikaya) doctrine in Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
The Buddha has three forms: dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya
B) The Buddha has three divine manifestations: past, present, and future
C) The Buddha’s essence is divided into three bodies: wisdom, bliss, and
teaching
D) The Buddha’s teachings are represented in three sacred books
Answer: A) The Buddha has three forms: dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya
19.According to the doctrine of 'Three Bodies,' which body is associated with the earthly existence of Siddhartha Gautama?
A)
Dharmakaya B)
Sambhogakaya
C) Nirmanakaya D)
Buddhakaya
Answer: C) Nirmanakaya
20.Which Bodhisattva is associated with 'the Lord Who Looks Down' and is highly revered for their compassion?
A)
Akshobhya B) Avalokitesvara
C) Manjusri D) Vairochana
Answer: B) Avalokitesvara
21.Which of the following is the main characteristic of the dharmakaya, the Body of Essence in Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
It is the body that incarnates as Buddha on Earth
B) It represents the ultimate, formless Buddha essence that encompasses the
universe
C) It is the body of the Buddha that resides in heavenly realms
D) It is a symbol for the Buddha's teachings
Answer: B) It represents the ultimate, formless Buddha essence that encompasses the universe
22.Which heavenly Buddha is associated with the World Soul (Brahman) and the ideal of nirvana in Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
Amitabha B) Maitreya
C) Manjusri D) Vairochana
Answer: A) Amitabha
23.What was the significant geographical region where Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism coexisted in early centuries, especially during the Kushana empire?
A)
Eastern India B) Central
Asia
C) North-western India D)
Southern India
Answer: C) North-western India
24.How did Buddhism spread to China?
A)
Through the conquest of Buddhist kingdoms
B) Through missionaries from Sri Lanka
C) Through the Kushana empire in north-western India
D) Through the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama in the region
Answer: C) Through the Kushana empire in north-western India
25.Who is the founder of the Madhyamika school of Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
Vasubandhu B)
Maitreyanatha
C) Nagarjuna D)
Dignaga
Answer: C) Nagarjuna
26.What is the core teaching of the Madhyamika school of Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
The universe exists only in the mind of the perceiver
B) The phenomenal world has only a qualified reality and is empty of inherent
existence
C) The world is an illusion created by magical rituals
D) Salvation is attained through works and moral conduct
Answer: B) The phenomenal world has only a qualified reality and is empty of inherent existence
27.What is the main belief of the Vijnanavada or Yogachara school of Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
The universe exists in its own right independent of consciousness
B) All things exist in a state of eternal flux and illusion
C) The universe exists only in the mind of the perceiver and has no independent
reality
D) Karma dictates the existence of the universe and beings
Answer: C) The universe exists only in the mind of the perceiver and has no independent reality
28.Which philosopher is closely associated with the Vijnanavada school and wrote the Sutralankara?
A)
Nagarjuna B) Vasubandhu
C) Dignaga D) Asanga
Answer: D) Asanga
29.In Mahayana Buddhism, what is considered to be the doctrine of "emptiness"?
A)
The physical world is an illusion created by perception
B) All things exist only in the mind
C) The universe has no inherent existence and is empty of self-nature
D) Reality can only be understood through meditation
Answer: C) The universe has no inherent existence and is empty of self-nature
30.What is the major difference between Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
Mahayana emphasizes salvation through works, while Hinayana emphasizes
salvation through faith
B) Mahayana focuses on the symbolism of the Buddha’s life, while Hinayana
focuses on his acts
C) Hinayana believes in the ideal of the Bodhisattva, while Mahayana emphasizes
the Arhat
D) Hinayana believes in salvation through faith, while Mahayana focuses on
salvation through works
Answer: B) Mahayana focuses on the symbolism of the Buddha’s life, while Hinayana focuses on his acts
31.What was the major practice associated with Vajrayana Buddhism (Tantric Buddhism)?
A)
Meditation and ethical conduct
B) Repetition of mystical syllables (mantras) and devotion to feminine
divinities
C) Austerity and renunciation of worldly pleasures
D) Exclusive focus on Buddha’s teachings and scriptures
Answer: B) Repetition of mystical syllables (mantras) and devotion to feminine divinities
32.What distinguishes the Right Hand (dakshinachara) Tantric sect from the Left Hand (vamachara) Tantric sect in Vajrayana Buddhism?
A)
Right Hand Tantric sects are devoted to feminine divinities, while Left Hand to
masculine divinities
B) Left Hand Tantric sects have little influence in China and Japan
C) Right Hand Tantric sects emphasize ritual purity and abstinence from
intoxicants
D) Left Hand Tantric sects focus on devotion to masculine divinities and
abstain from tantric rituals
Answer: B) Left Hand Tantric sects have little influence in China and Japan
33.What controversial practice was associated with the Left Hand Tantric sect of Vajrayana Buddhism?
A)
Meditation on the nature of the Buddha's life
B) Strict adherence to ethical conduct
C) Indulgence in activities like drunkenness and promiscuity under the guise of
spiritual advancement
D) Complete rejection of all forms of ritual
Answer: C) Indulgence in activities like drunkenness and promiscuity under the guise of spiritual advancement
34.What is the significance of the phrase "Om mani padme hum" in Vajrayana Buddhism?
A)
It is a prayer for wealth and prosperity
B) It is a mystical syllable or mantra believed to aid spiritual progress
C) It represents the wisdom of the Buddha
D) It is a chant for meditation and physical healing
Answer: B) It is a mystical syllable or mantra believed to aid spiritual progress
35.Which philosopher was called a "crypto-Buddhist" by his opponents due to his similarities with Buddhist doctrines?
A)
Asanga B)
Sankara
C) Dignaga D)
Nagarjuna
Answer: B) Sankara
36.What is the central feature of Mahayana’s metaphysical approach in comparison to the Upanishadic tradition?
A)
A focus on the eternal self (Atman) and Brahman
B) The belief in the emptiness (Sunyata) of all phenomena
C) A rejection of meditation and ascetic practices
D) The notion of divine intervention in worldly affairs
Answer: B) The belief in the emptiness (Sunyata) of all phenomena
37.Who is the founder of the Madhyamika school of Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
Vasubandhu B)
Maitreyanatha
C) Nagarjuna D)
Dignaga
Answer: C) Nagarjuna
38.What is the core teaching of the Madhyamika school of Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
The universe exists only in the mind of the perceiver
B) The phenomenal world has only a qualified reality and is empty of inherent
existence
C) The world is an illusion created by magical rituals
D) Salvation is attained through works and moral conduct
Answer: B) The phenomenal world has only a qualified reality and is empty of inherent existence
39.What is the main belief of the Vijnanavada or Yogachara school of Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
The universe exists in its own right independent of consciousness
B) All things exist in a state of eternal flux and illusion
C) The universe exists only in the mind of the perceiver and has no independent
reality
D) Karma dictates the existence of the universe and beings
Answer: C) The universe exists only in the mind of the perceiver and has no independent reality
40.Which philosopher is closely associated with the Vijnanavada school and wrote the Sutralankara?
A)
Nagarjuna B)
Vasubandhu
C) Dignaga D)
Asanga
Answer: D) Asanga
41.In Mahayana Buddhism, what is considered to be the doctrine of "emptiness"?
A)
The physical world is an illusion created by perception
B) All things exist only in the mind
C) The universe has no inherent existence and is empty of self-nature
D) Reality can only be understood through meditation
Answer: C) The universe has no inherent existence and is empty of self-nature
42.What was the major practice associated with Vajrayana Buddhism (Tantric Buddhism)?
A)
Meditation and ethical conduct
B) Repetition of mystical syllables (mantras) and devotion to feminine
divinities
C) Austerity and renunciation of worldly pleasures
D) Exclusive focus on Buddha’s teachings and scriptures
Answer: B) Repetition of mystical syllables (mantras) and devotion to feminine divinities
43.Who is the founder of the Madhyamika school, and what was the school’s main teaching?
A)
Nagarjuna; Emptiness (sunyata) of all things
B) Maitreyanatha; The unity of consciousness and external reality
C) Asanga; The mind as the only true reality
D) Vasubandhu; The existence of the physical world
Answer: A) Nagarjuna; Emptiness (sunyata) of all things
44.What distinguishes the Right Hand (dakshinachara) Tantric sect from the Left Hand (vamachara) Tantric sect in Vajrayana Buddhism?
A)
Right Hand Tantric sects are devoted to feminine divinities, while Left Hand to
masculine divinities
B) Left Hand Tantric sects have little influence in China and Japan
C) Right Hand Tantric sects emphasize ritual purity and abstinence from
intoxicants
D) Left Hand Tantric sects focus on devotion to masculine divinities and
abstain from tantric rituals
Answer: B) Left Hand Tantric sects have little influence in China and Japan
45.What controversial practice was associated with the Left Hand Tantric sect of Vajrayana Buddhism?
A)
Meditation on the nature of the Buddha's life
B) Strict adherence to ethical conduct
C) Indulgence in activities like drunkenness and promiscuity under the guise of
spiritual advancement
D) Complete rejection of all forms of ritual
Answer: C) Indulgence in activities like drunkenness and promiscuity under the guise of spiritual advancement
46.What is the significance of the phrase "Om mani padme hum" in Vajrayana Buddhism?
A) It is a prayer for wealth and prosperity
B) It is a mystical syllable or mantra believed to aid spiritual progress
C) It represents the wisdom of the Buddha
D) It is a chant for meditation and physical healing
Answer: B) It is a mystical syllable or mantra believed to aid spiritual progress
47.Which philosopher was called a "crypto-Buddhist" by his opponents due to his similarities with Buddhist doctrines?
A)
Asanga B)
Sankara
C) Dignaga D)
Nagarjuna
Answer: B) Sankara
48.What is the central feature of Mahayana’s metaphysical approach in comparison to the Upanishadic tradition?
A)
A focus on the eternal self (Atman) and Brahman
B) The belief in the emptiness (Sunyata) of all phenomena
C) A rejection of meditation and ascetic practices
D) The notion of divine intervention in worldly affairs
Answer: B) The belief in the emptiness (Sunyata) of all phenomena
49.What is the doctrine of the ‘Three Bodies’ (trikaya) in Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
The Buddha has three different identities for different realms of existence
B) The Buddha is believed to have a physical body, a mental body, and a
spiritual body
C) The Buddha exists in three forms: the dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and
nirmanakaya
D) The Buddha’s three bodies refer to the past, present, and future forms
Answer: C) The Buddha exists in three forms: the dharmakaya, sambhogakaya, and nirmanakaya
50.Which of the following is NOT one of the major Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism?
A)
Amitabha B)
Avalokitesvara
C) Maitreya D)
Manjusri
E) Lakshmi
Answer: E) Lakshmi
51.Which of the following Mahayana Bodhisattvas is the guardian of the West and has a Pure Land called Sukhavati?
A)
Avalokitesvara B)
Amitabha
C) Manjusri D)
Vairochana
Answer: B) Amitabha
52.What is the role of the Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism compared to the Arhat in Hinayana Buddhism?
A)
The Bodhisattva seeks personal liberation, while the Arhat seeks the salvation
of others
B) The Bodhisattva renounces personal bliss to help others, while the Arhat
seeks personal salvation
C) The Bodhisattva focuses on rituals, while the Arhat focuses on meditation
D) The Bodhisattva is an ideal for monks, while the Arhat is an ideal for
laypeople
Answer: B) The Bodhisattva renounces personal bliss to help others, while the Arhat seeks personal salvation
53.How does Mahayana Buddhism differ from Hinayana Buddhism in terms of its approach to salvation?
A)
Mahayana emphasizes individual effort, while Hinayana believes in divine
intervention for salvation
B) Mahayana believes in salvation by faith and the help of Bodhisattvas, while
Hinayana focuses on self-discipline and meditation
C) Mahayana upholds the ideal of the Arhat, while Hinayana upholds the
Bodhisattva ideal
D) Mahayana focuses on material prosperity, while Hinayana emphasizes
asceticism
Answer: B) Mahayana believes in salvation by faith and the help of Bodhisattvas, while Hinayana focuses on self-discipline and meditation
54.In the Mahayana school, which of the following is considered the essence of the Buddha’s teachings?
A)
Renunciation of wealth
B) Compassion and salvation of others
C) Following the Four Noble Truths
D) The realization of self-nature
Answer: B) Compassion and salvation of others
55.What was one of the earliest texts of Tantric Buddhism?
A)
Guhyasamaja
B) Sukhavati-vyuha
C) Manjusri Mulakalpa
D) Madhyamika Karika
Answer: A) Guhyasamaja
56.What does the Guhyasamaja primarily deal with?
A)
Meditation and philosophical discussions
B) Tantric forms of meditation and yoga
C) Ethical guidelines for monks
D) Rituals for attaining personal liberation
Answer: B) Tantric forms of meditation and yoga
57.What magical power do followers of Vajrayana believe is crucial for salvation?
A)
Prana
B) Vajra (thunderbolt or diamond)
C) Mantra energy
D) Bodhicitta
Answer: B) Vajra (thunderbolt or diamond)
58.In which region did Vajrayana Buddhism become particularly popular from the eighth century AD?
A)
Tibet
B) India
C) China
D) Sri Lanka
Answer: A) Tibet
59.What are the chief divinities of Vajrayana Buddhism known as?
A)
Dhyani Buddhas
B) Bodhisattvas
C) Taras (wives of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas)
D) Manushi Buddhas
Answer: C) Taras (wives of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas)
60.What is the role of the Dhyani Buddhas in Vajrayana Buddhism?
A)
They are responsible for the creation of the world
B) They symbolize different material elements and cosmic elements
C) They practice meditation and guide followers to enlightenment
D) They serve as protectors against evil forces
Answer: B) They symbolize different material elements and cosmic elements
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