Q. Which of the following statements with regard to Buddha’s stance on religion and social structure is/are correct?
1.Buddha rejected the authority of the Vedas, animal sacrifices, and the divine origin of the Varna system.
2.He propounded the existence of an eternal, unchangeable, and supreme individual soul that governs human destiny.
3.He held that human suffering and social inequalities were social and human creations rather than divinely ordained conditions.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer: A
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct: The Buddha rejected Brahmanical orthodoxy, the divine authority of the Vedas, elaborate sacrificial rituals (Yajnas), and the hereditary Varna hierarchy.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: A fundamental pillar of Buddhist philosophy is Anatta (or Anatman—the doctrine of no-soul). The Buddha denied the existence of an eternal, permanent, and unchanging individual soul (Atman).
- Statement 3 is correct: The Buddha viewed the phenomenal world and social institutions as dynamic, impermanent (Anicca), and man-made, asserting that social status is determined by one’s actions (Karma) rather than divine decree.
