praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: Buddhism
Context: In Theravada Buddhism, the ultimate goal is the attainment of the sublime state of Nirvana, achieved by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path (also known as the Middle Way), thus escaping what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth. Mahayana Buddhism instead aspires to Buddhahood via the bodhisattva path, a state wherein one remains in this cycle to help other beings reach awakening. Tibetan Buddhism aspires to Buddhahood or rainbow body.

question: What is the goal of Theravada Buddhism? 

answer: the attainment of the sublime state of Nirvana

question: How is Nirvana achieved? 

answer: practicing the Noble Eightfold Path (also known as the Middle Way)

question: What is the bodhisattva path? 

answer: a state wherein one remains in this cycle to help other beings reach awakening

question: What is the goal of Tibetan Buddhism? 

answer: Buddhahood or rainbow body

question: How is Nirvana attained? 

answer: by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path

question: In what buddhism is the goal a state of nirvana? 

answer: Theravada

question: What buddhism has a goal of Buddhahood or rainbow body? 

answer: Tibetan

question: The Noble Eightfold Path is also known as what? 

answer: the Middle Way

question: Mahayana aspires to Buddhahood through what path? 

answer: bodhisattva

question: Theravada escapes what cycle? 

answer: suffering and rebirth
Title: Buddhism
Context: Buddhist schools vary on the exact nature of the path to liberation, the importance and canonicity of various teachings and scriptures, and especially their respective practices. Buddhism denies a creator deity and posits that mundane deities such as Mahabrahma are misperceived to be a creator. The foundations of Buddhist tradition and practice are the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community). Taking "refuge in the triple gem" has traditionally been a declaration and commitment to being on the Buddhist path, and in general distinguishes a Buddhist from a non-Buddhist. Other practices are Ten Meritorious Deeds including, giving charity to reduce the greediness; following ethical precepts; renouncing conventional living and becoming a monastic; the development of mindfulness and practice of meditation; cultivation of higher wisdom and discernment; study of scriptures; devotional practices; ceremonies; and in the Mahayana tradition, invocation of buddhas and bodhisattvas.

question: What are the Three Jewels of the Buddhist tradition? 

answer: the Buddha, the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community)

question: What is one of the Ten Meritorious Deeds of Buddhism? 

answer: cultivation of higher wisdom and discernment

question: What other practices do Buddhists adhere to? 

answer: Ten Meritorious Deeds

question: What is one of the Ten Meritorious Deeds? 

answer: renouncing conventional living and becoming a monastic

question: Buddhism denies what kind of deity? 

answer: creator

question: Of the Ten Meritorious Deeds, giving charity reduces what? 

answer: greediness

question: Invocation of buddhas and bodhisattvas is in what tradition? 

answer: Mahayana
Title: Buddhism
Context: This narrative draws on the Nidānakathā of the Jataka tales of the Theravada, which is ascribed to Buddhaghoṣa in the 5th century CE. Earlier biographies such as the Buddhacarita, the Lokottaravādin Mahāvastu, and the Sarvāstivādin Lalitavistara Sūtra, give different accounts. Scholars are hesitant to make unqualified claims about the historical facts of the Buddha's life. Most accept that he lived, taught and founded a monastic order, but do not consistently accept all of the details contained in his biographies.

question: The Nidānakathā of the Jataka tales of the Theravada is attributed to who? 

answer: Nidānakathā of the Jataka tales of the Theravada

question: What are some other biographies that differ from the Jataka tales? 

answer: Buddhacarita, the Lokottaravādin Mahāvastu, and the Sarvāstivādin Lalitavistara Sūtra

question: What do scholars recognize about the life of the Buddha? 

answer: Most accept that he lived, taught and founded a monastic order

question: When was the Buddhagohosa written? 

answer: 5th century CE

question: What is one of the earlier biographies on Buddhism? 

answer: the Buddhacarita

question: Who founded a monastic order in his life? 

answer: Buddha

question: Scholars do not make claims without evidence about who's life? 

answer: Buddha

question: Most accept that Buddha lived and taught in what type of order? 

answer: monastic

question: The Jataka tales of the Theravada happened in what century? 

answer: 5th ce
Title: Buddhism
Context: According to author Michael Carrithers, while there are good reasons to doubt the traditional account, "the outline of the life must be true: birth, maturity, renunciation, search, awakening and liberation, teaching, death." In writing her biography of the Buddha, Karen Armstrong noted, "It is obviously difficult, therefore, to write a biography of the Buddha that meets modern criteria, because we have very little information that can be considered historically sound... [but] we can be reasonably confident Siddhatta Gotama did indeed exist and that his disciples preserved the memory of his life and teachings as well as they could."[dubious – discuss]

question: Who said "the outline of the life must be true: birth, maturity, renunciation, search, awakening and liberation, teaching, death."? 

answer: Michael Carrithers

question: What are some of the outlines of life? 

answer: birth, maturity, renunciation

question: Who wrote a biography of Buddha? 

answer: Karen Armstrong

question: What do some say is Buddha's real name? 

answer: Siddhatta Gotama

question: What are the helpers called that helped Buddha? 

answer: disciples

question: Who believes "the outline of the life must be true" in reference to Buddha? 

answer: Michael Carrithers

question: Karen Armstrong wrote a biography on who? 

answer: the Buddha

question: Karen Armstrong has said that we can be confident who existed? 

answer: Siddhatta Gotama
Title: Buddhism
Context: The evidence of the early texts suggests that Siddhārtha Gautama was born in a community that was on the periphery, both geographically and culturally, of the northeastern Indian subcontinent in the fifth century BCE. It was either a small republic, in which case his father was an elected chieftain, or an oligarchy, in which case his father was an oligarch.

question: According to early texts, when was Siddhārtha Gautama born? 

answer: fifth century BCE

question: According to early texts, where was Siddhārtha Gautama born? 

answer: in a community that was on the periphery, both geographically and culturally, of the northeastern Indian subcontinent

question: What type of community was Siddhārtha Gautama raised in? 

answer: It was either a small republic, in which case his father was an elected chieftain, or an oligarchy, in which case his father was an oligarch.

question: Where was Siddhārtha Gautama born? 

answer: the northeastern Indian subcontinent

question: When did Siddhārtha Gautama live? 

answer: fifth century BCE

question: What size was Siddhārtha Gautama's birthplace? 

answer: a small republic

question: Where did we find proof of his existence? 

answer: early texts

question: What was most likely Siddhārtha Gautama's father? 

answer: an oligarchy

question: Who was born in a northeastern part of India/ 

answer: Siddhārtha Gautama

question: If Siddhartha lived in a small republic, his father would have been a what? 

answer: elected chieftain
Title: Buddhism
Context: According to this narrative, shortly after the birth of young prince Gautama, an astrologer named Asita visited the young prince's father, Suddhodana, and prophesied that Siddhartha would either become a great king or renounce the material world to become a holy man, depending on whether he saw what life was like outside the palace walls.

question: What was the name of the astrologer who visited Prince Gautama's father? 

answer: Asita

question: What was the prediction made by Asita? 

answer: Siddhartha would either become a great king or renounce the material world to become a holy man

question: According to Asita, how would Siddhartha decide which path to take in life? 

answer: depending on whether he saw what life was like outside the palace walls

question: What was the occupation of the person who visited Gautama? 

answer: an astrologer

question: What was the name of his father? 

answer: Suddhodana

question: What was Buddha predicted to become contrary with his life as we know it? 

answer: a great king

question: What was the name of the astrologer that visited Gautama's father? 

answer: Asita

question: What is Gautama's fathers name? 

answer: Suddhodana

question: Asita prophesied that Siddhartha would be a kind or a what? 

answer: holy man
Title: Buddhism
Context: Śuddhodana was determined to see his son become a king, so he prevented him from leaving the palace grounds. But at age 29, despite his father's efforts, Gautama ventured beyond the palace several times. In a series of encounters—known in Buddhist literature as the four sights—he learned of the suffering of ordinary people, encountering an old man, a sick man, a corpse and, finally, an ascetic holy man, apparently content and at peace with the world. These experiences prompted Gautama to abandon royal life and take up a spiritual quest.

question: What did Śuddhodana do to ensure that his son became a king instead of a holy man? 

answer: prevented him from leaving the palace grounds

question: How old was Gautama when he first left the palace grounds? 

answer: 29

question: What happened when Gautama left the palace grounds? 

answer: he learned of the suffering of ordinary people

question: What are the four sights in Buddhism? 

answer: encountering an old man, a sick man, a corpse and, finally, an ascetic holy man

question: What did Buddha's father want him to become? 

answer: a king

question: By what age was he venturing outside? 

answer: 29

question: What were his first four encounters called? 

answer: the four sights

question: What did Gautama do after learning about the outside world? 

answer: abandon royal life

question: Suddhodana wanted his son to become what? 

answer: a king

question: At what age did Gautama venture out from the palace area? 

answer: 29

question: How many "sights" did Gautama have that are well known? 

answer: four

question: Gautama encountered an old man, a sick man, a holy man, and a what? 

answer: corpse
Title: Buddhism
Context: Gautama first went to study with famous religious teachers of the day, and mastered the meditative attainments they taught. But he found that they did not provide a permanent end to suffering, so he continued his quest. He next attempted an extreme asceticism, which was a religious pursuit common among the śramaṇas, a religious culture distinct from the Vedic one. Gautama underwent prolonged fasting, breath-holding, and exposure to pain. He almost starved himself to death in the process. He realized that he had taken this kind of practice to its limit, and had not put an end to suffering. So in a pivotal moment he accepted milk and rice from a village girl and changed his approach. He devoted himself to anapanasati meditation, through which he discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way (Skt. madhyamā-pratipad): a path of moderation between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.[web 2][web 3]

question: What was the first thing Gautama did on his spiritual quest? 

answer: went to study with famous religious teachers of the day

question: What is the path of moderation between the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification called? 

answer: the Middle Way

question: What are some of the practices Gautama underwent on his quest? 

answer: prolonged fasting, breath-holding, and exposure to pain

question: What was the first skill Gautama learnt? 

answer: meditation

question: What almost killed Gautama in his pursuit? 

answer: asceticism

question: What did he receive from the locals that changed his approach? 

answer: milk and rice

question: What is the path of moderation called he followed? 

answer: Middle Way

question: Gautama didn't like the religious teaching he initially found because of why? 

answer: they did not provide a permanent end to suffering

question: What did Gautama accept from a village girl? 

answer: milk and rice

question: Gautama devoted himself to what type of meditation? 

answer: anapanasati

question: Buddhists call anapanasati what? 

answer: the Middle Way
Title: Buddhism
Context: Gautama was now determined to complete his spiritual quest. At the age of 35, he famously sat in meditation under a Ficus religiosa tree now called the Bodhi Tree in the town of Bodh Gaya and vowed not to rise before achieving enlightenment. After many days, he finally destroyed the fetters of his mind, thereby liberating himself from the cycle of suffering and rebirth, and arose as a fully enlightened being (Skt. samyaksaṃbuddha). Soon thereafter, he attracted a band of followers and instituted a monastic order. Now, as the Buddha, he spent the rest of his life teaching the path of awakening he had discovered, traveling throughout the northeastern part of the Indian subcontinent, and died at the age of 80 (483 BCE) in Kushinagar, India. The south branch of the original fig tree available only in Anuradhapura Sri Lanka is known as Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.

question: How old was Gautama when he sat under the Bodhi Tree? 

answer: 35

question: What kind of tree was the Bodhi Tree? 

answer: Ficus religiosa

question: What did Gautama spend the rest of his life doing after reaching enlightenment? 

answer: he spent the rest of his life teaching the path of awakening he had discovered

question: How old was the Buddha at the time of his death? 

answer: 80

question: What is the south branch of the tree Gautama sat under called? 

answer: Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi

question: What was the tree called he sat under? 

answer: Ficus religiosa

question: What was the tree renamed that Gautama achieved enlightenment under? 

answer: Bodhi Tree

question: At what age did Gautama come to pass? 

answer: 80

question: When he was 35 Gautama sat in meditation under what tree? 

answer: Bodhi Tree

question: What type of tree was the Bodhi Tree? 

answer: Ficus religiosa

question: What town was the Bodhi Tree in? 

answer: Bodh Gaya

question: The south branch of the original fig tree is known as? 

answer: Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi
Title: Buddhism
Context: Within Buddhism, samsara is defined as the continual repetitive cycle of birth and death that arises from ordinary beings' grasping and fixating on a self and experiences. Specifically, samsara refers to the process of cycling through one rebirth after another within the six realms of existence,[note 2] where each realm can be understood as physical realm or a psychological state characterized by a particular type of suffering. Samsara arises out of avidya (ignorance) and is characterized by dukkha (suffering, anxiety, dissatisfaction). In the Buddhist view, liberation from samsara is possible by following the Buddhist path.

question: What is samsara? 

answer: the continual repetitive cycle of birth and death

question: What is avidya? 

answer: ignorance

question: What is dukkha? 

answer: suffering, anxiety, dissatisfaction

question: Is liberation from samsara possible? 

answer: In the Buddhist view, liberation from samsara is possible by following the Buddhist path.

question: The cycle of birth and death is called what in Buddhism? 

answer: Samsara

question: How many realms of existence are there in Buddhism? 

answer: six

question: avidya is what kind of samsara? 

answer: ignorance

question: How can you be freed from samsara? 

answer: by following the Buddhist path

question: What is samsara defined as? 

answer: the continual repetitive cycle of birth and death

question: How many realms of existance are within the cycle of rebirths? 

answer: six

question: Realms can be understood as physical realms of what type of states? 

answer: psychological

question: Samsara is caused by what? 

answer: avidya

question: A person can get away from samsara by doing what? 

answer: following the Buddhist path
Title: Buddhism
Context: In Buddhism, Karma (from Sanskrit: "action, work") is the force that drives saṃsāra—the cycle of suffering and rebirth for each being. Good, skillful deeds (Pali: "kusala") and bad, unskillful (Pāli: "akusala") actions produce "seeds" in the mind that come to fruition either in this life or in a subsequent rebirth. The avoidance of unwholesome actions and the cultivation of positive actions is called sīla. Karma specifically refers to those actions of body, speech or mind that spring from mental intent (cetanā), and bring about a consequence or phala "fruit" or vipāka "result".

question: What does the Sanskrit term Karma translate as? 

answer: action, work

question: What is karma according to Buddhism? 

answer: the force that drives saṃsāra

question: What is theavoidance of unwholesome actions and the cultivation of positive actions called? 

answer: sīla

question: What actions does karma refer to in Buddhism? 

answer: actions of body, speech or mind that spring from mental intent

question: What is the definition of Karma from Sanskrit? 

answer: action, work

question: What is the avoidance of bad acts called? 

answer: sīla

question: Karma's actions come from what? 

answer: cetanā

question: What is the result of Karma called? 

answer: vipāka

question: What is Karma? 

answer: the force that drives saṃsāra

question: Avoidance of unwholesome actions and use of positive actions is called what? 

answer: sīla

question: what does vipaka mean? 

answer: result
Title: Buddhism
Context: In Theravada Buddhism there can be no divine salvation or forgiveness for one's karma, since it is a purely impersonal process that is a part of the makeup of the universe.[citation needed] In Mahayana Buddhism, the texts of certain Mahayana sutras (such as the Lotus Sutra, the Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra and the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra) claim that the recitation or merely the hearing of their texts can expunge great swathes of negative karma. Some forms of Buddhism (for example, Vajrayana) regard the recitation of mantras as a means for cutting off of previous negative karma. The Japanese Pure Land teacher Genshin taught that Amitābha has the power to destroy the karma that would otherwise bind one in saṃsāra.

question: In which branch of Buddhism is it believed that there can be no divine salvation or forgiveness for karma? 

answer: Theravada Buddhism

question: In Mahayana Buddhism, what are some Mahayana sutras that are believed to remove negative karma just by the hearing of the texts? 

answer: the Lotus Sutra, the Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra and the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra

question: The reciting of mantras as a means for removing past negative karma is a part of which branch of Buddhism? 

answer: Vajrayana

question: According to Genshin, who has the power to destroy karma? 

answer: Amitābha

question: What Buddhism says that salvation is unattainable? 

answer: Theravada Buddhism

question: Who has the power to destroy bad karma? 

answer: Amitābha

question: What type of sutra is the Lotus Sutra? 

answer: Mahayana

question: Some mantras are used for cutting off what type of karma? 

answer: negative

question: Who was the Japanese Pure Land teacher? 

answer: Genshin

question: According to Genshin, whats has the power to destroy karma? 

answer: Amitābha
Title: Buddhism
Context: Rebirth refers to a process whereby beings go through a succession of lifetimes as one of many possible forms of sentient life, each running from conception to death. The doctrine of anattā (Sanskrit anātman) rejects the concepts of a permanent self or an unchanging, eternal soul, as it is called in Hinduism and Christianity. According to Buddhism there ultimately is no such thing as a self independent from the rest of the universe. Buddhists also refer to themselves as the believers of the anatta doctrine—Nairatmyavadin or Anattavadin. Rebirth in subsequent existences must be understood as the continuation of a dynamic, ever-changing process of pratītyasamutpāda ("dependent arising") determined by the laws of cause and effect (karma) rather than that of one being, reincarnating from one existence to the next.

question: What is the process in which beings go through cycles of lifetimes as many forms of sentient life? 

answer: Rebirth

question: Which doctrine denies the concept of a permanent self or soul? 

answer: The doctrine of anattā (Sanskrit anātman)

question: In Buddhism, rebirth into consecutive lives is determined by what? 

answer: the laws of cause and effect

question: Sentient life according to Buddhism runs between what two points? 

answer: from conception to death.

question: The laws of cause and effect can also be called? 

answer: karma

question: What is the name for the process of a succession of lifetimes? 

answer: Rebirth

question: What doctrine rejects the idea of permanent self? 

answer: anatta

question: "dependent arising" is the meaning of what word? 

answer: pratītyasamutpāda

question: Hinduism and Christianity use what term for a permanent self? 

answer: eternal soul
Title: Buddhism
Context: The above are further subdivided into 31 planes of existence.[web 4] Rebirths in some of the higher heavens, known as the Śuddhāvāsa Worlds or Pure Abodes, can be attained only by skilled Buddhist practitioners known as anāgāmis (non-returners). Rebirths in the Ārūpyadhātu (formless realms) can be attained by only those who can meditate on the arūpajhānas, the highest object of meditation.

question: Rebirth into the Śuddhāvāsa Worlds or Pure Abodes can only be attained by who? 

answer: skilled Buddhist practitioners known as anāgāmis (non-returners)

question: Rebirth into the formless realms can only be attained by who? 

answer: those who can meditate on the arūpajhānas, the highest object of meditation

question: How many planes of existence are there? 

answer: 31

question: What are the higher heavens called? 

answer: Pure Abodes

question: What are skilled Buddhists called? 

answer: anāgāmis

question: What is another name for Ārūpyadhātu? 

answer: formless realms

question: What is the highest object of meditation called? 

answer: arūpajhānas

question: How many planes of existence? 

answer: 31

question: Skilled buddhist practictioners that can get to the higher heavens are known as what? 

answer: anāgāmis

question: What is the highest object of meditation? 

answer: arūpajhānas

question: What does arupyadhatu mean? 

answer: formless realms
Title: Buddhism
Context: According to East Asian and Tibetan Buddhism, there is an intermediate state (Tibetan "bardo") between one life and the next. The orthodox Theravada position rejects this; however there are passages in the Samyutta Nikaya of the Pali Canon that seem to lend support to the idea that the Buddha taught of an intermediate stage between one life and the next.[page needed]

question: There is a transitional state between one life and the next according to what branches of Buddhism? 

answer: East Asian and Tibetan

question: What branch of Buddhism rejects that there is a transitional state between lives? 

answer: Theravada

question: Passages in what teaching support the idea that the Buddha taught of a stage between lives? 

answer: Samyutta Nikaya of the Pali Canon

question: What is the state called between lives? 

answer: bardo

question: Which major part of Buddhism rejects bardo? 

answer: Theravada

question: What book discusses bardo? 

answer: Samyutta Nikaya

question: Other than Tibetan Buddhism, what other Buddhism supports bardo? 

answer: East Asian

question: There is an intermediate state between one life and the next according to what Buddism? 

answer: East Asian and Tibetan

question: What type of Theravada rejects the intermediate state idea? 

answer: orthodox

question: Some passages of what Canon support the idea of intermediate stages? 

answer: Pali