praj-17/QA-MCQ-Open-ended huggingface dataset:
Title: Buddhism
Context: In Eastern Buddhism, there is also a distinctive Vinaya and ethics contained within the Mahayana Brahmajala Sutra (not to be confused with the Pali text of that name) for Bodhisattvas, where, for example, the eating of meat is frowned upon and vegetarianism is actively encouraged (see vegetarianism in Buddhism). In Japan, this has almost completely displaced the monastic vinaya, and allows clergy to marry.

question: Distinctive Vinaya and ethics are contained within what sutra? 

answer: Mahayana Brahmajala

question: Bodhisattvas are not encouraged to eat what? 

answer: meat

question: Where is the monastic vinaya displaced and clergy is allowed to marry? 

answer: Japan
Title: Buddhism
Context: Buddhist meditation is fundamentally concerned with two themes: transforming the mind and using it to explore itself and other phenomena. According to Theravada Buddhism the Buddha taught two types of meditation, samatha meditation (Sanskrit: śamatha) and vipassanā meditation (Sanskrit: vipaśyanā). In Chinese Buddhism, these exist (translated chih kuan), but Chán (Zen) meditation is more popular. According to Peter Harvey, whenever Buddhism has been healthy, not only monks, nuns, and married lamas, but also more committed lay people have practiced meditation. According to Routledge's Encyclopedia of Buddhism, in contrast, throughout most of Buddhist history before modern times, serious meditation by lay people has been unusual. The evidence of the early texts suggests that at the time of the Buddha, many male and female lay practitioners did practice meditation, some even to the point of proficiency in all eight jhānas (see the next section regarding these).[note 11]

question: In Chinese Buddhism what meditation is more popular? 

answer: Zen

question: Evidence has shown some lay people got to proficiency in all eight what? 

answer: jhānas
Title: Buddhism
Context: In the language of the Noble Eightfold Path, samyaksamādhi is "right concentration". The primary means of cultivating samādhi is meditation. Upon development of samādhi, one's mind becomes purified of defilement, calm, tranquil, and luminous.

question: What does the word samyaksamadhi mean? 

answer: right concentration

question: Meditation is the primary means of cultivating what? 

answer: samādhi

question: Upon development of samadhi, a person gets rid of what? 

answer: defilement, calm, tranquil, and luminous
Title: Buddhism
Context: Once the meditator achieves a strong and powerful concentration (jhāna, Sanskrit ध्यान dhyāna), his mind is ready to penetrate and gain insight (vipassanā) into the ultimate nature of reality, eventually obtaining release from all suffering. The cultivation of mindfulness is essential to mental concentration, which is needed to achieve insight.

question: What is powerful concentration called? 

answer: jhāna

question: What is the term when the mind is ready to penetrate and gain insight? 

answer: vipassanā

question: Mindfulness is essential to concentration, which is neede to achieve what? 

answer: insight
Title: Buddhism
Context: Samatha meditation starts from being mindful of an object or idea, which is expanded to one's body, mind and entire surroundings, leading to a state of total concentration and tranquility (jhāna). There are many variations in the style of meditation, from sitting cross-legged or kneeling to chanting or walking. The most common method of meditation is to concentrate on one's breath (anapanasati), because this practice can lead to both samatha and vipassana'.

question: Samatha meditation starts from being mindful of an object or what? 

answer: idea

question: What is the term for tranquility? 

answer: jhāna
Title: Buddhism
Context: In Buddhist practice, it is said that while samatha meditation can calm the mind, only vipassanā meditation can reveal how the mind was disturbed to start with, which is what leads to insight knowledge (jñāna; Pāli ñāṇa) and understanding (prajñā Pāli paññā), and thus can lead to nirvāṇa (Pāli nibbāna). When one is in jhana, all defilements are suppressed temporarily. Only understanding (prajñā or vipassana) eradicates the defilements completely. Jhanas are also states that Arahants abide in order to rest.

question: In Buddhism, samatha meditation can calm the what? 

answer: mind

question: Vipassana meditation can reveal how the mind was what? 

answer: disturbed

question: What is the term for insight knowledge? 

answer: jñāna

question: What is the term for understanding? 

answer: prajñā

question: What eradicates the defilements completely? 

answer: understanding
Title: Buddhism
Context: In Theravāda Buddhism, the cause of human existence and suffering is identified as craving, which carries with it the various defilements. These various defilements are traditionally summed up as greed, hatred and delusion. These are believed deeply rooted afflictions of the mind that create suffering and stress. To be free from suffering and stress, these defilements must be permanently uprooted through internal investigation, analyzing, experiencing, and understanding of the true nature of those defilements by using jhāna, a technique of the Noble Eightfold Path. It then leads the meditator to realize the Four Noble Truths, Enlightenment and Nibbāna. Nibbāna is the ultimate goal of Theravadins.

question: In Theravada Buddhism, what is the cause of human existence and suffering? 

answer: craving

question: What does craving carry with it? 

answer: defilements

question: Deeply rooted afflictions of the mind create what? 

answer: suffering and stress

question: What is the ultimate goal for Theravadins? 

answer: Nibbāna
Title: Buddhism
Context: Prajñā (Sanskrit) or paññā (Pāli) means wisdom that is based on a realization of dependent origination, The Four Noble Truths and the three marks of existence. Prajñā is the wisdom that is able to extinguish afflictions and bring about bodhi. It is spoken of as the principal means of attaining nirvāṇa, through its revelation of the true nature of all things as dukkha (unsatisfactoriness), anicca (impermanence) and anatta (not-self). Prajñā is also listed as the sixth of the six pāramitās of the Mahayana.

question: How many Noble Truths are there? 

answer: Four

question: Prajna is the wisom that is able to extinguish afflictions and bring about what? 

answer: bodhi

question: What is listed as the sixth of the six paramitas of the mahayana? 

answer: Prajñā
Title: Buddhism
Context: Initially, prajñā is attained at a conceptual level by means of listening to sermons (dharma talks), reading, studying, and sometimes reciting Buddhist texts and engaging in discourse. Once the conceptual understanding is attained, it is applied to daily life so that each Buddhist can verify the truth of the Buddha's teaching at a practical level. Notably, one could in theory attain Nirvana at any point of practice, whether deep in meditation, listening to a sermon, conducting the business of one's daily life, or any other activity.

question: Initially prajna is attained at a conceptual level by means of listening to what? 

answer: sermons

question: In theory when can one attain Nirvana during practice? 

answer: at any point

question: What can be applied to daily life once it is attained? 

answer: conceptual understanding
Title: Buddhism
Context: Zen Buddhism (禅), pronounced Chán in Chinese, seon in Korean or zen in Japanese (derived from the Sanskrit term dhyāna, meaning "meditation") is a form of Buddhism that became popular in China, Korea and Japan and that lays special emphasis on meditation.[note 12] Zen places less emphasis on scriptures than some other forms of Buddhism and prefers to focus on direct spiritual breakthroughs to truth.

question: Zen Buddhism is known as what in Korea? 

answer: seon

question: What form of buddhism lays special emphasis on meditation? 

answer: Zen

question: What form of Buddhism places less emphasis on scriptures? 

answer: Zen

question: Zen focuses on what type of breakthroughs? 

answer: spiritual
Title: Buddhism
Context: Zen Buddhism is divided into two main schools: Rinzai (臨済宗) and Sōtō (曹洞宗), the former greatly favouring the use in meditation on the koan (公案, a meditative riddle or puzzle) as a device for spiritual break-through, and the latter (while certainly employing koans) focusing more on shikantaza or "just sitting".[note 13]

question: Zen Buddhism is divided into how many main schools? 

answer: two

question: Which schools of Zen likes the use of meditation on the koan for spiritual breakthroughs? 

answer: Rinzai
Title: Buddhism
Context: Zen Buddhist teaching is often full of paradox, in order to loosen the grip of the ego and to facilitate the penetration into the realm of the True Self or Formless Self, which is equated with the Buddha himself.[note 14] According to Zen master Kosho Uchiyama, when thoughts and fixation on the little "I" are transcended, an Awakening to a universal, non-dual Self occurs: "When we let go of thoughts and wake up to the reality of life that is working beyond them, we discover the Self that is living universal non-dual life (before the separation into two) that pervades all living creatures and all existence." Thinking and thought must therefore not be allowed to confine and bind one.

question: What Buddhist teachings are often full of paradox? 

answer: Zen

question: What type of self is equated with the Buddha? 

answer: True Self

question: What is not allowed to confine and bind oneself? 

answer: Thinking and thought
Title: Buddhism
Context: Though based upon Mahayana, Tibeto-Mongolian Buddhism is one of the schools that practice Vajrayana or "Diamond Vehicle" (also referred to as Mantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Tantric Buddhism, or esoteric Buddhism). It accepts all the basic concepts of Mahāyāna, but also includes a vast array of spiritual and physical techniques designed to enhance Buddhist practice. Tantric Buddhism is largely concerned with ritual and meditative practices. One component of the Vajrayāna is harnessing psycho-physical energy through ritual, visualization, physical exercises, and meditation as a means of developing the mind. Using these techniques, it is claimed that a practitioner can achieve Buddhahood in one lifetime, or even as little as three years. In the Tibetan tradition, these practices can include sexual yoga, though only for some very advanced practitioners.

question: What type of Buddhism is Tibeto-Mongolian based on? 

answer: Mahayana

question: What is the English term for Vajrayana? 

answer: Diamond Vehicle

question: What type of Buddhism is concerned with ritual and meditative practices? 

answer: Tantric

question: Psycho-physical energy is harnessed through what? 

answer: ritual
Title: Buddhism
Context: Historically, the roots of Buddhism lie in the religious thought of ancient India during the second half of the first millennium BCE. That was a period of social and religious turmoil, as there was significant discontent with the sacrifices and rituals of Vedic Brahmanism.[note 15] It was challenged by numerous new ascetic religious and philosophical groups and teachings that broke with the Brahmanic tradition and rejected the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmans.[note 16] These groups, whose members were known as shramanas, were a continuation of a non-Vedic strand of Indian thought distinct from Indo-Aryan Brahmanism.[note 17] Scholars have reasons to believe that ideas such as samsara, karma (in the sense of the influence of morality on rebirth), and moksha originated in the shramanas, and were later adopted by Brahmin orthodoxy.[note 18][note 19][note 20][note 21][note 22][note 23]

question: What time period was the beginning of Buddhism? 

answer: second half of the first millennium BCE

question: Scholars believe that karma originated in what? 

answer: the shramanas

question: What groups broke with Brahmanic tradition? 

answer: shramanas

question: Shramanas were a continuation of what type of trand of Indian thought? 

answer: non-Vedic
Title: Buddhism
Context: This view is supported by a study of the region where these notions originated. Buddhism arose in Greater Magadha, which stretched from Sravasti, the capital of Kosala in the north-west, to Rajagrha in the south east. This land, to the east of aryavarta, the land of the Aryas, was recognized as non-Vedic. Other Vedic texts reveal a dislike of the people of Magadha, in all probability because the Magadhas at this time were not Brahmanised.[page needed] It was not until the 2nd or 3rd centuries BCE that the eastward spread of Brahmanism into Greater Magadha became significant. Ideas that developed in Greater Magadha prior to this were not subject to Vedic influence. These include rebirth and karmic retribution that appear in a number of movements in Greater Magadha, including Buddhism. These movements inherited notions of rebirth and karmic retribution from an earlier culture[page needed]

question: Buddhism arose in what area? 

answer: Greater Magadha

question: Greater magadha stretched from Sravasti in the north-west to what area in the south-east? 

answer: Rajagrha

question: What time period did the eastward spread of Brahmanism start? 

answer: 2nd or 3rd centuries
Title: Buddhism
Context: At the same time, these movements were influenced by, and in some respects continued, philosophical thought within the Vedic tradition as reflected e.g. in the Upanishads. These movements included, besides Buddhism, various skeptics (such as Sanjaya Belatthiputta), atomists (such as Pakudha Kaccayana), materialists (such as Ajita Kesakambali), antinomians (such as Purana Kassapa); the most important ones in the 5th century BCE were the Ajivikas, who emphasized the rule of fate, the Lokayata (materialists), the Ajnanas (agnostics) and the Jains, who stressed that the soul must be freed from matter. Many of these new movements shared the same conceptual vocabulary—atman ("Self"), buddha ("awakened one"), dhamma ("rule" or "law"), karma ("action"), nirvana ("extinguishing"), samsara ("eternal recurrence") and yoga ("spiritual practice").[note 24] The shramanas rejected the Veda, and the authority of the brahmans, who claimed they possessed revealed truths not knowable by any ordinary human means. Moreover, they declared that the entire Brahmanical system was fraudulent: a conspiracy of the brahmans to enrich themselves by charging exorbitant fees to perform bogus rites and give useless advice.

question: Movements were influenced by philosophical thought within the Vedic tradition such as what? 

answer: in the Upanishads

question: The movement included atomists such as what? 

answer: Pakudha Kaccayana

question: What is the term for agnostics? 

answer: Ajnanas

question: What movement focused on the idea that the sould must be freed from matter? 

answer: Jains
Title: Buddhism
Context: A particular criticism of the Buddha was Vedic animal sacrifice.[web 18] He also mocked the Vedic "hymn of the cosmic man". However, the Buddha was not anti-Vedic, and declared that the Veda in its true form was declared by "Kashyapa" to certain rishis, who by severe penances had acquired the power to see by divine eyes. He names the Vedic rishis, and declared that the original Veda of the rishis[note 25] was altered by a few Brahmins who introduced animal sacrifices. The Buddha says that it was on this alteration of the true Veda that he refused to pay respect to the Vedas of his time. However, he did not denounce the union with Brahman,[note 26] or the idea of the self uniting with the Self. At the same time, the traditional Hindu itself gradually underwent profound changes, transforming it into what is recognized as early Hinduism.

question: A criticism the Buddha gave dealing with animals was? 

answer: Vedic animal sacrifice

question: The Buddha mocked what hymn of the Vedic? 

answer: hymn of the cosmic man

question: The original Veda of the rishis was altered by a few Brahmins who introduced what? 

answer: animal sacrifices

question: The Buddha refused to pay respect to who, during their time of animal sacrifice? 

answer: Vedas
Title: Buddhism
Context: Information of the oldest teachings may be obtained by analysis of the oldest texts. One method to obtain information on the oldest core of Buddhism is to compare the oldest extant versions of the Theravadin Pali Canon and other texts.[note 27] The reliability of these sources, and the possibility to draw out a core of oldest teachings, is a matter of dispute.[page needed][page needed][page needed][page needed] According to Vetter, inconsistencies remain, and other methods must be applied to resolve those inconsistencies.[note 28]

question: What is in dispute regarding the research into the core of the teachings? 

answer: The reliability
Title: Buddhism
Context: A core problem in the study of early Buddhism is the relation between dhyana and insight. Schmithausen, in his often-cited article On some Aspects of Descriptions or Theories of 'Liberating Insight' and 'Enlightenment' in Early Buddhism notes that the mention of the four noble truths as constituting "liberating insight", which is attained after mastering the Rupa Jhanas, is a later addition to texts such as Majjhima Nikaya 36.[page needed]

question: A large problem in the study of early Buddhism is the relationship of dhyana and what else? 

answer: insight

question: Liberating insight is attained after mastering what? 

answer: Rupa Jhanas

question: Later edition of texts such as what has the Rupa Jhanas? 

answer: Majjhima Nikaya
Title: Buddhism
Context: Bruce Matthews notes that there is no cohesive presentation of karma in the Sutta Pitaka, which may mean that the doctrine was incidental to the main perspective of early Buddhist soteriology. Schmithausen is a notable scholar who has questioned whether karma already played a role in the theory of rebirth of earliest Buddhism.[page needed][note 32] According to Vetter, "the Buddha at first sought "the deathless" (amata/amrta), which is concerned with the here and now. According to Vetter, only after this realization did he become acquainted with the doctrine of rebirth." Bronkhorst disagrees, and concludes that the Buddha "introduced a concept of karma that differed considerably from the commonly held views of his time." According to Bronkhorst, not physical and mental activities as such were seen as responsible for rebirth, but intentions and desire.

question: According the Bronkhorst, intentions and desire are responsible for what? 

answer: rebirth

question: Bronkhurst says that Buddha had a view of 'what' much different then current day? 

answer: karma
Title: Buddhism
Context: According to Tilmann Vetter, the core of earliest Buddhism is the practice of dhyāna. Bronkhorst agrees that dhyana was a Buddhist invention, whereas Norman notes that "the Buddha's way to release [...] was by means of meditative practices." Discriminating insight into transiency as a separate path to liberation was a later development.

question: What was the earliest Buddhism type? 

answer: dhyana

question: Buddha's way to release was by means of what type of practices?  

answer: meditative
Title: Buddhism
Context: According to the Mahāsaccakasutta,[note 33] from the fourth jhana the Buddha gained bodhi. Yet, it is not clear what he was awakened to.[page needed] "Liberating insight" is a later addition to this text, and reflects a later development and understanding in early Buddhism.[page needed][page needed] The mentioning of the four truths as constituting "liberating insight" introduces a logical problem, since the four truths depict a linear path of practice, the knowledge of which is in itself not depicted as being liberating.[note 34]

question: From which jhana did Buddha gain bodhi? 

answer: fourth

question: A logic problem arises when noting that the four truths constitute what? 

answer: liberating insight

question: The four truths depict what type of path of practice? 

answer: linear
Title: Buddhism
Context: Although "Nibbāna" (Sanskrit: Nirvāna) is the common term for the desired goal of this practice, many other terms can be found throughout the Nikayas, which are not specified.[note 35]

question: What is the Sanskrit form of Nibbana? 

answer: Nirvāna

question: Many terms for Nibbana can be found throughout the what? 

answer: Nikayas

question: The desired goal for buddhism is what? 

answer: Nirvāna
Title: Buddhism
Context: According to Vetter, the description of the Buddhist path may initially have been as simple as the term "the middle way". In time, this short description was elaborated, resulting in the description of the eightfold path.

question: A description of the Buddhist path may have been as simplistic as what term? 

answer: the middle way

question: The description of buddhism was broadened resulting in what path? 

answer: eightfold
Title: Buddhism
Context: According to both Bronkhorst and Anderson, the four truths became a substitution for prajna, or "liberating insight", in the suttas in those texts where "liberating insight" was preceded by the four jhanas. According to Bronkhorst, the four truths may not have been formulated in earliest Buddhism, and did not serve in earliest Buddhism as a description of "liberating insight". Gotama's teachings may have been personal, "adjusted to the need of each person."

question: Authors Bronkhorst and Anderson claim the four truths bacame a substitution for what? 

answer: prajna

question: What is prajna called in english? 

answer: liberating insight

question: Gotamas teachings may have been personal and adjusted to the need of each what? 

answer: person
Title: Buddhism
Context: The three marks of existence may reflect Upanishadic or other influences. K.R. Norman supposes that the these terms were already in use at the Buddha's time, and were familiair to his hearers.

question: How many marks of existence reflect Upanishadic influences? 

answer: three
Title: Buddhism
Context: The history of Indian Buddhism may be divided into five periods: Early Buddhism (occasionally called Pre-sectarian Buddhism), Nikaya Buddhism or Sectarian Buddhism: The period of the Early Buddhist schools, Early Mahayana Buddhism, Later Mahayana Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism (also called Vajrayana Buddhism).

question: The periods of Buddhisma in India is divided into how many periods? 

answer: five

question: What is the first period of Buddhism called? 

answer: Early Buddhism

question: What is another name for Nikaya buddhism? 

answer: Sectarian

question: What is the last period of Buddhism? 

answer: Esoteric Buddhism

question: What is Esoteric Buddhism also called? 

answer: Vajrayana
Title: Buddhism
Context: Pre-sectarian Buddhism is the earliest phase of Buddhism, recognized by nearly all scholars. Its main scriptures are the Vinaya Pitaka and the four principal Nikayas or Agamas. Certain basic teachings appear in many places throughout the early texts, so most scholars conclude that Gautama Buddha must have taught something similar to the Three marks of existence, the Five Aggregates, dependent origination, karma and rebirth, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and nirvana. Some scholars disagree, and have proposed many other theories.

question: Was is the earliest phase of buddhism? 

answer: Pre-sectarian

question: Gautama Buddha most likely taught the idea of Karma and what? 

answer: rebirth

question: Gautama buddha taught what Path concept? 

answer: Noble Eightfold