CBSE Class 6 Social Science Our Past Important Questions Chapter 6 - New Questions and Ideas - Free PDF Download
FAQs on Important Questions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Our Past Chapter 6 - New Questions and Ideas
1. What were the central teachings of the Buddha, which are important for exams?
The Buddha's central teachings are crucial for your exams and focus on overcoming worldly suffering. He taught that life is full of suffering and unhappiness, caused by our cravings and desires (tanha). He proposed a path of moderation to overcome this. His key teachings include:
- The Four Noble Truths: The truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.
- The Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga): This is the path to end suffering, which includes right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
- Karma: The idea that our actions in this life affect us in the present and in later lives.
2. For a 3-mark question, explain the significance of the 'Sangha' in Buddhism.
The Sangha was an association of those who left their homes to pursue true knowledge. Its significance in Buddhism includes:
- Community of Monks: It was the community of Buddhist monks (bhikkhus) and nuns (bhikkhunis) who lived simple lives, meditated, and taught the Dharma (Buddha's teachings).
- Spreading Teachings: Members of the Sangha travelled from place to place, spreading the Buddha's message to the common people in their local language, Prakrit.
- Rules and Discipline: The rules for the Sangha were written down in a book called the Vinaya Pitaka, ensuring a disciplined life focused on attaining enlightenment.
3. What were 'viharas' and why were they built?
Viharas were monasteries or permanent shelters for Buddhist and Jaina monks and nuns. Initially, monks wandered throughout the year, but during the rainy season, it became difficult to travel. Their supporters built these temporary shelters, which later evolved into permanent monasteries known as viharas. These were often made of wood, and later of brick, sometimes located in natural caves in hilly areas.
4. Why did both Buddha and Mahavira gain popularity among the common people?
Both Buddha and Mahavira gained immense popularity because their ideas resonated with the common people for several key reasons:
- Simple Language: They taught in Prakrit, the language of the ordinary people, unlike the complex Sanskrit used for Vedic rituals which was not understood by everyone.
- Rejection of Caste System: Their teachings were inclusive and did not discriminate based on caste. This appealed to people from lower varnas who felt oppressed by the rigid social structure.
- Emphasis on Non-violence: Their strong emphasis on ahimsa (non-violence) appealed to farmers and traders who were troubled by the frequent animal sacrifices in Vedic rituals.
5. How did the Upanishadic thinkers' ideas about the 'atman' and 'Brahman' represent a new question in that era?
The Upanishadic thinkers introduced a profound new line of questioning that shifted focus from external rituals to internal reflection. Their core ideas were revolutionary because they explored:
- The concept of 'Atman': They proposed the existence of an individual soul (atman) that was permanent and continued to exist even after death.
- The concept of 'Brahman': They believed in a universal soul (Brahman) that encompassed everything in the universe.
- The Ultimate Goal: The central new idea was that the individual soul (atman) and the universal soul (Brahman) were ultimately one. This was a deep philosophical concept that went beyond the traditional gods and sacrifices of the time.
6. From an exam perspective for Class 6, what is the correct way to explain the concept of karma?
For the CBSE 2025-26 exams, it's important to explain karma not as pre-determined fate, but as the principle of cause and effect. A good answer would state that both the Buddha and Mahavira taught that our actions (karma), whether good or bad, have consequences that shape our current and future lives. This belief empowers individuals, as it suggests that one can achieve a better life or salvation through righteous actions and ethical living.
7. What were the three main vows of Jaina monks and nuns, as prescribed by Mahavira?
Mahavira taught that to attain liberation, one must follow strict rules. The three most important vows for Jaina monks and nuns were:
- Ahimsa: To not injure or kill any living being. This rule was followed very strictly.
- Satya: To always speak the truth.
- Asteya: To not steal anything.
They were also expected to observe celibacy (brahmacharya) and renounce all possessions, including clothes.
8. How was the story of Panini, the grammarian, an example of the 'new ideas' of this period?
Panini was a brilliant scholar who represented the intellectual spirit of the age, which was focused on organising knowledge. While others were exploring philosophical questions, Panini focused on language. He prepared a comprehensive grammar for Sanskrit, arranging vowels and consonants in a special order and then using these to create formulae for the rules of the language. His work, the Ashtadhyayi, was a pioneering effort in linguistics and showed a new way of thinking based on logic and structure, similar to how mathematicians use formulae.
