NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 6 New Questions and Ideas contains answers to all the questions given in the exercise of the history book. These solutions have been created on the basis of NCERT Book Guidelines. The solutions are prepared in simple language by our subject experts to help students in their exam preparation.
Class 6 History Chapter 6 New Questions and Ideas Questions and Answers
Question 1: Describe the ways in which the Buddha tried to spread his message to the people?
Answer: The Buddha preached about life being full of suffering and unhappiness. He spoke of ‘tanha’ the desire to have more. He taught about ‘Karma’our actions which affect us in the current life and also in the later lives. He taught people to be kind and to respect the lives of others. He used the language of the ordinary people, Prakrit, to talk to them.
Question 2: Write whether true or false:
(a)The Buddha encouraged animal sacrifices.
(b)Samath is important because it was the place where the Buddha taught for the first time.
(c)The Buddha taught that ‘Karma’ has no effect on our lives.
(d)The Buddha attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
(e)Upanishadic thinkers believed that the ‘atman’ and ‘brahman’ were ultimately one
Answer: a) False
Buddha professed kindness for animals. He discouraged the practice of sacrificing animals.
(b) True
Sarnath is where Buddha taught for the first time after enlightenment. He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.
(c) False
Karma means action or the work we do. Buddha believed that Karma affects our current and next lives.
(d) True
Buddha did meditation for several days under a Peepal (Banyan) tree in Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment.
(e) True
Atman means individual soul, whereas Brahman means universal soul. Those who follow the Upanishads believed that Atman and Brahman were the same.
Question 3: What were the questions Upanishadic thinkers wanted to answer?
Answer: The Upanishadic thinkers wanted to find answers to the following questions:
- What happens after death?
- Is there any life after death?
- Why should sacrifices be performed?
- Is there something permanent in the Universe, which lasts even after death?
Question 4: What were the main teachings of Mahavira?
Answer: The following are the main teachings of Mahavira:
- Those who wish to know the truth must leave his/her home.
- Those who are on the path of truth must adhere to the principles of Ahimsa (Non-violence), very strictly.
- One must not hurt or kill any other living being, as life is dear to all.
Question 5: Why do you think Anagha’s mother wanted her to know the story of the Buddha?
Answer: Buddha was the founder of Buddhism and he was the Wise One. His stories could be inspirational and motivational to students. So Anagha‘s mother wanted her to know his story.
Question 6: Do you think it would have been easy for slaves to join the Sangha? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer: Everyone except men had to take permission from his/her master before joining the Sangha. Children had to take permission from their masters, servants had to take permission from the Kings, the wives from their husbands and the slaves from their masters.
It wouldn’t have been easy for the slaves to join the sangha because:
- Slaves had little to no rights.
- It was not necessary that a slave would get a kind master
- Since society, in general, depended on slaves to do their tasks for them, there was no incentive for masters to give permission for their slaves to join the Sangha.
Question 7: Make a list of at least five ideas and questions mentioned in this lesson. Choose three from the list and discuss why you think they are important even today.
Answer: The Ideas and questions mentioned in the chapter are the following:
Questions:
1. Is there a life after death?
2. What was Buddha trying to teach Kisagotami?
3. How did the beggar convince sages to share food with them?
Ideas:
4. One should follow the principle of ahimsa.
5. One should renounce worldly pleasure in search of the truth.
Discussion:
1. What was Buddha trying to teach Kisagotami?
Explanation: Kishagotami had lost her son, so she was taken to Buddha. He requested Kishagotami to get mustard seeds from a house where no one had died. She found no such house, as someone – a son, daughter, father, grandfather or grandmother had died in all of those houses. Buddha wanted to convey to her that death is a part of the cycle of life and nothing can be done to avoid it. One must not lose hope after losing a loved one. This teaching is very important even today.
2. How did the Beggar convince sages to share food with them?
Explanation: The sages worshiped the universal soul. The sages shared food with the beggar as he proved that he too was part of the universal soul. This shows that we must respect every living being as we are all a part of the universal soul or Brahman.
3. One should renounce worldly pleasure in search of the truth.
Explanation: Both Jainism and Buddhism teach that in the search of the truth one must reject all worldly pleasures and material wealth. Buddha believed that life is full of suffering and unhappiness because of our desires.