Vision Academy EducareVision Academy Educare
Question 47 of 75 · Buddhism & Jainism
Questionhard
This question was previously asked in

Railway

The Buddha's sermon known as the 'Fire Sermon' is the:

Answer View answer ▾

Answer: Option C — Adittapariyaya Sutta

Detailed Solution

The "Fire Sermon" of the Buddha is called the "Adittapariyaya Sutta" in Pali.

About the Fire Sermon:

  • It was delivered at Gayasisa (Gaya Head or Brahmayoni hill), near Gaya, a short time after the Buddha's enlightenment.
  • It was addressed to about one thousand monks, who had earlier been fire-worshipping ascetics (the Kassapa brothers and their followers), and had recently become the Buddha's disciples.
  • The Buddha used the image of fire, which they knew well, to explain his teaching.

Its message:

  • "All is burning": the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind, and everything they perceive, are "burning".
  • They are burning with the fire of passion (raga), the fire of hatred (dosa) and the fire of delusion (moha).
  • They are also burning with birth, ageing, death, sorrow, grief and despair.
  • A wise follower, seeing this, becomes disenchanted with the senses and their objects, gives up desire, and attains liberation.
  • After hearing this sermon, the thousand monks are said to have attained liberation.
  • It is one of the most famous sermons of the Buddha, and is found in the "Samyutta Nikaya" of the Sutta Pitaka.

The poet T. S. Eliot named a section of his poem "The Waste Land" (1922) "The Fire Sermon", inspired by it.

Other important sermons (suttas):

  • "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta": the first sermon at Sarnath, on the Four Noble Truths and the Middle Path.
  • "Anattalakkhana Sutta": the second sermon, on "anatta" (non-self), also given at Sarnath to the five companions.
  • "Mahaparinibbana Sutta": describes the last days, death and funeral of the Buddha.
  • "Metta Sutta": on loving kindness.

The three fires (poisons):

  • Greed, hatred and delusion are called the "three poisons" or "three roots of evil" in Buddhism.
  • Nirvana literally means "blowing out" (of these fires).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta was the first sermon.
  • ✗The Anattalakkhana Sutta was the second sermon.
  • ✗The Mahaparinibbana Sutta describes the Buddha's last days.

Quick tip

Remember: Fire Sermon = Adittapariyaya Sutta (at Gayasisa, near Gaya; "All is burning" with greed, hatred, delusion); second sermon = Anattalakkhana Sutta.

💬 Discussions on this question

Ask a doubt ›

Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.

Ask a doubt

More Buddhism & Jainism Questions

View all ›
  1. Q1.The Sanchi Stupa is located in which state?
  2. Q2.Who was the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism?
  3. Q3.Who was the first Tirthankara of Jainism?
  4. Q4.The Third Buddhist Council was held during the reign of which emperor?
  5. Q5.The 'Buddhacharita', a biography of the Buddha, was written by:

More General Knowledge Questions

  1. Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
  2. Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
  3. Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
  4. Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
  5. Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms

Buddhism & Jainism — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Buddhism & Jainism, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

Buddhism and Jainism arose in the 6th century BCE as reform movements. This topic covers the lives and teachings of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira, the Jain tirthankaras, the Buddhist councils, the sects of both religions, their sacred texts and the places linked to them. Common questions cover the four great events of the Buddha's life and their places (birth at Lumbini, enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, first sermon at Sarnath, death at Kushinagar), the four Buddhist councils with their kings and venues, and the Jain sects Digambara and Shvetambara. Learning the councils as a table of place, king and president is the fastest way to revise. Practise the Buddhism and Jainism questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

‹ All Buddhism & Jainism questionsBrowse all topics ›