Enlightened Beings

28 Grade 7 Religious Education (HRE) questions on Enlightened Beings, with worked marking schemes. 28 questions are available on this topic in full.

1. Question 1

   6 marks

   During an HRE lesson, your teacher shows the class a picture of Prince Siddhartha Gautama leaving his palace at night. He later became the Buddha.

   (a) State the meaning of the title 'Buddha'. (1 mark)

   (b) Identify the four sights that disturbed Siddhartha and led him to seek the truth. (4 marks)

   (c) State where Siddhartha finally attained enlightenment. (1 mark)

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) 'Buddha' means 'the Enlightened One' / 'the Awakened One'. (1 mark) (b) The four sights: (i) an old man (old age); (ii) a sick man (sickness); (iii) a dead man / corpse (death); (iv) a wandering holy man / ascetic (renunciation). (4 marks) (c) At Bodh Gaya, under the Bodhi (pipal) tree. (1 mark)

2. Question 2

   1 mark

   A teacher lists qualities common to enlightened beings across Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions. Which quality is LEAST associated with an enlightened being?

   A. Deep wisdom and self-control

   B. Detachment from worldly desires

   C. Selfishness and greed

   D. Compassion for all creatures

   (1 mark)

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3. Question 3

   1 mark

   A teacher compares titles: 'Buddha' means the Awakened One, while 'Tirthankara' means ford-maker. What does the ford-maker title suggest about a Tirthankara's role?

   A. They build physical bridges over rivers

   B. They rule Jain kingdoms

   C. They help others cross the ocean of suffering to liberation

   D. They collect offerings at temples

   (1 mark)

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4. Question 4

   6 marks

   Hindus believe that Bhagwan descends to earth as an avatar.

   (a) Explain the meaning of the term 'avatar'. (2 marks)

   (b) Give two reasons why, according to Hindu teaching, Bhagwan takes an avatar. (4 marks)

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) An avatar is a descent / incarnation of the divine (Bhagwan) who takes bodily form on earth. (2 marks) (b) Any two, 2 marks each: to protect / uphold the good (the righteous); to destroy evil / evil-doers; to restore and re-establish dharma (righteousness); to teach and guide humanity back to the right path. (4 marks)

5. Question 5

   1 mark

   A learner notes that Bhagwan Rama is celebrated as an avatar who upheld truth and duty. In which epic is the life of Bhagwan Rama mainly narrated?

   A. The Puranas

   B. The Mahabharata

   C. The Ramayana

   D. The Vedas

   (1 mark)

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6. Question 6

   1 mark

   In a Jain temple in Mombasa, learners are shown images of 24 great teachers who crossed the ocean of worldly suffering and showed others the path to liberation. What are these enlightened Jain teachers called?

   A. Tirthankaras

   B. Acharyas

   C. Rishis

   D. Gurus

   (1 mark)

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7. Question 7

   5 marks

   Reena visits a Jain temple and learns about the Tirthankaras.

   (a) State who the Tirthankaras are. (2 marks)

   (b) Name the last (24th) Tirthankara. (1 mark)

   (c) Identify two qualities of enlightened beings that learners can imitate. (2 marks)

   (5 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) The Tirthankaras are the 24 enlightened Jain teachers ('ford-makers') who crossed the ocean of suffering and showed others the path to liberation. (2 marks) (b) Mahavira. (1 mark) (c) Any two, 1 mark each: compassion/kindness; wisdom; self-control/discipline; non-violence; detachment from worldly desires; humility. (2 marks)

8. Question 8

   6 marks

   During a Grade 7 HRE lesson, your teacher shows the class a picture of a young prince named Siddhartha Gautama leaving his royal palace at night. The teacher explains that this prince later became the Buddha, the Enlightened One.

   (a) State the meaning of the title 'Buddha'. (1 mark)

   (b) The prince left the palace after seeing four sights. Identify the four sights that disturbed Siddhartha and led him to seek the truth. (4 marks)

   (c) Where did Siddhartha finally attain enlightenment? (1 mark)

   (6 marks)

   Marking scheme

   (a) 'Buddha' means 'the Enlightened One' / 'the Awakened One' — one who has gained true knowledge of the cause of suffering and the way to end it. (1 mark) (b) The Four Sights were: (i) an old man (old age), (ii) a sick man (sickness/illness), (iii) a dead man / a corpse (death), and (iv) a wandering holy man / ascetic / sadhu (the path of renunciation, which gave him hope of a solution). (4 marks) (c) He attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, while meditating under the Bodhi tree (the pipal/fig tree). (1 mark)

9. Question 9

   1 mark

   The word 'avatar' comes from Sanskrit. What does the term literally mean?

   A. A wandering holy man

   B. A descent (coming down) of the divine

   C. The final liberation

   D. One who renounces the world

   (1 mark)

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10. Question 10

    1 mark

    After attaining enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama became known by a title meaning 'the Awakened One'. Which title is this?

    A. The Buddha

    B. The Mahavira

    C. The Avatar

    D. The Bodhisattva

    (1 mark)

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11. Question 11

    4 marks

    Different Indian religious traditions honour different enlightened founders or teachers. State the correct enlightened being for each description:

    (a) The founder of the Buddhist tradition. (1 mark)

    (b) The 24th enlightened teacher of the Jains. (1 mark)

    (c) A term for a Buddhist being who delays liberation to help others. (1 mark)

    (d) A Hindu term for a divine descent of Bhagwan. (1 mark)

    (4 marks)

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12. Question 12

    1 mark

    A Grade 7 learner is told that Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained supreme enlightenment while meditating under a particular tree. Under which tree did he attain enlightenment?

    A. The neem tree

    B. The banyan tree

    C. The mango tree

    D. The Bodhi (pipal) tree

    (1 mark)

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13. Question 13

    6 marks

    Explain why enlightened beings are important role models for young Hindus today. Give three reasons. (6 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    Any three, 2 marks each (statement + brief explanation): They show the path to liberation/salvation and guide others; they teach and model good moral values such as compassion, honesty and non-violence; they demonstrate self-control and detachment from greed, encouraging simple living; they inspire courage to stand for truth and dharma; they give hope that suffering can be overcome. (6 marks)

14. Question 14

    4 marks

    Bhagwan Rama and Bhagwan Krishna are among the avatars celebrated by Hindus in Kenya.

    (a) Name the epic in which the life of Bhagwan Rama is mainly narrated. (1 mark)

    (b) Name the scripture in which Bhagwan Krishna teaches Arjuna. (1 mark)

    (c) State two lessons a Grade 7 learner can draw from the life of an avatar such as Bhagwan Rama. (2 marks)

    (4 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) The Ramayana. (1 mark) (b) The Bhagavad Gita. (1 mark) (c) Any two, 1 mark each: to uphold truth/honesty; to do one's duty (dharma); obedience and respect to parents/elders; courage in defending the good; keeping promises; self-sacrifice for others. (2 marks)

15. Question 15

    1 mark

    Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince in a place near the present India-Nepal border. In which place is he traditionally said to have been born?

    A. Sarnath

    B. Bodh Gaya

    C. Kurukshetra

    D. Lumbini

    (1 mark)

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16. Question 16

    1 mark

    During a Diwali assembly, Mr. Patel explains to the Grade 7 learners that in Sanatan Dharma the Supreme Reality (Paramatma) descends to earth in different forms whenever dharma declines, in order to restore righteousness. What is the name given to such a divine descent?

    A. Avatar

    B. Sadhu

    C. Pujari

    D. Yatri

    (1 mark)

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17. Question 17

    1 mark

    During a Diwali assembly, a teacher explains that Hindus regard certain divine descents of Bhagwan as forms who appear on earth to restore dharma. Which term correctly names such a descent, for example Bhagwan Rama and Bhagwan Krishna?

    A. Avatar

    B. Tirthankara

    C. Bodhisattva

    D. Granthi

    (1 mark)

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18. Question 18

    1 mark

    Reena visits a Jain temple and learns that the 24 great teachers who crossed the ocean of worldly suffering and showed others the path to liberation are given a special title. What are these enlightened Jain teachers called?

    A. Rishis

    B. Tirthankaras

    C. Gurus

    D. Acharyas

    (1 mark)

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19. Question 19

    1 mark

    A Buddhist learner tells her classmates that the founder of Buddhism was a prince from Lumbini who left his palace, attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, and became known as 'the Awakened One'. By what title is this enlightened being best known?

    A. Mahavir

    B. The Buddha

    C. Guru Nanak

    D. Adi Shankar

    (1 mark)

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20. Question 20

    6 marks

    During a school assembly, a Grade 7 learner shares the story of how Prince Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha. Her classmates are curious about the journey he took.

    (a) State two of the 'Four Sights' that Prince Siddhartha saw outside his palace which led him to leave home in search of truth. (2 marks)

    (b) Explain what is meant by the term 'Enlightenment' (Nirvana) as attained by the Buddha under the Bodhi tree. (2 marks)

    (c) Identify the place where the Buddha attained Enlightenment. (2 marks)

    (6 marks)

    Marking scheme

    (a) Any TWO of the Four Sights (1 mark each): an old/aged person; a sick person; a dead person (a corpse); a wandering ascetic/holy man (a renunciant). These showed him the reality of suffering, ageing, sickness and death, and the path of renunciation. (b) Enlightenment (Nirvana/Bodhi) is the supreme state of awakening in which Siddhartha gained perfect insight into the true nature of suffering and its cessation; he became fully liberated from ignorance, craving and the cycle of birth and death (samsara), and was thereafter called the Buddha, meaning 'the Awakened One'. (2 marks) (c) He attained Enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, while seated in meditation under the Bodhi (peepal) tree. (2 marks)

21. Question 21

    1 mark

    During a Diwali celebration in Nairobi, a priest explains that Bhagwan sometimes descends to earth in a bodily form to destroy evil and restore dharma, as in the case of Bhagwan Rama and Bhagwan Krishna. What is the term for such a divine descent?

    A. Granthi

    B. Bodhisattva

    C. Avatar

    D. Tirthankara

    (1 mark)

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22. Question 22

    1 mark

    Krishna teaches Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra in a well-known Hindu scripture. In which scripture is this teaching recorded?

    A. The Bhagavad Gita

    B. The Dhammapada

    C. The Guru Granth Sahib

    D. The Ramayana

    (1 mark)

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23. Question 23

    1 mark

    A class is discussing the founder of the Buddhist tradition who attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya. By what title is Prince Siddhartha Gautama known after his enlightenment?

    A. The Mahavira

    B. The Buddha

    C. The Avatar

    D. The Guru

    (1 mark)

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24. Question 24

    1 mark

    While studying the Jain tradition, learners read about twenty-four supreme teachers who, by their own effort, conquered worldly attachments and showed others the path across the ocean of life. What name is given to these enlightened Jain teachers?

    A. Rishis

    B. Gurus

    C. Tirthankaras

    D. Bodhisattvas

    (1 mark)

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25. Question 25

    1 mark

    In Buddhist tradition, a being who has attained enlightenment but delays final liberation out of compassion in order to help others is called by a special name. What is this name?

    A. Bodhisattva

    B. Avatar

    C. Sadhu

    D. Tirthankara

    (1 mark)

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26. Question 26

    1 mark

    Grade 7 learners are told that avatars appear whenever there is a decline of dharma. According to Hindu teaching, why does Bhagwan take an avatar?

    A. To protect the good, destroy evil and restore dharma

    B. To rule over other gods

    C. To end all human worship

    D. To gain wealth and power on earth

    (1 mark)

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27. Question 27

    1 mark

    At a Sikh gurdwara, Harpreet learns about the first of the ten human Gurus who founded the Sikh tradition and taught the oneness of God. Which Guru is being described?

    A. Guru Gobind Singh

    B. Guru Arjan

    C. Guru Nanak

    D. Guru Tegh Bahadur

    (1 mark)

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28. Question 28

    1 mark

    A teacher explains that the last and 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, who lived around the 6th century BCE, gave firm teachings on non-violence. Who was this Tirthankara?

    A. Nanak

    B. Rishabhanatha

    C. Mahavira

    D. Parshvanatha

    (1 mark)

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