The most important system of education in medieval period was the Buddhist system of education. Buddhist education came into the existence in the 5th century B.C. Buddhist system of education was monastic. All castes were admitted to Buddhist sangh. The history of education in Buddha period is inter-related with the history of monasteries and Vihara because there were no independent educational institutions or centers, other than those religious centers. Those centers were highly responsible for the spread of Buddhism in India by 600B.C.

1. Education duringEducation during
BuddhistBuddhist
PeriodPeriod
in Indiain India
(600 B.C. – 1200 A.D.)(600 B.C. – 1200 A.D.)
Dr. Syed H. QasimDr. Syed H. Qasim

2. ( 600 B.C – 1200 A.D )( 600 B.C – 1200 A.D )
Buddhism believed that world was full of sorrowBuddhism believed that world was full of sorrow
and the salvation could be obtain by renouncingand the salvation could be obtain by renouncing
it. In the beginning it took to education ofit. In the beginning it took to education of
monks only but later to the masses also.monks only but later to the masses also.
Aims & ObjectivesAims & Objectives
 Development of Moral Character.Development of Moral Character.
 Religious and Spiritual development.Religious and Spiritual development.
 Promotion of Social Efficiency.Promotion of Social Efficiency.
 Promotion of Culture.Promotion of Culture.
 Preparation for Life.Preparation for Life.

3. Paphajja CeremonyPaphajja Ceremony
Duration – 12 years.Duration – 12 years.
Dress - Yellow Cloths.Dress - Yellow Cloths.
““I take refuge with Buddha,I take refuge with Buddha,
I take refuge with religion,I take refuge with religion,
I take refuge with the orderI take refuge with the order”.”.
According to this ceremonyAccording to this ceremony
the student after beingthe student after being
admitted to a monastery hadadmitted to a monastery had
to renounce all his worldlyto renounce all his worldly
and family relationship.and family relationship.
After admission he had toAfter admission he had to
change his old clothes andchange his old clothes and
all old ways and theall old ways and the
manners of living.manners of living.
Ten commandmentsTen commandments
 Not taking life.Not taking life.
 Taking what is given.Taking what is given.
 Abstaining from impureAbstaining from impure
practices.practices.
 Not telling a lie.Not telling a lie.
 Not drinking.Not drinking.
 Not eating out of time.Not eating out of time.
 Not dancing and singing.Not dancing and singing.
 Not using scents,Not using scents,
ornaments, etc.ornaments, etc.
 Not using high or largeNot using high or large
couch.couch.
 Not receiving gold andNot receiving gold and
silver.silver.

4. Upasampada CeremonyUpasampada Ceremony
After the Paphajja ceremony education continuedAfter the Paphajja ceremony education continued
for twelve years. When the student receivedfor twelve years. When the student received
twelve years education he had to undergo thetwelve years education he had to undergo the
Upasampada ceremony. After the UpasampadaUpasampada ceremony. After the Upasampada
ceremony the Shraman was regarded as a full-ceremony the Shraman was regarded as a full-
fledged monk or ‘Bhikshu’. On this occasion allfledged monk or ‘Bhikshu’. On this occasion all
his worldly and family relationship ended. Thishis worldly and family relationship ended. This
period of upasampada was ten years and then heperiod of upasampada was ten years and then he
become an Acharya who could himself receivebecome an Acharya who could himself receive
pupils.pupils.

5. Main Features of EducationMain Features of Education
Educational InstitutionEducational Institution: Buddhist education was: Buddhist education was
centered around the monastries (viharas or sanghas).centered around the monastries (viharas or sanghas).
Rise of organised educational institution may beRise of organised educational institution may be
attributed to the influence of Buddhism.attributed to the influence of Buddhism.
Admission in monastery: SAdmission in monastery: Student had to presenttudent had to present
themselves before the teacher and request him forthemselves before the teacher and request him for
giving educationgiving education

6. Oral Instruction:Oral Instruction: Teacher give lesson toTeacher give lesson to
students to learn by heart.students to learn by heart.
Discussion:Discussion: It was one of the methods ofIt was one of the methods of
teaching in Buddhist period because it impressedteaching in Buddhist period because it impressed
the general public.the general public.
Evidences:Evidences: To establish the truth, this isTo establish the truth, this is
requiredrequired
1.Siddhanta (theory) 5. Vaidharmya (contradiction)1.Siddhanta (theory) 5. Vaidharmya (contradiction)
2. Hetu (reason) 6. Pratyakash (evidence)2. Hetu (reason) 6. Pratyakash (evidence)
3. Udaharan (example) 7. Anumaan (inference)3. Udaharan (example) 7. Anumaan (inference)
4. Sadharmya (parallalism) 8. Agmana (Induction)4. Sadharmya (parallalism) 8. Agmana (Induction)
Methods of Instruction:Methods of Instruction:

7. Conferences (Vidwat Sabha):Conferences (Vidwat Sabha): monks putmonks put
forward their doubts freely.forward their doubts freely.
Solitary Meditation (Ekant Sadhna):Solitary Meditation (Ekant Sadhna): isolatedisolated
spiritual meditation in lonely forests and caves.spiritual meditation in lonely forests and caves.
Prominance:Prominance: useful in the development ofuseful in the development of
mental power & knowledgemental power & knowledge
Tours:Tours: long trips to gain practical & reallong trips to gain practical & real
knowledgeknowledge

8. CurriculumCurriculum
The curriculum was spiritual in nature. The aimThe curriculum was spiritual in nature. The aim
of education was to attain salvation.of education was to attain salvation. In primaryIn primary
educationeducation reading, writing and arithmeticreading, writing and arithmetic werewere
taught and in higher educationtaught and in higher education religion,religion,
philosophy, ayurveda, military training etc.philosophy, ayurveda, military training etc. werewere
included. Everyone was free to choose his subjectincluded. Everyone was free to choose his subject
without any restriction.without any restriction.

9. Responsibilities of the teacherResponsibilities of the teacher
The pupil and preceptor relation in the BuddhistThe pupil and preceptor relation in the Buddhist
system of education was the same as during thesystem of education was the same as during the
Vedic period. The teacher give the pupil all possibleVedic period. The teacher give the pupil all possible
intellectual and spiritual guidance by teaching, byintellectual and spiritual guidance by teaching, by
putting questions to him and by instruction. Forputting questions to him and by instruction. For
education, cloths, food & residence of the studenteducation, cloths, food & residence of the student
monk, the teacher was wholly responsible. Themonk, the teacher was wholly responsible. The
teacher was also responsible for any treatment ofteacher was also responsible for any treatment of
the student, whenever he fell ill. The teacher used tothe student, whenever he fell ill. The teacher used to
bestow all the affection to his student and used tobestow all the affection to his student and used to
educate him.educate him.

10. Daily routine of StudentDaily routine of Student
The student used to serve his teacher with allThe student used to serve his teacher with all
devotion on rising in the morning. The studentdevotion on rising in the morning. The student
arrange every thing for the daily routine of hisarrange every thing for the daily routine of his
teacher. He cook his food and clean his cloths andteacher. He cook his food and clean his cloths and
utensils. Whatever he acquired through beggingutensils. Whatever he acquired through begging
alms, he place before teacher. The student had toalms, he place before teacher. The student had to
prepare himself to receive education at any time,prepare himself to receive education at any time,
whenever the teacher required him.whenever the teacher required him.

11. Women EducationWomen Education
Women occupied a position inferior to men.Women occupied a position inferior to men.
Initially they were prohibited from joining theInitially they were prohibited from joining the
monasteries but later they were granted admissionmonasteries but later they were granted admission
to such congregations.to such congregations. Strict rules were enforcedStrict rules were enforced
for women monks. They were not givenfor women monks. They were not given
any permanent post in the sangh.any permanent post in the sangh.

12. Buddhist UniversitiesBuddhist Universities
Some Buddhist monasteries developed into greatSome Buddhist monasteries developed into great
centres of learning and came to be known ascentres of learning and came to be known as
great universities. A Buddhist university wasgreat universities. A Buddhist university was
under the charge of eminent Bhikshu reputed forunder the charge of eminent Bhikshu reputed for
their character and was helped by two councils –their character and was helped by two councils –
academic and administrative. The seven wellacademic and administrative. The seven well
known universities of that time are Nalanda,known universities of that time are Nalanda,
Vallabhai, Vikramshila, Jagaddala, Mithila,Vallabhai, Vikramshila, Jagaddala, Mithila,
Odantapuri and NadiaOdantapuri and Nadia

13. Weakness of BuddhistWeakness of Buddhist
educationeducation
 Neglect of worldly lifeNeglect of worldly life
 Neglect of women educationNeglect of women education
 Neglect of Military trainingNeglect of Military training