CURRICULUM/SUBJECT TAUGHT OF BUDDHIST EDUCATION B.ED NOTES

                                         In Buddhist education primary, higher and bhikshu education were organised in maths and vihars and as they were under the control of Buddhist sanghas therefore same curriculum was followed in all the maths and vihars.

                     The curriculum of Buddhist education may be categorized on two bases, first, on the basis of level i.e. primary, higher and bhikshu education and second, on the basis of its nature i.e. worldly and religious.

1. Curriculum of Primary Education :

-The duration of primary education was 6 years.

- First of all, students at this level were taught the 49 alphabets of Pali language with the help of a text named "Suidhrust'.

- Thereafter, they were taught to read and write the language.

- Five different sciences, namely--morphology, masonry, medicine, logic and spirituality were taught.

2. Curriculum of Higher Education :

-The duration of higher education was generally of 12 years.

-The curriculum of special education included Pali, Prakrit and Sanskrit languages along with their grammar and literature and such subjects a astrophysics, cosmology, jurisprudence, political science, economics, arts (fine arts sculptor and music), skills (spinning, weaving and dyeing, etc.), vocations (agriculture cattle rearing and commerce), architecture, ayurved, Buddhist, Jain and Vedic religions theology, logic, philosophy and astrology, etc.

3. Curriculum of Bhikshu Eduction :

-The duration of bhikshu education was 8 years but those bhikshus who intended to acquire higher knowledge in Buddhist religion and philosophy could continue their education further.

-Though they were taught only Buddhist religion an' philosophy and its curriculum included Tripitaks (three baskets), namely Sutta Pitak, Vinay Pitak and Avidhamma Pitak, but for the comparative stud of different religions.

Vedic religion was also taught to them.

                        As far as worldly and religious education are concerned initially, both were imparted but at the higher level there was provision for specialization in any of the field.

1. Worldly Curriculum : It included education of reading, writing, mathematics, arts and skills and vocational education like agriculture, cattle rearing, medication and commerce,

2. Religious Curriculum :

-Religious curriculum was divided into two categories.

-First for general students and second for bhikshus.

-The curriculum for general students included the study of Buddhist, Jaina and Vedic religions, whereas for bhikshu education the curriculum was a bit more elaborate.