Which of the following statements are true about Buddha’s teachings? A. Our…

Concept: Buddha explained the presence of suffering in two related ways recorded together in his teaching — through the accumulated effect of actions carried across births (karma), and through craving and desire for things that are impermanent in this very life. His method of teaching is also described as open rather than dogmatic: he is recorded as encouraging listeners to question and test his ideas for themselves rather than accept them purely on his authority.

Application: Statement A restates the karma-based account of suffering (carried across births). Statement B restates the craving-based account of suffering (arising from desire for impermanent things). Both accounts appear together in how Buddha's teaching on suffering is recorded. Statement C claims that followers had no choice but to accept his teaching for a happy life — this runs against his recorded method of inviting enquiry rather than demanding compliance, so it does not hold.

• The pairing of B and C keeps the craving-based account but adds the compulsory-acceptance claim, and leaves out the karma-based account.

• The pairing of A and C keeps the karma-based account but adds the compulsory-acceptance claim, and leaves out the craving-based account.

• The set A, B and C keeps both accounts of suffering but adds the compulsory-acceptance claim on top of them.

Cross-check: The CBSE/CTET official answer key for this question (August 2023, Paper II – Social Science) keys the pairing that contains only the karma-based and craving-based accounts, without the compulsory-acceptance claim, confirming that A and B together — and only A and B — reflect Buddha's teaching as described.