The Sermon at Benares
Here’s a summary of the chapter “The Sermon at Benares” from your 10th standard English subject:
Setting the Scene:
- The chapter introduces us to Lord Buddha, formerly Prince Siddhartha Gautama.
- After years of witnessing suffering and seeking enlightenment, he achieved spiritual awakening and became known as the Buddha.
The First Sermon:
- The story focuses on Buddha’s first sermon delivered in the city of Benares (Varanasi).
- A large crowd gathers to hear his teachings.
The Problem of Suffering:
- Buddha acknowledges the universal human experience of suffering, including illness, old age, and death.
- He emphasizes that clinging to desires and attachments is the root cause of this suffering.
The Solution – The Four Noble Truths:
- Buddha proposes the Four Noble Truths as a way to alleviate suffering:
- The truth of suffering (dukkha) – acknowledges the existence of suffering in life.
- The truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya) – identifies clinging to desires as the cause.
- The truth of the end of suffering (nirodha) – suggests that suffering can be stopped by letting go of desires.
- The truth of the path to the end of suffering (magga) – outlines the Eightfold Path as the way to achieve this.
The Story of Kisa Gotami:
- The chapter introduces Kisa Gotami, a grieving mother who lost her only son.
- She desperately searches for someone who can cure death, but no one can help.
- When she encounters Buddha, he asks her to bring mustard seeds from a house where no one has ever died.
Realization and Acceptance:
- Kisa Gotami’s search is futile. Death is a universal truth.
- Through this experience, she realizes the universality of suffering and the need to accept the impermanence of life.
The Lesson:
- Buddha emphasizes the importance of accepting the reality of suffering and following the Eightfold Path to achieve enlightenment and liberation from suffering.
Thinking About the Text
1. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house? What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Ans : Driven by grief after her son’s death, Kisa Gotami searches from house to house for a specific item: mustard seeds. However, there’s a twist – she only accepts them from a household where no one has ever died. This seemingly impossible request reflects the universality of death. Her search ultimately yields nothing, forcing her to confront the reality that death touches everyone. This experience may symbolize the need to let go of desires and attachments, a core teaching of Buddha’s that can lead to liberation from suffering.
2. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Ans : Gautama Buddha challenged Kisa Gotami to find mustard seeds from a house untouched by death. Her search proved futile. Every house held a story of loss, reflecting the universality of death. This realization, perhaps, was the first step towards accepting the impermanence of life and letting go of attachments, a core principle in Buddha’s teachings on overcoming suffering.
3. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what Buddha wanted her to understand?
Ans : Kisa Gotami’s second search reveals a deeper truth. Initially, her grief might have felt isolated, but she now grasps the universality of death. Every house holds a story of loss, forcing her to accept its inevitability. This experience, as Buddha intended, might be the first step towards letting go of attachments, a core principle in overcoming suffering.
4. Why do you think Kisa Gotami undAns : Kisa Gotami’s initial grief was so intense, it blinded her to the universality of death. Focused on finding a solution for her son, she missed the bigger picture. Buddha’s seemingly impossible task of finding mustard seeds from a death-free house forced her to confront the reality of loss in every household. This shift in perspective, perhaps what Buddha intended, opened the door for her to accept impermanence and potentially let go of attachments, a key step in overcoming suffering according to his teachings.erstood this only the second time? In what way did Buddha change her understanding?
5. How do you usually understand the idea of selfishness? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being selfish in her grief?
Ans : We typically view selfishness as excessive self-concern that disregards others’ feelings. Kisa Gotami’s grief, though intense, isn’t entirely selfish. Her focus on her son stems from love, not a disregard for others. The search for mustard seeds, while personal, also reflects a universal fear of death. Grief is a natural response to loss, unlike the persistent pattern of selfishness. Kisa Gotami’s openness to interact during her search suggests a potential shift from her initial inward focus. While her actions might seem self-centered, her experience paves the way for a broader understanding.
