NCERT Solution of The Sermon at Benares Class 10 English of the book “First Flight” will explain The Sermon at Benares’s summary, critical analysis, difficult word meaning, and most important questions.
Title: The Sermon at Benares
Summary: The passage recounts the story of Kisa Gotami, a woman who tragically loses her only son. Consumed by grief, she seeks a cure for her son’s death, but eventually learns a profound lesson from the Buddha. After realizing the universality of death and suffering, Kisa Gotami finds solace and peace of mind.
Reading Comprehension:
- When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
- Kisa Gotami asks for medicine to cure her dead son, but she does not get it because no medicine can bring back the dead. People think she has lost her senses due to her overwhelming grief.
- Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?
- The second time, Kisa Gotami asks for a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one has lost a loved one. She does not get it because every house she visits has experienced the loss of a loved one.
- What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand?
- The second time, Kisa Gotami understands that death is a natural and unavoidable part of life, and that everyone experiences loss. Yes, this was indeed what the Buddha wanted her to understand.
- Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?
- Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time because she personally experienced the universal nature of death through her quest for the mustard seed. The Buddha changed her understanding by giving her a task that led to this realization.
- How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’?
- Selfishness is usually understood as being excessively focused on one’s own concerns, often at the expense of others. In her grief, Kisa Gotami was initially focused only on her own loss, not recognizing that death and suffering are universal experiences. Yes, in that sense, she was being selfish in her grief.
Difficult Words:
- Afflicted with
- Synonyms: Suffering, Stricken
- Antonyms: Healthy, Unaffected
- Meaning in Hindi: पीड़ित
- Be composed
- Synonyms: Calm, Collected
- Antonyms: Agitated, Disturbed
- Meaning in Hindi: शांत रहना
- Desolation
- Synonyms: Devastation, Isolation
- Antonyms: Happiness, Companionship
- Meaning in Hindi: वीरानी
- Lamentation
- Synonyms: Mourning, Weeping
- Antonyms: Celebration, Joy
- Meaning in Hindi: विलाप
- Procure
- Synonyms: Acquire, Obtain
- Antonyms: Lose, Forfeit
- Meaning in Hindi: प्राप्त करना
- Be subject to
- Synonyms: Prone, Susceptible
- Antonyms: Immune, Unaffected
- Meaning in Hindi: अधीन होना
- Inscrutable
- Synonyms: Mysterious, Unfathomable
- Antonyms: Clear, Understandable
- Meaning in Hindi: अज्ञेय
- Repaired
- Synonyms: Went to, Visited
- Antonyms: Ignored, Neglected
- Meaning in Hindi: मरम्मत की
- Valley of desolation
- Synonyms: Abyss of sorrow, Pit of despair
- Antonyms: Land of joy, Peak of happiness
- Meaning in Hindi: निराशा का घाटा
- Mortals
- Synonyms: Humans, Beings
- Antonyms: Immortals, Deities
- Meaning in Hindi: मानव
- Afflicted with
- Synonyms: Suffering, Stricken
- Antonyms: Healthy, Unaffected
- Meaning in Hindi: पीड़ित
- Lamentation
- Synonyms: Mourning, Weeping
- Antonyms: Celebration, Joy
- Meaning in Hindi: विलाप
- Dipping places
- Synonyms: Bathing areas, Ghats
- Antonyms: Dry land, Uplands
- Meaning in Hindi: स्नान स्थल
- Inscrutable
- Synonyms: Mysterious, Unfathomable
- Antonyms: Clear, Understandable
- Meaning in Hindi: अज्ञेय
- Repaired
- Synonyms: Went to, Visited
- Antonyms: Ignored, Neglected
- Meaning in Hindi: मरम्मत की
- Valley of desolation
- Synonyms: Abyss of sorrow, Pit of despair
- Antonyms: Land of joy, Peak of happiness
- Meaning in Hindi: निराशा का घाटा
- Mortals
- Synonyms: Humans, Beings
- Antonyms: Immortals, Deities
- Meaning in Hindi: मानव
- Afflicted with
- Synonyms: Suffering, Stricken
- Antonyms: Healthy, Unaffected
- Meaning in Hindi: पीड़ित
- Lamentation
- Synonyms: Mourning, Weeping
- Antonyms: Celebration, Joy
- Meaning in Hindi: विलाप
- Dipping places
- Synonyms: Bathing areas, Ghats
- Antonyms: Dry land, Uplands
- Meaning in Hindi: स्नान स्थल
Theme: The theme of the passage revolves around the inevitability of suffering and death, and the necessity of understanding and accepting this universal truth to attain peace of mind.
1. What is a sermon?
A sermon is a religious or moral talk, often delivered by a religious leader. It is different from a lecture or a talk as it typically focuses on spiritual or ethical subjects and aims to inspire or instruct people on moral values. Yes, the word “sermon” can be used negatively or jokingly, such as when someone refers to their parent’s advice or scolding as a “sermon.”
2. Meanings of Words and Phrases
- Afflicted with: Affected by suffering, disease, or pain
- Synonyms: Stricken, Troubled
- Antonyms: Healthy, Untroubled
- हिंदी में: पीड़ित
- Be composed: To remain calm and in control of oneself
- Synonyms: Calm, Collected
- Antonyms: Agitated, Disturbed
- हिंदी में: शांत रहना
- Desolation: A state of emptiness or loneliness
- Synonyms: Devastation, Isolation
- Antonyms: Happiness, Companionship
- हिंदी में: वीरानी
- Lamentation: The passionate expression of grief or sorrow
- Synonyms: Mourning, Weeping
- Antonyms: Celebration, Joy
- हिंदी में: विलाप
- Procure: To obtain something, especially with effort or care
- Synonyms: Acquire, Obtain
- Antonyms: Lose, Forfeit
- 2445हिंदी में: प्राप्त करना
- Be subject to: Likely to be affected by something
- Synonyms: Prone, Susceptible
- Antonyms: Immune, Unaffected
- हिंदी में: अधीन होना
3. Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount was delivered by Jesus Christ. The sermon at Benares was delivered by Gautama Buddha.
What is a sermon? Is it different from a lecture or a talk? Can this word also be used in a negative way or as a joke (as in “my mother’s sermon about getting my work done on time…”)?
- Sermon: A sermon is a religious or moral talk delivered by a member of the clergy to a congregation.
- Difference: A sermon is typically more formal and has a religious context, whereas a lecture or a talk can be on any subject and is generally more informational or educational.
- Negative/Joking Use: Yes, the word “sermon” can be used in a negative or joking way to describe a lengthy or tedious speech, often given in a moralizing tone (e.g., “my mother’s sermon about getting my work done on time”).
2. Find out the meanings of the words and phrases given in the box.
- Afflicted with: Suffering from a disease, pain, or other distress.
- Be composed: To be calm and in control of one’s emotions.
- Desolation: A state of complete emptiness or destruction; loneliness and sorrow.
- Lamentation: The passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping.
- Procure: To obtain something, especially with care or effort.
- Be subject to: To be likely or prone to be affected by something.
3. Have you heard of the Sermon on the Mount? Who delivered it? Who do you think delivered a sermon at Benares?
- Sermon on the Mount: A collection of teachings and sayings of Jesus Christ, delivered on a mountainside.
- Delivered by: Jesus Christ.
- Sermon at Benares: Delivered by Gautama Buddha.
The Sermon at Benares
Gautama Buddha (563 B.C. – 483 B.C.) began life as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, in northern India. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty. At about the age of twenty-five, the Prince, heretofore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him that he at once went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.
He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a peepal tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and to share his new understandings. At that point he became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened). The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that sermon has been preserved and is given here. It reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.
Kisa Gotami had an only son, and he died. In her grief, she carried the dead child to all her neighbors, asking them for medicine, and the people said, “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.”
At length, Kisa Gotami met a man who replied to her request, “I cannot give thee medicine for thy child, but I know a physician who can.”
And the girl said, “Pray tell me, sir; who is it?” And the man replied, “Go to Sakyamuni, the Buddha.”
Kisa Gotami repaired to the Buddha and cried, “Lord and Master, give me the medicine that will cure my boy.”
The Buddha answered, “I want a handful of mustard seed.” And when the girl in her joy promised to procure it, the Buddha added, “The mustard seed must be taken from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent, or friend.”
Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard seed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.
Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless and sat down at the wayside watching the lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last, the darkness of the night reigned everywhere. And she considered the fate of men, that their lives flicker up and are extinguished again. And she thought to herself, “How selfish am I in my grief! Death is common to all; yet in this valley of desolation, there is a path that leads him to immortality who has surrendered all selfishness.”
The Buddha said, ‘‘The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain. For there is not any means by which those that have been born can avoid dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living beings. As ripe fruits are early in danger of falling, so mortals when born are always in danger of death. As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals. Both young and adult, both those who are fools and those who are wise, all fall into the power of death; all are subject to death.
“Of those who, overcome by death, depart from life, a father cannot save his son, nor kinsmen their relations. Mark! while relatives are looking on and lamenting deeply, one by one mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the slaughter. So the world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world.
“Not from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind; on the contrary, his pain will be the greater and his body will suffer. He will make himself sick and pale, yet the dead are not saved by his lamentation. He who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief. He who has drawn out the arrow and has become composed will obtain peace of mind; he who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow, and be blessed.”
[Source: Betty Renshaw, Values and Voices: A College Reader (1975)]
- Afflicted with: Affected by suffering, disease, or pain.
- Lamentation: Expression of sorrow.
Questions
1. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Kisa Gotami asks for medicine to cure her dead son. She does not get it because her son is already dead, and no medicine can bring him back to life.
2. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?
The second time, Kisa Gotami asks for mustard seeds from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent, or friend. She does not get it because every house she visits has experienced the loss of a loved one, highlighting the universality of death.
3. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand?
The second time, Kisa Gotami understands that death is a common and inevitable part of life. She realizes that her grief is not unique and that everyone experiences loss. This understanding is exactly what the Buddha wanted her to realize.
4. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?
Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time because she needed to personally experience the reality of death’s universality by visiting multiple households. The Buddha changed her understanding by giving her a task that led her to the realization on her own, rather than simply telling her.
5. How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’?
Selfishness is generally understood as being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself, without regard for others. In Kisa Gotami’s case, she realized that her intense focus on her own grief prevented her from understanding that everyone suffers from loss. This realization made her see her grief as selfish because it was self-centered and isolated her from the shared human experience of suffering.
10 important short questions and answers based on “The Sermon at Benares” by Gautama Buddha:
- Question: Who was Gautama Buddha? Answer: Gautama Buddha, originally named Siddhartha Gautama, was a prince who became a spiritual leader and the founder of Buddhism.
- Question: What event prompted Siddhartha Gautama to seek enlightenment? Answer: Siddhartha Gautama was moved to seek enlightenment after encountering a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk begging for alms.
- Question: Where did Gautama Buddha attain enlightenment? Answer: Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree (Tree of Wisdom).
- Question: What was the significance of the Bodhi Tree? Answer: The Bodhi Tree is significant because it is where Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment and became the Buddha.
- Question: Who was Kisa Gotami? Answer: Kisa Gotami was a grieving mother who sought help from Buddha after her only son died.
- Question: What did Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring to cure her son? Answer: Buddha asked Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had lost a child, husband, parent, or friend.
- Question: What realization did Kisa Gotami come to after her search for mustard seeds? Answer: Kisa Gotami realized that death is common to all and that she was not alone in her grief, which led her to understand the universality of suffering.
- Question: What does Buddha say about the life of mortals in his sermon? Answer: Buddha says that the life of mortals is troubled, brief, and combined with pain, and that all living beings are subject to death.
- Question: How does Buddha describe the inevitability of death? Answer: Buddha compares mortals to ripe fruits that are always in danger of falling and to earthen vessels made by potters that are destined to break.
- Question: What advice does Buddha give to those seeking peace? Answer: Buddha advises drawing out the arrow of lamentation, complaint, and grief, and becoming composed to achieve peace of mind and freedom from sorrow.
These questions and answers highlight the key themes and teachings from “The Sermon at Benares” by Gautama Buddha.
Reading Comprehension
- When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
- Kisa Gotami asks for medicine to cure her dead son. She does not get it because no medicine can bring back the dead, and people think she has lost her senses due to grief.
- Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?
- The second time, Kisa Gotami asks for a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one has lost a loved one. She does not get it because every house she visits has experienced the loss of a loved one, teaching her that death is universal.
- What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand?
- The second time, Kisa Gotami understands that death is a natural and unavoidable part of life, and that everyone experiences loss. This is indeed what the Buddha wanted her to understand.
- Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?
- Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time because she personally experienced the universal nature of death through her quest for the mustard seed. The Buddha changed her understanding by giving her a task that led to this realization.
- How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’?
- Selfishness is usually understood as being concerned excessively or exclusively with oneself, at the expense of others. In her grief, Kisa Gotami was initially focused only on her own loss, not recognizing that death and suffering are universal experiences. Yes, in that sense, she was being selfish in her grief.
Rephrasing in Modern Language
- Give thee medicine for thy child: Give you medicine for your child
- Pray tell me: Please tell me
- Kisa repaired to the Buddha: Kisa went to the Buddha
- There was no house but someone had died in it: Every house had experienced a death
- Kinsmen: Relatives
- Mark!: Take notice!
Sentence Combining Using Semicolons
Original: “For there is not any means by which those who have been born can avoid dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living beings.”
Broken down into three simple sentences:
- There is no way for those who have been born to avoid dying.
- After reaching old age, there is death.
- This is the nature of living beings.
The single sentence using semicolons has a better rhythm and conveys a continuous, connected thought.
Writing Task
Topic: Helping Each Other to Get Over Difficult Times
In times of hardship, the support we give and receive from others can be a powerful source of strength. When faced with the death of a loved one, for example, the shared experiences and mutual understanding within a community or family can be comforting. People reach out, offering a shoulder to cry on or just being present to listen, which can significantly ease the burden of grief.
Furthermore, practical help, such as assisting with daily tasks or providing meals, can alleviate the immediate stresses that accompany difficult times. Acts of kindness, no matter how small, show that we are not alone in our struggles. This communal support fosters a sense of belonging and resilience, enabling individuals to navigate their grief and begin the healing process.
Ultimately, helping each other through difficult times reinforces the bonds that connect us. It reminds us of our shared humanity and the importance of empathy and compassion. By supporting one another, we not only help ease the pain but also create a stronger, more caring community.
Additional Extracts
Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet” on Joy and Sorrow
“Your joy is your sorrow unmasked. The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful, look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.”
Tagore on Grief
“Say not in grief that she is no more but say in thankfulness that she was. A death is not the extinguishing of a light but the putting out of the lamp because the dawn has come.”
20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) along with their answers based on “The Sermon at Benares” by Gautama Buddha:
MCQs Questions and Answers
- What was Gautama Buddha’s real name?
- A. Siddhartha Gautama
- B. Sakyamuni
- C. Kisa Gotami
- D. Benares
- Answer: A. Siddhartha Gautama
- At what age did Siddhartha Gautama begin his quest for enlightenment?
- A. 20
- B. 25
- C. 30
- D. 35
- Answer: B. 25
- What event triggered Siddhartha Gautama’s quest for enlightenment?
- A. A dream
- B. A hunting trip
- C. His marriage
- D. A sermon
- Answer: B. A hunting trip
- Under which tree did Siddhartha Gautama attain enlightenment?
- A. Banyan Tree
- B. Peepal Tree
- C. Mango Tree
- D. Bodhi Tree
- Answer: D. Bodhi Tree
- What name did Siddhartha Gautama take after attaining enlightenment?
- A. Sakyamuni
- B. Kisa Gotami
- C. The Buddha
- D. Gautama
- Answer: C. The Buddha
- Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?
- A. Sarnath
- B. Benares
- C. Gaya
- D. Lumbini
- Answer: B. Benares
- What was Kisa Gotami’s main request when she went to her neighbors after her son died?
- A. Food
- B. Money
- C. Medicine
- D. Shelter
- Answer: C. Medicine
- Who directed Kisa Gotami to Buddha?
- A. Her neighbor
- B. Her friend
- C. A man she met
- D. A monk
- Answer: C. A man she met
- What did Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring him?
- A. Water
- B. Mustard seed
- C. Rice
- D. Herbs
- Answer: B. Mustard seed
- From where did Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to collect the mustard seed?
- A. A temple
- B. A marketplace
- C. A house where no one had died
- D. A field
- Answer: C. A house where no one had died
- Why could Kisa Gotami not find the mustard seed as Buddha requested?
- A. It was not the season for mustard
- B. Every house had experienced death
- C. No one had mustard seed
- D. She forgot to ask
- Answer: B. Every house had experienced death
- What did Kisa Gotami realize about life and death?
- A. Only her family was affected by death
- B. Death is a universal phenomenon
- C. Death can be avoided
- D. Death affects only the poor
- Answer: B. Death is a universal phenomenon
- According to Buddha, what is common to all mortals?
- A. Wealth
- B. Suffering and death
- C. Happiness
- D. Longevity
- Answer: B. Suffering and death
- What is the metaphor Buddha uses for life and death?
- A. A flickering light
- B. A flowing river
- C. A blooming flower
- D. A burning fire
- Answer: A. A flickering light
- What lesson did Buddha want Kisa Gotami to learn?
- A. How to heal her son
- B. The inevitability of death
- C. The importance of mustard seeds
- D. The way to accumulate wealth
- Answer: B. The inevitability of death
- According to Buddha, what happens to those who overcome sorrow?
- A. They become wealthy
- B. They attain peace and freedom from sorrow
- C. They live forever
- D. They become powerful
- Answer: B. They attain peace and freedom from sorrow
- What should one remove to achieve peace of mind, according to Buddha?
- A. Wealth
- B. Grief and lamentation
- C. Happiness
- D. Love
- Answer: B. Grief and lamentation
- How does Buddha describe the life of mortals?
- A. Long and joyful
- B. Troubled and brief
- C. Everlasting and peaceful
- D. Full of wealth and power
- Answer: B. Troubled and brief
- What is the result of lamentation and weeping, according to Buddha?
- A. Peace and happiness
- B. More pain and suffering
- C. Wealth and prosperity
- D. Wisdom and enlightenment
- Answer: B. More pain and suffering
- What is the ultimate state Buddha encourages people to achieve?
- A. Wealth
- B. Power
- C. Enlightenment and freedom from sorrow
- D. Immortality
- Answer: C. Enlightenment and freedom from sorrow
These questions and answers cover the main points and themes of “The Sermon at Benares,” helping to understand the moral and philosophical teachings of Buddha.
What message does Budha convey in ” The Sermon at Benares”
1. What is a sermon?
A sermon is a religious or moral talk, often delivered by a religious leader. It is different from a lecture or a talk as it typically focuses on spiritual or ethical subjects and aims to inspire or instruct people on moral values. Yes, the word “sermon” can be used negatively or jokingly, such as when someone refers to their parent’s advice or scolding as a “sermon.”
In “The Sermon at Benares,” Buddha conveys several profound messages:
- Universality of Suffering: Buddha emphasizes that suffering and death are universal experiences. Every human being, regardless of status, wisdom, or age, will experience these hardships.
- Impermanence of Life: Life is transient and fleeting. Just like ripe fruits that are always in danger of falling or earthen vessels destined to break, human life is inherently impermanent.
- Acceptance of Death: Buddha teaches that grieving over death is natural, but one must understand and accept that death is an inevitable part of life. This acceptance helps in overcoming sorrow.
- Detachment from Grief: Excessive lamentation and grief will only increase one’s pain. Instead, one should seek to overcome sorrow by understanding its nature and accepting the realities of life.
- Path to Enlightenment: By recognizing and accepting the truth of suffering and impermanence, one can move towards spiritual enlightenment and peace. This involves letting go of selfishness and desires.
- Inner Peace: True peace and liberation from sorrow come from within. One must draw out the “arrow of lamentation” and seek composure and mindfulness to achieve tranquility and enlightenment.
Buddha’s sermon guides individuals towards understanding the nature of life and death, encouraging acceptance and inner peace as the path to overcoming suffering.