The Sermon at Benares

NCERT Class 10 English - First Flight

The Story

Gautama Buddha (563 B.C. – 483 B.C.)

Gautama Buddha 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.

The Story of Kisa Gotami

Kisa Gotami had an only son, and he died. In her grief she carried the dead child to all her neighbours, 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's Sermon

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."

Vocabulary

Enlightenment: A state of high spiritual knowledge and understanding

Sermon: Religious or moral talk given by a religious leader

Dipping places: Sacred bathing places along the river

Inscrutable: Something which cannot be understood or explained

Repaired: Went to (archaic use meaning 'to go')

Valley of desolation: An area filled with deep sorrow and grief

Mortals: Human beings who are bound to die

Lamentation: Expression of sorrow, grief, or mourning

Peepal tree: Sacred fig tree, also known as the Bodhi tree

Bodhi Tree: Tree of Wisdom, where Buddha attained enlightenment

Mustard-seed: Small seeds used as a metaphor in the story

Kinsmen: Relatives or family members

Earthen vessels: Clay pots or containers made by potters

Summary

Plot Summary

Setting: Ancient India, particularly the city of Benares on the River Ganges, where Buddha delivered his first sermon. The story spans from the Buddha's early life as a prince to his enlightenment and teaching.

The Story in Three Parts:

1. The Buddha's Background and Enlightenment

Prince Siddhartha Gautama lived a sheltered life until the age of twenty-five. During a hunting trip, he encountered suffering in the form of a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a begging monk. These experiences moved him deeply, leading him to seek enlightenment about human suffering. He wandered for seven years and finally sat under a peepal tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. After seven days, he achieved enlightenment and became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened). He then began teaching and sharing his understanding of suffering.

2. Kisa Gotami's Grief and Quest

Kisa Gotami, a young mother, loses her only son. In her overwhelming grief, she carries the dead child from house to house, asking for medicine to cure him. People think she has lost her senses. Eventually, she meets a man who directs her to the Buddha for help. The Buddha asks her to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent, or friend. She searches everywhere but finds that every household has experienced death. This realization helps her understand that death is universal and that her grief was selfish.

3. The Buddha's Sermon and Teachings

The Buddha delivers his sermon on the nature of life, death, and the path to peace. He explains that life is troubled, brief, and combined with pain. Death is inevitable for all living beings - "there is not any means by which those that have been born can avoid dying." He uses powerful metaphors: life is like ripe fruits that fall, earthen vessels that break, and lights that flicker and go out. The wise do not grieve because they understand the natural terms of the world. Peace of mind comes from accepting reality rather than lamenting over it.

Key Messages and Themes

Central Teachings:

Universal Suffering: Death and loss are common to all humanity
Acceptance: Peace comes from accepting the natural order of life and death
Practical Wisdom: True understanding comes through experience, not just knowledge
Overcoming Selfishness: Moving beyond personal grief to universal understanding
The Path to Enlightenment: Seeking truth through direct experience and reflection

Literary Significance:

The story is a masterpiece of Buddhist literature that combines narrative storytelling with profound philosophical teaching. It demonstrates the Buddha's method of using practical experience to convey deep spiritual truths. The structure moves from personal story to universal principle, making abstract concepts accessible through concrete examples.

Historical and Cultural Context

The story is set in ancient India during the time of Gautama Buddha (563 B.C. – 483 B.C.). Benares (modern-day Varanasi) is one of the holiest cities in Hinduism and Buddhism, located on the sacred River Ganges. The story reflects the cultural and religious landscape of ancient India, where spiritual seeking and philosophical inquiry were highly valued. The Buddha's teachings emerged in response to the suffering he observed in society, offering a path to understanding and peace.

Character Analysis

Gautama Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama)

Personality: A wise, compassionate teacher who achieved enlightenment and dedicated his life to helping others understand suffering.

Traits:

Compassionate and understanding
Wise and enlightened
Patient teacher
Uses practical methods to teach profound truths
Shows deep understanding of human nature

Kisa Gotami

Personality: A grieving mother who learns profound wisdom through her suffering.

Traits:

Initially overwhelmed by grief
Desperate and irrational in her search for a cure
Eventually learns to accept reality
Gains wisdom through her experience
Represents the universal human experience of loss

The Neighbors and Townspeople

Personality: Ordinary people who represent the universal experience of loss and grief.

Traits:

Sympathetic to Kisa Gotami's plight
Each has experienced the loss of loved ones
Represent the commonality of suffering
Help Kisa Gotami understand the universal nature of death

Themes and Literary Elements

1. The Universal Nature of Suffering

The story emphasizes that suffering, particularly the loss of loved ones, is a universal human experience. Every household has experienced death, making it a common thread that connects all humanity. The Buddha's teaching that "there is not any means by which those that have been born can avoid dying" underscores this fundamental truth about human existence.

2. The Path to Enlightenment

The Buddha's journey from sheltered prince to enlightened teacher shows that understanding comes through direct experience with suffering and the willingness to seek truth. His seven-year quest and seven days under the Bodhi Tree demonstrate the commitment required for spiritual awakening. The story suggests that enlightenment is not about escaping suffering but understanding its nature.

3. Acceptance and Peace

The central message is that peace of mind comes not from avoiding or denying suffering, but from accepting the natural order of life and death. True peace requires letting go of selfish attachment to our own grief. The Buddha's metaphor of "drawing out the arrow" suggests that we must actively work to remove suffering from our hearts rather than passively enduring it.

4. The Power of Practical Teaching

The Buddha doesn't simply tell Kisa Gotami the truth; he guides her to discover it for herself through a practical task. This method of teaching is more effective than direct instruction because it allows the student to experience the realization directly. The mustard seed task transforms from a simple errand into a profound lesson about the universal nature of death.

5. The Cycle of Life and Death

The story presents life and death as natural cycles that all living beings must experience. The Buddha's metaphors of ripe fruits falling, earthen vessels breaking, and lights flickering and going out all emphasize the transient nature of existence. This theme connects to Buddhist concepts of impermanence and the natural order of the universe.

6. Selfishness vs. Universal Understanding

Kisa Gotami's realization that she was being "selfish in her grief" highlights the difference between personal suffering and universal understanding. Her initial focus on her own loss blinded her to the fact that others had experienced similar pain. The story suggests that true wisdom comes from recognizing our connection to others through shared experiences of suffering.

7. Literary Elements and Techniques

Symbolism: The mustard seeds represent the search for an impossible solution; the flickering lights represent the transient nature of life; the Bodhi Tree symbolizes wisdom and enlightenment
Metaphor: Life is compared to ripe fruits that fall, earthen vessels that break, and lights that flicker and go out. The "arrow of lamentation" represents the pain of grief that must be actively removed
Irony: Kisa Gotami's search for a cure leads her to understand that death cannot be cured; the simple task of finding mustard seeds becomes an impossible quest that reveals profound truth
Foreshadowing: The Buddha's early encounters with suffering (sick man, aged man, funeral) foreshadow his later teachings about the universal nature of human suffering

8. Philosophical and Religious Implications

The story embodies core Buddhist principles: the First Noble Truth (life is suffering), the concept of impermanence, the importance of letting go of attachments, and the path to enlightenment through understanding. It also demonstrates the Buddhist approach to teaching - using practical experience and personal discovery rather than abstract philosophy. The emphasis on acceptance and peace reflects Buddhist goals of achieving inner tranquility through wisdom and understanding.

9. Character Development and Transformation

Both main characters undergo significant transformations: Siddhartha Gautama transforms from a sheltered prince to an enlightened Buddha, while Kisa Gotami transforms from a grieving, irrational mother to someone who understands universal truth. These transformations demonstrate the human capacity for growth and enlightenment through experience and understanding.

10. The Role of Community and Shared Experience

The story shows how individual suffering connects to universal human experience. Kisa Gotami's journey through the community reveals that every household has experienced loss, creating a sense of shared humanity. This theme emphasizes that we are not alone in our suffering and that understanding this can lead to greater compassion and wisdom.

Comprehension 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 the boy is already dead, and no medicine can bring the dead back to life. People think she has lost her senses and tell her, "She has lost her senses. The boy is dead."

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 household has experienced the death of a loved one. As the people tell her, "Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief." There was no house where some beloved one had not died.

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?

Kisa Gotami understands that death is universal and common to all. She realizes that her grief was selfish because she was not the only one who had lost loved ones. She thinks to herself, "How selfish am I in my grief! Death is common to all." Yes, this was exactly what the Buddha wanted her to understand - that suffering and death are universal experiences.

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 the Buddha used a practical teaching method instead of simply telling her the truth. He gave her a specific task (finding mustard seeds from a house where no one has died) that forced her to experience the reality for herself. Through this practical experience, she discovered that every household had experienced death, making it a perfect metaphor for the universal nature of suffering. It also demonstrates the Buddha's wisdom in using practical experience rather than abstract philosophy to teach profound truths. The task transforms from a simple errand into a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.

5. How do you usually understand the idea of 'selfishness'? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being 'selfish in her grief'?

Kisa Gotami was being selfish in her grief because she was so focused on her own loss that she failed to recognize that death is a universal experience. She thought her suffering was unique when it was actually common to all humanity. Her grief blinded her to the fact that others had also experienced similar losses. This type of selfishness in grief is common - when we're in pain, we often forget that others suffer too. The Buddha's teaching helped her see beyond her personal sorrow to understand the universal nature of human suffering.

6. What is the main message of the Buddha's sermon?

The main message of the Buddha's sermon is that life is brief, troubled, and filled with pain. Death is inevitable for all living beings - "there is not any means by which those that have been born can avoid dying." The wise do not grieve because they understand the natural terms of the world. Peace of mind comes from accepting this reality rather than lamenting over it. The Buddha emphasizes that weeping and grieving only increase suffering and do not save the dead. True peace comes from drawing out "the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief" and becoming composed.

7. How does the Buddha's method of teaching differ from simply telling Kisa Gotami the truth?

The Buddha uses a practical, experiential method - he gives Kisa Gotami a task that leads her to discover the truth for herself. Instead of directly explaining that death is universal, he asks her to find mustard seeds from a house where no one has died. This method is more effective than simply telling her because she experiences the realization directly through her own actions and observations. The truth becomes more meaningful and lasting when discovered through personal experience rather than received as information from another person.

8. What does the story teach us about dealing with grief and loss?

The story teaches us several important lessons about dealing with grief and loss: First, that grief is a natural response to loss, but we should not let it consume us completely. Second, understanding that suffering is universal can help us find perspective and peace. Third, true healing comes from acceptance and letting go of selfish attachment to our own pain. Fourth, the Buddha's metaphor of "drawing out the arrow" suggests that we must actively work to remove grief from our hearts rather than passively waiting for it to fade. Finally, the story shows that while we cannot avoid loss, we can choose how we respond to it - with wisdom and acceptance rather than endless lamentation.

9. What is the significance of the mustard seed task in the story?

The mustard seed task serves multiple purposes in the story. It gives Kisa Gotami hope initially (she thinks she can easily find mustard seeds), but then leads her to a profound realization. The task is impossible to complete because every household has experienced death, making it a perfect metaphor for the universal nature of suffering. It also demonstrates the Buddha's wisdom in using practical experience rather than abstract philosophy to teach profound truths. The task transforms from a simple errand into a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment.

10. How does the story connect to the broader themes of Buddhism?

The story embodies several core Buddhist principles: the First Noble Truth (life is suffering), the concept of impermanence (everything changes and ends), the importance of letting go of attachments, and the path to enlightenment through understanding. The Buddha's journey from sheltered prince to enlightened teacher mirrors the Buddhist path of awakening. Kisa Gotami's transformation from selfish grief to understanding represents the Buddhist goal of overcoming suffering through wisdom. The emphasis on practical experience over theoretical knowledge reflects Buddhism's focus on direct insight and personal transformation rather than mere intellectual understanding.