The Sermon at Benares

Ans. Once Gautama Buddha went for hunting. On the way, he saw a sick man, an old man, a funeral procession and a begging monk. He was filled with sorrow. He renounced everything and went out into the world to seek Enlightment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed after having wandered for seven years, Buddha sat under peepal tree and pledged to stay there until he was enlightened. After being enlightened that took a week’s time, he renamed the tree as Buddha Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to preach.

Ans. After the death of Kisa Gotami’s only child, she became very sad. She carried her dead child to her neighbours in order to get medicine to bring him to life. Her neighbours thought that she had gone insane as she was unable to accept the fact about her son’s death. It was then that someone suggested her to meet Gautama Buddha. When she met Gautama Buddha he gave her an exercise to do. She was asked to collect mustard seeds from a house where no one has ever died.

She went from one house to another but was unable to find a single house where no one has died. This way she realised that death is a part of life and anyone who is born is bound to die one day. Thus, Buddha changed her understanding of death by this exercise.

Ans. Yes, I agree with the message that Gautama Buddha has given about life. In the modern times, people have a lot to explore and move with the world at the same pace. If people don’t understand the practicality of life, they will be under stress which would in turn affects, their personal and professional lives. People need to understand that everyone who is born will have to die one day. There is no use being sad or crying over the loss. People should remain calm and composed in such situations. They should face the truth and move on in life.

Ans. After enlightenment, Buddha started to spread his teachings about life. He told that death and suffering are the part and parcel of life. None can avoid this truth. One has to meet end of their life one day. Whoever has come to the world, will die one day. In the hour of sadness, one must remain calm and composed so that grief doesn’t overcome one. People who are wise, never complain or lament over their loss. They accept the truth and be blessed with it. So, the wisdom lies in the fact that people should not get distressed with pain, suffering and death.

Ans. Kisa Gotami lost her only son. She went to her neighbours, asking them to provide medicine for her son. A man suggested her to go and meet Buddha. Buddha asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds and also added that she should get the seeds from the house where no one has lost any near and dear one. Kisa Gotami went from door to door requesting for mustard seeds. But she could not get any such house where no one has died. Only then Buddha made her understand that the life of mortals in this world is troubled and grief and combined with pain. Now Kisa understood the reality of life.

She realized that everyone has to face the destined end of their life. Lamenting over the grief will only result in pain and suffering.

Ans. The above said statement holds true concerning today’s life as well. Buddha said that death is common to all mortals. Those who are born must die one day. Death is certain, can’t be avoided. As ripe fruits fall off the trees, so is the life of mortals. An earthen pot made by a potter will break one day. No amount of weeping and lamenting can bring the dead back to life. So, wise men don’t grieve. They understand that it is the law of the world. Weeping and lamenting produce no gains. It rather spoils one’s health and gives more pain.

But in today’s world, man has forgotten this. He makes all kinds of efforts to provide himself with the comforts and earns money by all means whether wrong or right. He forgets that one day he has to die and everything will be left here only. People nowadays lament over every small loss and hence are not satisfied and happy with whatever they have.

Ans. Kisa was a common woman whose son had died. She could not believe it and carried her son to neighbours requesting them to give her medicine to cure him. People thought that she was not in her senses. She approached Buddha. He asked her to procure a handful of mustard seeds but he put a condition that they should be procured from a house where no death has ever taken place. Kisa could not find such a house. She is sad and depressed, sat on the sideways and watched city lights that flickered and extinguished.

It made her realize that human lives flicker and extinguish as well and that death is an unavoidable phenomenon. She thought herself to be selfish for thinking only about her grief. Thus, Buddha taught that death is common to all mortals. Those who are born must die one day. You cannot avoid it. Death is certain.

Ans. Buddha said that death is common to all mortals. Those who are born must die one day. You cannot avoid it. Death is certain. As ripe fruits fall off the trees and meet an end so do the lives of the mortals. Life of a man is like an earthen pot that breaks and meets its end. No amount of weeping and lamenting can bring a dead back to life. So, wise men don’t grieve. They understand that it is the law of nature. Also, weeping and lamenting bring no gains. It rather spoils one’s health and gives more pain. If only you take out the arrow of lamentation and get composed, you will get peace of mind. One who overcome sorrow, become free of sorrow.

Ans. Gautama Buddha was a Prince who was named Siddhartha Gautama by his parents. He was born in 563 B.C in North India. He had been shielded from the sufferings of the world.

Ans. While going out for hunting Prince Siddhartha saw a sick man, an aged man and then a funeral procession. Then he saw a beggar begging for alms. These sights mourned him very much. He realised that the world is full of sorrows. He thus turned into a monk.

Ans. A sermon is a spoken or written address on a religious or moral subject. It is a serious talk. It is different from a lecture or a talk. It is because a lecture or a talk can be on anything. A sermon has to be on religion or a moral subject.

Ans. When Buddha attained enlightenment, he started preaching and telling people about life and its meaning. He spread his preaching far and wide. He shared his knowledge with people through his teachings.

Ans. Kisa Gotami was sad because her only son had died. In her hour of grief, she went from house to house in search of a medicine to cure him. She had become selfish in wanting her son back.

Ans. Kisa Gotami’s only son had died. She was overwhelmed with grief. She carried the dead child to all her neighbours. She asked them for medicine to cure her son. The neighbours thought she had lost her senses. A dead child could never be cured.

Ans. Buddha changed Kisa’s thinking with the help of a simple act – asking her to procure a handful of mustard seeds from that house where none had died. She could not understand it. But, gradually she understood that death is inevitable.