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    8.1. The Sermon at Benares - Class 10 - First Flight



    šŸ“˜ Chapter Title : The Sermon at Benares

    Ā Author: Betty Renshaw (based on the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha)

    Textbook: First Flight (CBSE Class X)

    Genre: Biographical Narrative / Spiritual Discourse


    šŸ“ Summary

    The chapter narrates the story of Gautama Buddha, originally Prince Siddhartha, who gave up royal life in search of enlightenment after encountering suffering for the first time. Deeply moved by the realities of sickness, old age, and death, he meditated under a peepal tree until he attained spiritual knowledge and became the Buddha. His first sermon at Benares, a sacred city in India, introduced his philosophy on suffering and detachment.


    A grief-stricken mother, Kisa Gotami, whose only son had died, approached Buddha for a cure. He told her to collect mustard seeds from a house where no one had lost a loved one. After going door to door, she realized that death is universal and inevitable. This awakened her understanding of life, suffering, and the importance of renunciation. Buddha taught that wisdom lies in accepting the nature of life and overcoming grief through spiritual awakening. The sermon guides us to conquer sorrow by letting go of attachments.


    šŸ‘¤ Character Sketch:

    Gautama Buddha

    Gautama Buddha was a compassionate and enlightened teacher who devoted his life to guiding others on the path of spiritual truth. His calm demeanor, deep wisdom, and empathetic understanding helped people find peace. In this chapter, he is portrayed as both a realist and a spiritual healer who uses life experiences to impart profound lessons about human suffering and detachment.


    šŸ“š Themes

    Theme

    Description

    Death and Suffering

    Emphasizes that death is an unavoidable part of life that affects all living beings.

    Renunciation

    Teaches that true peace comes from letting go of attachment and desires.

    Universality of Grief

    Illustrates that everyone experiences loss, and suffering is a shared human condition.

    Enlightenment

    Depicts the journey from ignorance to spiritual awakening and self-realization.

    āœØ Literary Devices / Poetic Devices

    Device

    Example

    Allusion

    Reference to Buddha and his sermon at Benares.

    Symbolism

    Mustard seed ā€“ symbol of hope and shared human experience.

    Simile

    ā€œAs ripe fruits are early in danger of falling...ā€ ā€“ comparing human life to ripe fruit.

    Repetition

    ā€œThe dead are not saved by his lamentation.ā€ ā€“ emphasizes futility of grief.

    Imagery

    ā€œLights of the city flickered up and were extinguished...ā€ ā€“ conveys impermanence.

    šŸ“– Title Justification

    The title ā€œThe Sermon at Benaresā€ is apt as the chapter revolves around the first sermon given by Gautama Buddha at Benares. This sermon reveals profound truths about life, death, and detachment. It marks a pivotal moment in the spread of Buddhist philosophy and provides a timeless lesson in emotional resilience, making the title both factual and meaningful.


    āœ… One-Mark Questions

    1. Who was Gautama Buddha before renunciation?

      He was Prince Siddhartha Gautama of a royal family in northern India.


    2. What incident changed Buddhaā€™s life?

      Seeing a sick man, an old man, a funeral, and a monk seeking alms deeply affected him.


    3. What did Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring?

      He asked her to bring mustard seeds from a house where no one had died.


    4. Why couldnā€™t Kisa Gotami find the mustard seeds?

      Every household had experienced the death of a loved one.


    5. What lesson did Kisa Gotami learn?

      She understood that death is common to all and not just her personal grief.


    āœ… Three-Mark Questions

    1. How did Kisa Gotami's understanding of life and death change?

      Initially blinded by grief, she hoped to revive her son. But through her experience and Buddhaā€™s guidance, she realized that death is universal and cannot be escaped by anyone.


    2. What is the central idea of the sermon?

      The sermon teaches that suffering and death are inseparable from life. True wisdom lies in acceptance and detachment from worldly attachments.


    3. Why is the mustard seed significant in this story?

      It symbolizes the commonality of human suffering and the lesson that grief is not unique to any one person but shared by all.


    šŸ§  Value-Based Question

    Q: What moral lesson does "The Sermon at Benares" teach about dealing with sorrow and loss?

    A:Ā The chapter teaches that sorrow is a universal experience and clinging to grief only prolongs suffering. Real peace comes from accepting the impermanence of life and practicing detachment. The story inspires us to develop empathy, find inner peace, and support others in their times of grief.


    End


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