Chapter 8 – The Sermon at Benares
(About Gautama Buddha, retold by Betty Renshaw)
NCERT Questions & Answers
Thinking about the Text (Page 135–136)
Q1. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami asks for a handful of mustard seeds from any household that has never known death. She does not get it because death is universal — every house has experienced loss.
Q2. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she understand this time?
Answer:
She understands that death is common to all, and human life is fragile and mortal. No one can escape death, just as ripe fruits fall and dying beings are like earthen pots that eventually break.
Q3. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?
Answer:
Initially, grief blinded her, making her believe her son’s death was unique. Buddha guided her to face reality by seeking mustard seeds from a deathless home. This helped her realise that death is inevitable and not just her personal sorrow.
Q4. How do you usually understand the idea of selfishness? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that in grief a person becomes selfish?
Answer:
Usually, selfishness means caring only for oneself. Kisa Gotami is right — in grief, a person focuses only on their own loss, ignoring the universal truth of suffering. Her transformation shows that wisdom and acceptance come when we look beyond ourselves.
✦ Extra Questions & Answers
Short Answer
-
Why did Buddha use the mustard seed to teach Kisa Gotami?
Because it was a simple, everyday object familiar to her, yet impossible to find from a deathless house — symbolising the universality of death. -
What truth did Buddha preach in his sermon?
He preached that life is full of suffering and decay; death is inevitable, and only detachment from selfish desires can bring peace. -
How did Kisa Gotami’s perspective change after her search?
From personal grief, she grew to understand the universality of death and accepted mortality calmly.
Long Answer
Q. What lesson does The Sermon at Benares teach about life and death?
The sermon teaches that death is a universal truth, inevitable for all beings. Kisa Gotami’s grief over her son’s death blinded her to this reality. Buddha wisely directed her to fetch mustard seeds from a house untouched by death. Her failed search revealed that every family experiences loss. This helped her realise her suffering was not unique.
Buddha explained that human life is as fragile as ripe fruits that fall or earthen pots that break. Understanding mortality leads to detachment and peace. The sermon conveys that clinging to selfish desires causes suffering, while wisdom lies in accepting death calmly. It is a message of compassion, realism, and spiritual awakening.
Summary of The Sermon at Benares
Gautama Buddha, originally Prince Siddhartha of the Sakya clan, was born in 563 B.C. Sheltered from suffering by his father, he lived in luxury. However, during excursions outside the palace, he encountered sights that changed his life: an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and a monk. These encounters made him realise that life is full of suffering and that renunciation could lead to peace. He left his palace, wife, and son at the age of 25 and meditated under a Bodhi tree until he attained enlightenment. He became the Buddha, or the Enlightened One.
In his first sermon at Benares, Buddha addressed the universality of suffering and death. The story of Kisa Gotami illustrates his teaching. Kisa Gotami’s only son had died, and she was consumed by grief. In desperation, she carried the dead child from house to house, asking for medicine to restore him. People thought her mad. Finally, she approached the Buddha. Instead of rejecting her plea, Buddha gave her a task: to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had died.
Kisa Gotami eagerly set out but soon realised the impossibility of the task. Every house had experienced death — a father, mother, child, or relative. Gradually, her understanding grew. She realised death spares no one; it is the destiny of all. Her personal grief was no greater than that of countless others.
When she returned empty-handed, Buddha explained that human life is fragile. Just as ripe fruits fall when their time comes, human beings too must die. Like earthen pots that eventually break, the human body is perishable. The wise accept this truth calmly, while the ignorant cling to grief and suffering.
Through this sermon, Buddha taught that selfish attachment to life and possessions causes sorrow. True wisdom lies in recognising impermanence and letting go of attachment. Only then can one achieve peace of mind.
The Sermon at Benares is thus both a spiritual and practical lesson. It teaches acceptance of mortality, compassion for others’ suffering, and the pursuit of detachment to overcome grief.
✦ Biography of Gautama Buddha
Gautama Buddha (563–483 B.C.) was a spiritual teacher whose philosophy gave rise to Buddhism, one of the world’s major religions.
He was born as Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini, in present-day Nepal, into the royal Sakya clan. His father, King Suddhodana, shielded him from all forms of suffering, hoping Siddhartha would become a great ruler. At 16, Siddhartha married Princess Yashodhara, and they had a son, Rahula.
At the age of 29, Siddhartha encountered what are called the “Four Great Sights”: an old man, a sick man, a corpse, and a wandering monk. These experiences profoundly disturbed him, making him aware of life’s inevitable suffering. Moved by compassion and a quest for truth, he renounced his palace life and became a wandering ascetic.
For six years, Siddhartha practised severe austerities but found no answers. Finally, he meditated under a Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya, vowing not to rise until he attained truth. After deep meditation, he achieved enlightenment at the age of 35, becoming the Buddha, “the Enlightened One.”
Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching. His first sermon at Sarnath near Benares, called the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Turning the Wheel of Dharma), laid down the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as a way to overcome suffering.
His teachings emphasised impermanence, detachment, compassion, and self-realisation. He rejected ritualistic practices, focusing instead on ethical living and meditation.
Buddha passed away at the age of 80 in Kushinagar. His message spread across Asia and influenced countless cultures and philosophies.
Today, Gautama Buddha is revered as one of the greatest spiritual teachers, whose philosophy of compassion and mindfulness continues to guide millions worldwide.