The Sermon at Benares tells us the early life of Buddha. He
was born as a prince. He was married to a princes and had a son. He was
shielded from the outside world. He led a luxurious life till he was exposed to the
sufferings of the world. He left his palace, all the worldly pleasures, and went
in search of salvation. After attaining spiritual awakening, he gave his first
sermon in the city of Benares.
The only son of a woman named Kisa Gotami was dead. In her
grief, she searched for medicine to bring him back to life. She was sent to
Buddha. Buddha made her realize that all men are mortal and a wise person
should not grieve at what is bound to happen for it only enhances pain and
suffering.
Meanings:
Sacred = related to
God and religion
Scriptures = the
sacred writings of a religion
Befitted = be
appropriate for; suited
Chanced upon = came
across by chance
Alms = money or food
given to poor people; charity
Enlightenment = a
state of high spiritual knowledge
Wandered = to move
without a fixed course
Vowed = solemnly
promise to do a specified thing
Preached = deliver a
religious address to an assembled group of people
Sermon = a talk on
religious or moral subject
Holy = sacred, righteousness
Dipping places = bathing areas of a river or a water body
Inscrutable = something which cannot be understood
Kinsmen = a man who
is one of a person’s blood relations
Lamenting = expressing
regret or disappointment about something
Slaughter = killing
of animals for food
Afflicted = affected
adversely, made to happen against
Summary:
Gautama Buddha was born to a North Indian royal family as a
prince and was named Siddhartha Gautama. When he was twelve years old, he was
sent to a faraway place to study Hindu sacred scriptures. He returned after
four years and got married to a princess. They had a son and they continued to
live the royal life for about ten years. The royals were shielded from all the
unpleasant experiences of the outside world.
One day, while he was on his way for hunting, Siddhartha came
across a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk begging for
alms. He was troubled by the experience and wanted to find salvation for the
sufferings. He wandered for seven years in search of spiritual knowledge. He
sat under a peepal tree and attained salvation. He began preaching by giving his
first sermon in the city of Benares.
There was a lady named Kisa Gotami whose only son had died.
Suffering with unending pain and grief, she went from house to house looking
for medicine to bring her son back to life. People started thinking that the
lady had lost her senses. One day, she met a man who directed her towards
Buddha. Buddha asked her to bring mustard seeds. He said that the seeds must be
procured from a house that had seen no death. Kisa Gotami once again went on a
search from house to house. Sadly, she could not find any home in which there
were no deaths.
She was disheartened and sat looking at the city’s lights
being lighted and extinguished. She realized that she had been selfish. She came
to know that men were mortal and no one could escape it. This was what Buddha
wanted her to understand. According to Buddha, feelings of grief and sorrow only
increase man’s pain and suffering thus, deteriorating the health. Therefore, a
wise person should be aware of nature’s functioning and must not grieve at
something bound to happen. Only then he can be free of sorrow and be blessed.
Thinking About the Text (Answers to the
questions given on Page 135)
After the death
of her only son, Kisa Gotami was overcome with grief. She went from door to
door asking for medicine. Nobody could provide any medicine. Because no
medicine can bring a dead person back to life.
Buddha asks Kisa
to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where there was no death. She
went from door to door, but couldn’t find such a house. She could not get the
seeds as death is inevitable and anyone is bound to die.
3. What does Kisa Gotami understand the
second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what Buddha
wanted her to understand?
She realised
that death was common to all. She failed to understand it the first time as she
was being selfish in her grief. Yes, this is what Buddha wanted her to
understand, that everyone who is born has to die one day.
4. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood
this only the second time? In what way did Buddha change her understanding?
Earlier, she
could see only her grief. When she went from door to door the second time, she
understood that everyone was dealing with the loss of a beloved one. Gautama
Buddha helped her to understand all this, as he told her to bring a handful of
mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door.
5. How do you usually understand the idea
of selfishness? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being selfish in her
grief?
A selfish person
is one who thinks only about himself or herself. Kisa Gotami was being selfish.
She could not accept the death of her only son. She couldn’t realise that we
are humans and it is natural for us to die. Yes. I agree that she was being
selfish in her grief.
