Summary & Question-answers of The Chapter : 9- The Sermon at Benares with the concerned video

The Sermon at Benares Summary in English

Gautama Buddha was born in a North Indian royal family. He was born as a prince. Moreover, his childhood name was Siddhartha Gautama. He was sent to a faraway place to study Hindu sacred scriptures at the age of twelve. Then, on returning after four years, he got married to a princess. Soon, they both were blessed with a son. Then, they continued to live the royal life for about ten years. The Royals were shielded from the unpleasant experiences of the world.

However, one day, on his way to hunt, the Prince met a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and a monk who was begging for. Such experiences acted as an eye-opener for him. Hence, he left all the royalty behind to seek a higher sense of spiritual knowledge. Then, when he attained salvation, he began preaching. His first sermon was given in the city of Benares. There was a lady whose name was Kisa Gotami whose son has died. She was suffering from unending pain. Thus, she went from house to house looking for medicine to make her son alive. People thought that the lady has lost her senses.

However, one day, she met a man who directed her towards Lord Buddha. He felt that Buddha could possibly have a solution for her problem. Then, Buddha asked her to look for mustard seeds and the seeds must be procured from a house where there had been no death. Filled with hope, Kisa Gotami once again went on a search from house to house but she could not find mustard seeds from a house according to Buddha’s condition. Thus, she was disheartened and sat at the edge of the road where she realised how selfish she had been. She realised the fact that men are mortal. Also, no one could escape the cycle of life. This was the only fact that Buddha wanted her to understand.

According to Lord Buddha, feelings of grief and sorrow increase man’s pain and suffering. It serves no other purpose. Moreover, it deteriorates the health. Thus, a wise person who is fully aware of nature’s functioning must not grieve at something bound to happen. This is the only way in which he can be happy and blessed.

Question 1: 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 goes from house to house to get some medicine which could put back life in her dead son. But once a person is dead, he cannot be revived. Hence, people only pity at her agony because they know that no medicine can bring life back in her child.

Question 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?

Answer: After speaking with the Buddha, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house to get a handful of mustard seeds. But Buddha had made a condition, i.e. mustard seeds should be only from a house in which nobody ever died. Since death is an imminent fact and is integral to the life cycle, so Kisa Gotamy does not get mustard seeds.

Question 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?

Answer: She understood the real truth of life and death. She understood that everyone who has come into this world is going to die sooner or later. By sending her to different houses, Buddha wanted her to realize the fragile nature of human life. He also wanted her to rise above worldly matters so that the departed soul could rest in peace.

Question 4: Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?

Answer: Buddha applied practical way of teaching an important lesson. Sometimes, we may not understand a complex subject by only reading a text material. Many a time, we need to have practical experience to understand complex issues.

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

Answer: Being concerned with your own desires and beliefs is called selfishness. Kisa Gotami was only thinking about her personal sorrow and life after her personal tragedy. She was not thinking about grief of all other people. So, it can be said that she was being ‘selfish in her grief.