Test: The Sermon at Benares - Class 10 MCQ

Gautama Buddha left his life as a prince and sought enlightenment after witnessing a monk begging for alms. This sight, among others, deeply impacted him and led him to renounce his princely life in search of understanding the sufferings of the world.

Gautama Buddha finally sat down under a peepal tree to meditate until he attained enlightenment. The bodhi tree, also known as the peepal tree, became the site where he reached spiritual awakening and gained profound insights into life and suffering.

Witnessing the sufferings of the world, such as sickness, old age, and death, deeply moved Gautama Buddha and prompted him to renounce his princely life. This pivotal moment led him on a path to seek enlightenment and understand the nature of human suffering.

Gautama Buddha's initial reaction upon encountering the sorrows in the world was one of shock and concern. These experiences stirred deep emotions within him, prompting his journey to seek understanding and ultimately attain enlightenment.

Before Gautama Buddha sat down under the peepal tree to meditate and attain enlightenment, he wandered for a period of seven years. This period of wandering and seeking played a crucial role in his spiritual journey towards awakening.

The Buddha instructed Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seed to cure her son. This request led her on a journey to find this specific mustard seed from a household that had not experienced the loss of a child, husband, parent, or friend.

The people sympathized with Kisa Gotami but couldn't provide the mustard seed as requested because each household she visited had experienced the loss of a loved one. This made them unwilling to be reminded of their own sorrows.

b) Must be from a house where no one had ever died.

In this chapter, the Buddha instructs Kisa Gotami to bring a mustard seed from a household that has not experienced death. She soon discovers that every family has faced the loss of loved ones, helping her understand the universal nature of suffering and the inevitability of death. This lesson emphasizes the Buddhist teaching on the impermanence of life.

Kisa Gotami sought the Buddha's help with her dead son because he was regarded as a wise and enlightened being. She believed that he possessed the medicine that could bring her son back to life, demonstrating her faith in his wisdom and compassion.

Kisa Gotami reflects on the transient nature of life as she observes the lights of the city flickering on and off. She contemplates how death is a universal experience that all individuals share, leading her to the realization that selfishness must be relinquished to attain immortality. This introspection highlights the universal truth of mortality and the importance of selflessness in spiritual growth.

The Buddha uses the analogy of earthen vessels made by a potter, which inevitably end up being broken, to underscore the inescapable nature of death. This comparison illustrates how all living beings, regardless of age, wisdom, or circumstances, are subject to the universal truth of mortality, much like how earthen vessels, once created, are destined to break.

Kisa Gotami realizes that surrendering selfishness is the key to transcending grief and finding a path to immortality. Through her reflection on the universality of death and the impermanence of life, she understands the transformative power of selflessness in overcoming personal sorrow and achieving spiritual enlightenment.

The passage suggests that peace of mind and freedom from sorrow can be achieved by withdrawing the arrow of lamentation, complaint, and grief. By letting go of these negative emotions, one can find peace within oneself. This process involves moving away from excessive mourning and instead focusing on inner composure and acceptance.

The wise do not grieve over death and decay, as mentioned in the passage, because they understand the futility of lamentation. Grieving excessively does not bring solace or peace; instead, it exacerbates pain and suffering. By refraining from excessive lamentation, one can attain peace of mind and overcome sorrow. This insight emphasizes the importance of acceptance and inner peace in the face of inevitable losses.