NCERT Textbook: The Sermon at Benares | English Class 10 PDF Download

 Page 1


?
;
Unit 
8
The Sermon a T 
Benara S
Let ’s Begin 1.  In the lesson ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ you were asked to ??nd 
out the meaning of ‘sermon’. The meanings are given below 
but these are in different contexts: 
• a talk on a religious or moral subject 
• a long or monotonous piece of admonition or caution or a 
warning, a lecture.
(a) Discuss with your classmates the context to which the 
present text belongs.
(b) What could be the examples for the different context 
according to you?
(c) When your parents or elders say something, you say, 
“Oh, not again!” When do you say so and why?
2.  Read the poem given below in the context of ‘The Sermon at 
Benaras’. It was actually delivered as a part of a sermon in 
1910 by the author, Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847 — 1918), 
a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. After reading the 
poem, discuss in groups of four and list the similarities and 
differences between ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ and ‘Death Is 
Nothing At All’. For example the theme, the situation, the 
philosophy of the two speakers etc.
Death Is Nothing At All
Death is nothing at all. 
It does not count. 
I have only slipped away into the next room. 
Nothing has happened. 
Unit-8.indd   109 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Page 2


?
;
Unit 
8
The Sermon a T 
Benara S
Let ’s Begin 1.  In the lesson ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ you were asked to ??nd 
out the meaning of ‘sermon’. The meanings are given below 
but these are in different contexts: 
• a talk on a religious or moral subject 
• a long or monotonous piece of admonition or caution or a 
warning, a lecture.
(a) Discuss with your classmates the context to which the 
present text belongs.
(b) What could be the examples for the different context 
according to you?
(c) When your parents or elders say something, you say, 
“Oh, not again!” When do you say so and why?
2.  Read the poem given below in the context of ‘The Sermon at 
Benaras’. It was actually delivered as a part of a sermon in 
1910 by the author, Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847 — 1918), 
a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. After reading the 
poem, discuss in groups of four and list the similarities and 
differences between ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ and ‘Death Is 
Nothing At All’. For example the theme, the situation, the 
philosophy of the two speakers etc.
Death Is Nothing At All
Death is nothing at all. 
It does not count. 
I have only slipped away into the next room. 
Nothing has happened. 
Unit-8.indd   109 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 110
Everything remains exactly as it was. 
I am I, and you are you, 
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, 
unchanged. 
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 
Call me by the old familiar name. 
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. 
Put no difference into your tone. 
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. 
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed 
together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. 
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow 
upon it. 
Life means all that it ever meant. 
It is the same as it ever was. 
There is absolute and unbroken continuity. 
What is this death but a negligible accident? 
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? 
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, 
somewhere very near, 
just round the corner. 
All is well. 
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. 
One brief moment and all will be as it was before. 
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott Holland
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i Read the passage given below and answer the questions that 
follow.
In the future, if we want a happier humanity, a happy world, 
we must tackle the root of the problem. Of course the economy 
and political power are also causes. But the ultimate cause lies 
within the human mind. Every human action, verbal or physical, 
familiar
fondly
negligible
parting
solemnity
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   110 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Page 3


?
;
Unit 
8
The Sermon a T 
Benara S
Let ’s Begin 1.  In the lesson ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ you were asked to ??nd 
out the meaning of ‘sermon’. The meanings are given below 
but these are in different contexts: 
• a talk on a religious or moral subject 
• a long or monotonous piece of admonition or caution or a 
warning, a lecture.
(a) Discuss with your classmates the context to which the 
present text belongs.
(b) What could be the examples for the different context 
according to you?
(c) When your parents or elders say something, you say, 
“Oh, not again!” When do you say so and why?
2.  Read the poem given below in the context of ‘The Sermon at 
Benaras’. It was actually delivered as a part of a sermon in 
1910 by the author, Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847 — 1918), 
a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. After reading the 
poem, discuss in groups of four and list the similarities and 
differences between ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ and ‘Death Is 
Nothing At All’. For example the theme, the situation, the 
philosophy of the two speakers etc.
Death Is Nothing At All
Death is nothing at all. 
It does not count. 
I have only slipped away into the next room. 
Nothing has happened. 
Unit-8.indd   109 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 110
Everything remains exactly as it was. 
I am I, and you are you, 
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, 
unchanged. 
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 
Call me by the old familiar name. 
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. 
Put no difference into your tone. 
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. 
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed 
together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. 
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow 
upon it. 
Life means all that it ever meant. 
It is the same as it ever was. 
There is absolute and unbroken continuity. 
What is this death but a negligible accident? 
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? 
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, 
somewhere very near, 
just round the corner. 
All is well. 
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. 
One brief moment and all will be as it was before. 
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott Holland
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i Read the passage given below and answer the questions that 
follow.
In the future, if we want a happier humanity, a happy world, 
we must tackle the root of the problem. Of course the economy 
and political power are also causes. But the ultimate cause lies 
within the human mind. Every human action, verbal or physical, 
familiar
fondly
negligible
parting
solemnity
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   110 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 8 – ThE s Ermon at BEnara s 111
Sentences
even minor actions, have some motivation. Proper motivation or 
proper development is an important factor. Thus, if intelligence 
is accompanied with human affection and compassion, what I 
call human feeling, then it is very useful.
If society’s moral values and standards of behaviour become 
negative, each of us will suffer. Therefore, the intentions of an 
individual are very much related to the interests of society. There 
is a de??nite correlation.
The educational system and family life are two very important 
areas. In the educational ??eld, one has to take care not only 
of the brain, but also of one’s spiritual development. I say 
“spiritual development” not in a religious sense but simply in the 
sense of having a good and compassionate heart. If one has a 
compassionate heart, it automatically brings inner strength and 
allows for less fear and less doubt. Subsequently, one becomes 
happier and more open-minded, thus making more friends in 
society.
(Source: The Transformed Mind by His Holiness 
the Dalai Lama)
 Q.1. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, what 
should we do if we want a happier humanity?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.2. Where does the ultimate cause of the problem lie?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.3. “What I call human feeling, then ‘it’ is very useful.” 
What is ‘it’ referred to here?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.4. Why does the Dalai Lama say that proper motivation 
is important?
  _____________________________________________________
humanity
motivation
correlation
spiritual
compassionate
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   111 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Page 4


?
;
Unit 
8
The Sermon a T 
Benara S
Let ’s Begin 1.  In the lesson ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ you were asked to ??nd 
out the meaning of ‘sermon’. The meanings are given below 
but these are in different contexts: 
• a talk on a religious or moral subject 
• a long or monotonous piece of admonition or caution or a 
warning, a lecture.
(a) Discuss with your classmates the context to which the 
present text belongs.
(b) What could be the examples for the different context 
according to you?
(c) When your parents or elders say something, you say, 
“Oh, not again!” When do you say so and why?
2.  Read the poem given below in the context of ‘The Sermon at 
Benaras’. It was actually delivered as a part of a sermon in 
1910 by the author, Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847 — 1918), 
a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. After reading the 
poem, discuss in groups of four and list the similarities and 
differences between ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ and ‘Death Is 
Nothing At All’. For example the theme, the situation, the 
philosophy of the two speakers etc.
Death Is Nothing At All
Death is nothing at all. 
It does not count. 
I have only slipped away into the next room. 
Nothing has happened. 
Unit-8.indd   109 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 110
Everything remains exactly as it was. 
I am I, and you are you, 
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, 
unchanged. 
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 
Call me by the old familiar name. 
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. 
Put no difference into your tone. 
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. 
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed 
together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. 
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow 
upon it. 
Life means all that it ever meant. 
It is the same as it ever was. 
There is absolute and unbroken continuity. 
What is this death but a negligible accident? 
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? 
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, 
somewhere very near, 
just round the corner. 
All is well. 
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. 
One brief moment and all will be as it was before. 
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott Holland
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i Read the passage given below and answer the questions that 
follow.
In the future, if we want a happier humanity, a happy world, 
we must tackle the root of the problem. Of course the economy 
and political power are also causes. But the ultimate cause lies 
within the human mind. Every human action, verbal or physical, 
familiar
fondly
negligible
parting
solemnity
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   110 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 8 – ThE s Ermon at BEnara s 111
Sentences
even minor actions, have some motivation. Proper motivation or 
proper development is an important factor. Thus, if intelligence 
is accompanied with human affection and compassion, what I 
call human feeling, then it is very useful.
If society’s moral values and standards of behaviour become 
negative, each of us will suffer. Therefore, the intentions of an 
individual are very much related to the interests of society. There 
is a de??nite correlation.
The educational system and family life are two very important 
areas. In the educational ??eld, one has to take care not only 
of the brain, but also of one’s spiritual development. I say 
“spiritual development” not in a religious sense but simply in the 
sense of having a good and compassionate heart. If one has a 
compassionate heart, it automatically brings inner strength and 
allows for less fear and less doubt. Subsequently, one becomes 
happier and more open-minded, thus making more friends in 
society.
(Source: The Transformed Mind by His Holiness 
the Dalai Lama)
 Q.1. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, what 
should we do if we want a happier humanity?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.2. Where does the ultimate cause of the problem lie?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.3. “What I call human feeling, then ‘it’ is very useful.” 
What is ‘it’ referred to here?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.4. Why does the Dalai Lama say that proper motivation 
is important?
  _____________________________________________________
humanity
motivation
correlation
spiritual
compassionate
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   111 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 112
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.5. Why is there a requirement of correlation between 
the intention of an individual and the interest of 
society?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.6. What does His Holiness the Dalai Lama mean by 
“spiritual development”?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.7. A compassionate heart brings —
  (a) __________________________________________________
  (b) __________________________________________________
  (c) __________________________________________________
      __________________________________________________
t ext ii Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow.
Father Gilligan was overworked and extremely tired as he 
kept attending to the sick and dying among his parishioners. He 
was offering them spiritual comfort day and night. One night he 
fell asleep on a chair. God sent his angel down to help his most 
beloved servant of the people.
The Ballad of Father Gilligan
The old priest Peter Gilligan 
Was weary night and day,
For half his ??ock were in their beds, 
Or under green sods lay.
Once while he nodded on a chair,
At the moth - hour of eve,
Another poor man sent for him,
And he began to grieve.
??ock
grieve
parishioners
spake
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   112 20-02-2023   09:45:41
Reprint 2025-26
Page 5


?
;
Unit 
8
The Sermon a T 
Benara S
Let ’s Begin 1.  In the lesson ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ you were asked to ??nd 
out the meaning of ‘sermon’. The meanings are given below 
but these are in different contexts: 
• a talk on a religious or moral subject 
• a long or monotonous piece of admonition or caution or a 
warning, a lecture.
(a) Discuss with your classmates the context to which the 
present text belongs.
(b) What could be the examples for the different context 
according to you?
(c) When your parents or elders say something, you say, 
“Oh, not again!” When do you say so and why?
2.  Read the poem given below in the context of ‘The Sermon at 
Benaras’. It was actually delivered as a part of a sermon in 
1910 by the author, Canon Henry Scott Holland (1847 — 1918), 
a priest at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. After reading the 
poem, discuss in groups of four and list the similarities and 
differences between ‘The Sermon at Benaras’ and ‘Death Is 
Nothing At All’. For example the theme, the situation, the 
philosophy of the two speakers etc.
Death Is Nothing At All
Death is nothing at all. 
It does not count. 
I have only slipped away into the next room. 
Nothing has happened. 
Unit-8.indd   109 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 110
Everything remains exactly as it was. 
I am I, and you are you, 
and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, 
unchanged. 
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. 
Call me by the old familiar name. 
Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. 
Put no difference into your tone. 
Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. 
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes that we enjoyed 
together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. 
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. 
Let it be spoken without an effort, without the ghost of a shadow 
upon it. 
Life means all that it ever meant. 
It is the same as it ever was. 
There is absolute and unbroken continuity. 
What is this death but a negligible accident? 
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? 
I am but waiting for you, for an interval, 
somewhere very near, 
just round the corner. 
All is well. 
Nothing is hurt; nothing is lost. 
One brief moment and all will be as it was before. 
How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!
Canon Henry Scott Holland
Reading Comp Rehension 
t ext i Read the passage given below and answer the questions that 
follow.
In the future, if we want a happier humanity, a happy world, 
we must tackle the root of the problem. Of course the economy 
and political power are also causes. But the ultimate cause lies 
within the human mind. Every human action, verbal or physical, 
familiar
fondly
negligible
parting
solemnity
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   110 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 8 – ThE s Ermon at BEnara s 111
Sentences
even minor actions, have some motivation. Proper motivation or 
proper development is an important factor. Thus, if intelligence 
is accompanied with human affection and compassion, what I 
call human feeling, then it is very useful.
If society’s moral values and standards of behaviour become 
negative, each of us will suffer. Therefore, the intentions of an 
individual are very much related to the interests of society. There 
is a de??nite correlation.
The educational system and family life are two very important 
areas. In the educational ??eld, one has to take care not only 
of the brain, but also of one’s spiritual development. I say 
“spiritual development” not in a religious sense but simply in the 
sense of having a good and compassionate heart. If one has a 
compassionate heart, it automatically brings inner strength and 
allows for less fear and less doubt. Subsequently, one becomes 
happier and more open-minded, thus making more friends in 
society.
(Source: The Transformed Mind by His Holiness 
the Dalai Lama)
 Q.1. According to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, what 
should we do if we want a happier humanity?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.2. Where does the ultimate cause of the problem lie?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.3. “What I call human feeling, then ‘it’ is very useful.” 
What is ‘it’ referred to here?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.4. Why does the Dalai Lama say that proper motivation 
is important?
  _____________________________________________________
humanity
motivation
correlation
spiritual
compassionate
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   111 20-02-2023   09:45:40
Reprint 2025-26
Words and Expr Essions 2 – Class x 112
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.5. Why is there a requirement of correlation between 
the intention of an individual and the interest of 
society?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.6. What does His Holiness the Dalai Lama mean by 
“spiritual development”?
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
  _____________________________________________________
Q.7. A compassionate heart brings —
  (a) __________________________________________________
  (b) __________________________________________________
  (c) __________________________________________________
      __________________________________________________
t ext ii Read the poem given below and answer the questions that follow.
Father Gilligan was overworked and extremely tired as he 
kept attending to the sick and dying among his parishioners. He 
was offering them spiritual comfort day and night. One night he 
fell asleep on a chair. God sent his angel down to help his most 
beloved servant of the people.
The Ballad of Father Gilligan
The old priest Peter Gilligan 
Was weary night and day,
For half his ??ock were in their beds, 
Or under green sods lay.
Once while he nodded on a chair,
At the moth - hour of eve,
Another poor man sent for him,
And he began to grieve.
??ock
grieve
parishioners
spake
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   112 20-02-2023   09:45:41
Reprint 2025-26
Unit 8 – ThE s Ermon at BEnara s 113
Sentences
“I have no rest, nor joy, nor peace,
 For people die and die;”
And after cried he, “God forgive!
My body spake, not I!”
And then, half-lying on the chair, 
He knelt, prayed, fell asleep;
And the moth-hour went from the ??elds,
And stars began to peep.
They slowly into millions grew,
And leaves shook in the wind;
And God covered the world with shade,
And whispered to mankind.
Upon the time of sparrow chirp
When the moths came once more,
The old priest Peter Gilligan
Stood upright on the ??oor.
“Mavrone, Mavrone! The man has died,
While I slept on the chair,”
He roused his horse out of its sleep
And rode with little care.
He rode now as he never rode,
By rocky lane and fen;
The sick man’s wife opened the door:
“Father! You come again!”
“And is the poor man dead?” he cried.
“He died an hour ago.”
The old priest Peter Gilligan
In grief swayed to and fro.
“When you were gone he turned and died,
As merry as a bird.”
The old priest Peter Gilligan
He knelt him at that word.
“He who hath made the night of stars
For souls who tire and bleed,
Sent one of His great angles down
To help me in my need.
peep
pity
roused
swayed
Look Up 
and Understand Unit-8.indd   113 20-02-2023   09:45:41
Reprint 2025-26