Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

"The Sermon at Benares" is a story from  Class 10 English that portrays Gautama Buddha's early life. The story depicts how Buddha abandoned all his worldly desires and luxuries to embark on a quest for salvation. After wandering for seven long years, he eventually attained enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya. Let's have a look at some Short Answer Questions of the chapter.

Q1: Which people are referred to as “wise” by the Buddha in his sermons?
Ans: Buddha preached in his sermons that everything that is born will come to its end. Death is inevitable: both young and adult or fools and wise are subject to death. But the people who do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world are called wise people. Wise people neither weep nor grieve.

Q2: According to Buddha, how can one attain peace of mind? Explain.
Ans: Buddha taught that peace of mind can be attained by accepting the reality of life and letting go of the three causes of distress: complaining, lamentation, and grief.

Q3: Why did the Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seeds?
Ans: Kisa Gotami was devastated by the death of her son and she went from door to door, seeking help. Someone told her to talk to Sakyamuni, Buddha, who then asked her to procure a handful of mustard seeds. This raised hope in Gotami’s heart that her son could be revived. But the condition imposed by Sakyamuni was that the seeds should be brought from a house where people had not lost a loved one to death. The futile search of Kisa Gotami made her realise that sorrows are a part of life and one can attain peace only by acceptance.

Q4: What lesson does Buddha's story convey to those in positions of power and privilege?
Ans: Buddha's story conveys that grief and suffering are universal experiences that everyone must face, regardless of their power or position. Death treats everyone equally, and all must endure the same sadness, grief, and pain when a loved one passes away. It also reminds us that everyone born on this earth, no matter their status, will eventually die.

Q5: Why did Buddha choose Benares to deliver his first sermon?
Ans: After attaining enlightenment under the Peepal tree, which he renamed the 'Bodhi Tree,' Buddha chose Benares to deliver his first sermon because it is considered the holiest of the sacred places along the river Ganges.

Q6: Describe the life of Gautama Buddha before enlightenment.
Ans: Buddha was earlier a prince and lived in luxury. When he encountered suffering and grief, it made him sad and sorrowful. He renounced everything and went in search of riddance from suffering. He wandered for seven years. Then, one day, he sat under a tree and vowed not to leave until he was enlightened.

Q7: What sights moved Siddhartha Gautama to seek the path of enlightenment?
Ans: While going for hunting Gautam saw a sick man, an old man, a funeral procession and a monk begging. This encounter with the sufferings and grief moved him and he left to seek the path of enlightenment.

Q8:  What did the Buddha preach to the people?
Ans: Buddha said that death is common to all mortals. You cannot avoid it. No amount of weeping and lamenting can bring back the dead. So wise men don’t grieve. To overcome sorrow, become free of sorrow.

Q9: Who was Gautam Buddha? When and where was he born?
Ans: Gautam Buddha was the earlier prince, Siddhartha who got enlightenment under a Peepal tree and was then named as Gautam Buddha. He was born as a prince in North India.

Q10: How did Siddhartha Gautama get enlightenment? Why did he name the peepal tree as the Bodhi tree?
Ans. Gautama wanted a final solution for the sufferings and pains that afflicted the people of the world. He wandered for seven years for seeking enlightenment. Finally, he sat down under a peepal tree. He vowed to stay there until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the peepal tree. It was named as the Bodhi Tree or Tree of Wisdom. He gave his first sermon at the city of Benares on the River Ganges.

Also Check at EduRev: 

• Summary: The Sermon at Benaras 
• Character Sketch: The Sermon at Benares

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