Class 10 English Chapter 8 Previous Year Questions - The Sermon at Benares

Ans: In A Letter to God, Lencho’s unwavering faith in God drives him to seek divine help after a hailstorm destroys his crops, believing God will provide. His faith, though simplistic, sustains him, yet leads to irony when he questions human honesty. In The Sermon at Benares, Gautama Buddha’s teachings emphasize faith in spiritual wisdom to overcome suffering. Kisa Gotami’s faith in Buddha’s guidance leads her to accept her son’s death, finding peace through enlightenment. Both texts highlight faith as a coping mechanism, but while Lencho’s faith is rooted in material expectations, Buddha’s promotes detachment and inner peace, offering a deeper resolution to life’s challenges.
Explanation: Lencho’s faith is practical, expecting tangible aid, but his misunderstanding of human kindness reveals its limitations. Buddha’s teachings in The Sermon at Benares guide Kisa Gotami to transcend grief through faith in impermanence, showing a transformative spiritual perspective. Both illustrate faith’s role in navigating adversity, differing in their depth and outcome.

Ans: In The Ball Poem, the boy’s loss of his ball symbolizes the inevitable pain of losing cherished things, teaching him to cope with life’s transient nature. In The Sermon at Benares, Kisa Gotami’s loss of her son leads her to Buddha, who teaches that death and suffering are universal. Both texts underscore loss as an inescapable part of life, with the boy learning resilience through personal experience and Kisa gaining wisdom through Buddha’s analogy of mustard seeds. They emphasize that accepting loss fosters emotional and spiritual growth, highlighting its inevitability in shaping human understanding and maturity.

Ans: Buddha’s preaching is validated through Kisa Gotami’s experience. Her incessant weeping over her son’s death intensifies her suffering until Buddha’s task of finding mustard seeds from a household untouched by death reveals its universality, leading her to accept loss and find peace.
​Kisa’s initial grief consumes her, aligning with Buddha’s warning that grieving increases pain. Her futile search for the mustard seeds, as no household is free from death, mirrors Buddha’s teaching, guiding her to detach from sorrow and embrace acceptance, thus achieving peace of mind.

Ans: Buddha taught that death and suffering are universal and inevitable, like earthen vessels that break. In The Sermon at Benares, he tells Kisa Gotami that all living beings face death, using the mustard seed task to show no one escapes loss, urging acceptance for peace.
Through Kisa’s quest, Buddha illustrates that suffering is a shared human experience. His metaphor of life’s fragility, like pottery, emphasizes impermanence. By accepting this, Kisa overcomes her grief, embodying Buddha’s teaching that understanding death’s inevitability alleviates suffering and fosters spiritual tranquility.

Ans. The story imparts the message that death is the ultimate truth and is common to all, irrespective of power and privilege. Every human is mortal, and all power, wealth and relatives are left behind.

Ans: When Siddhartha Gautama was about twenty-five years old, he came across a series of sights by chance while out hunting. He first encountered a sick man, then an aged man, followed by a funeral procession, and finally, a monk begging for alms. These sights deeply affected Siddhartha and made him question the nature of human existence and the cause of suffering. These encounters were instrumental in his decision to renounce his life of luxury and seek enlightenment.

Ans: The statement by the Buddha, "As ripe fruits are in danger of falling early, so mortals when born are always in danger of death," taught Kisa Gotami the moral values of acceptance, impermanence, and the cycle of life and death. After the death of her child, Kisa Gotami realized that death is an inevitable part of life, just as birth is. She understood that all mortals, regardless of their age, intelligence, or social status, are always vulnerable to death. This realization taught Kisa the importance of accepting the natural order of life and finding peace by freeing oneself from grief and complaints.

Ans: Kisa Gotami met the Buddha after losing her only son. Overwhelmed with grief, she sought help from others to bring her child back to life. Finally, she approached the Buddha with her plea. Instead of granting her request, the Buddha taught her a valuable lesson. He asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died. Through this task, Kisa Gotami realized the universality of death and the impermanence of life. The Buddha's teachings changed her perspective and helped her understand that death is a natural part of the human experience. This realization transformed her life by freeing her from the burden of grief and allowing her to find peace within herself. 

Ans: According to the Buddha, this world is full of sufferings, death and sorrows. And knowing the terms of this temporary world, no wise man should mourn for its loss. Mourning can only bring discord in life while acceptance is the key to peace.

Ans: Through the story of Kisa Gotami, the Budhha tried to teach the world the harsh truth of life and death. Kisa Gotami was a lady who had lost her only child to illness. She was so disheartened that she couldn’t accept his death. She asked everybody to bring her son back to life. 
Later, she went to ask Buddha for help. Buddha asked Kisa to bring mustard seeds from a house where no one has ever died, in order to bring his son back to life. Regretfully, Kisa couldn’t find such a house. Then, Budhha told her the truth of life, i.e., death is ultimate and inescapable. Every mortal has to die one day. This world is full of sorrows and griefs but a wise man should not mourn his loss for this temporary world. Surely, acceptance of loss and death is the only way to live with peace.

Ans: In Buddha's sermon, he emphasizes that grief and love are not directly proportional. While grief may be a natural response to losing a loved one, it does not necessarily reflect the depth of love one had for that person. Grief is a result of attachment and clinging to the idea of permanence in a world where everything is impermanent. Buddha teaches that true love is unconditional and detached from the outcomes of life. Therefore, it is not necessary to measure love through grief, as love itself transcends the concept of suffering.

Ans: According to Buddha's sermon, one can obtain peace of mind by letting go of attachment and desire. Buddha teaches that suffering arises from craving and clinging to worldly desires and possessions. To attain peace of mind, one must cultivate a state of non-attachment and detachment from the transient nature of life. By accepting the impermanence of all things and practicing mindfulness and meditation, one can transcend suffering and find inner peace.

Ans: In the Sermon at Benaras, Buddha brings about a different perspective in Kisa Gotami's understanding of life by teaching her the universal nature of suffering and impermanence. He asks her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a household where no one has experienced the loss of a loved one. As she goes from house to house, she realizes that death is inevitable and that everyone experiences loss. This understanding shifts her perspective and helps her accept the reality of death. She learns that clinging to the past and grieving does not bring peace of mind. Instead, she learns to let go and find inner peace by embracing the impermanence of life.

Ans: During Buddha’s time, Kisa Gotami lost her only son, which caused her immense grief. In her sorrow, she sought help from others, including the Buddha. Upon hearing her plea, the Buddha gave her a task. He asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one has ever died. Kisa Gotami went from door to door, but she could not find a single house where no one had experienced death. Through this experience, she realized that death is a natural part of life and that every person is destined to die. This realization helped her understand that death is as normal in life as birth is.

Ans: Through the story of Kisa Gotami, the Buddha tried to preach to the common man about the realities of life and death. He emphasized that death is inevitable and that every person will eventually face it. The story of Kisa Gotami seeking a house where no one had ever died highlights the universality of death and the impermanence of life. The Buddha wanted to teach people that grieving and clinging to the past do not bring peace of mind. Instead, one should come to terms with the reality of death and understand that it is a natural part of the human experience.

Ans: The second time Kisa Gotami went searching for mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died, she learned the lesson of impermanence and the universality of death. The first time she approached the Buddha, she was consumed by grief and sought a way to bring her dead son back to life. The Buddha then instructed her to bring mustard seeds from a house untouched by death. When she couldn't find such a house and realized that death is a natural part of life, she learned the truth about mortality. The second time she went searching, she already knew that death is inevitable and that no one is spared from it. This realization helped her accept her loss and find peace within herself.

Ans: In the chapter 'The Sermon At Benares,' the Buddha taught Kisa Gotami the lesson that death is an inevitable part of life and that grieving and lamentation do not bring peace of mind. When Kisa Gotami approached the Buddha, desperate to bring her dead son back to life, he asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died. Through this task, Kisa Gotami realized that death is a universal experience and that no one can escape it. The Buddha's teachings conveyed that grief and lamentation only prolong suffering and do not bring any benefit. By accepting the reality of death and freeing oneself from grief, one can find peace and liberation from suffering.

Ans: Kisa Gotami realized that life and death are a normal process through her encounter with the Buddha. When her son died, she was grief-stricken and desperate to find a cure. The Buddha asked her to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a household where no one had experienced death. As she went from house to house, she realized that every family had experienced the loss of a loved one. This made her understand that death is inevitable and a part of the natural cycle of life. She realized that her grief was futile and that she needed to accept the reality of death.

Ans: (a) 'He' stands for Prince Siddhartha Gautama.
(b) 'He' studied the Hindu sacred scriptures for four years.
(c) The phrase 'as befitted royalty' means that Prince Siddhartha and the princess lived in accordance with the expectations and lifestyle of the royal family. They enjoyed the privileges and comforts associated with their royal status.
(d) After ten years of marriage, Prince Siddhartha forsook the comforts and securities of the palace and set out into the world to seek enlightenment and find a solution to the suffering that prevailed.

Ans: In the chapter 'The Sermon at Benares,' the Buddha taught Gotami the lesson that death is an inevitable part of life and that one should not cling to the past or mourn excessively. When Gotami approached the Buddha, pleading for the revival of her dead son, he asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died. As Gotami searched for such a house and realized that death is universal, she understood that grieving cannot bring back the dead. The Buddha's teachings emphasized the impermanence of life and the futility of excessive lamentation. By accepting the reality of death and letting go of attachment, one can find peace and liberation from suffering. 

Ans: The moral value that Kisa Gotami learned after the death of her child, as conveyed by the statement of the Buddha, is the acceptance of the universal nature of suffering and the transient nature of life. Kisa Gotami realized that the life of mortals is filled with troubles, brief in duration, and accompanied by pain. She understood that death is an inevitable part of life and that clinging to the past and grieving does not bring peace of mind. The moral value she learned is to accept the reality of suffering, impermanence, and death, and to find inner peace by letting go of attachment and desire.

Ans: (a) The Prince is Siddhartha Gautama.
(b) The sights of sufferings that the Prince saw were a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk begging for alms.
(c) The word 'shielded' means protected or kept away from. In this context, it refers to Siddhartha Gautama being protected from the sufferings and harsh realities of the world.

Ans: Kisa Gotami was sad because she had lost her son, who was her only child. In her hour of grief, she carried the corpse of her son from house to house, asking for medicine to revive him. She was desperate and unwilling to accept the reality of death. Her sadness and grief consumed her, leading her to seek a solution to bring her son back to life.

Ans: The Buddha wanted Kisa Gotami to understand the universal nature of death and the impermanence of life. He wanted her to realize that death is inevitable and that everyone will eventually experience the loss of loved ones. By sending her to find a household where no one had experienced death, the Buddha wanted her to understand that her grief was futile and that she needed to accept the natural cycle of life and death.

Ans: The Buddha chose Benares to preach his first sermon because it was considered the most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges. It attracted crowds of people who were seeking spiritual purification and relief from their sorrows and sufferings. By choosing Benares, the Buddha aimed to reach a large audience and alleviate their suffering by teaching them the path to enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

Ans: Kisa Gotami went from house to house in search of a remedy for her dead son. She carried the corpse with her and asked each household for medicine that could revive him. She was desperate and believed that someone might have a solution to bring her son back to life. Her grief and attachment to her son drove her to seek help from others in her community.

Ans: (a) The fate of mortals is to eventually die. They are carried off one by one, just like an ox that is led to the slaughter.
(b) The wise do not grieve because they understand the universal nature of death and decay. They know that death is an inevitable part of life and that everyone will experience the loss of loved ones. Grieving does not change this reality, so the wise choose to accept it and find inner peace.
(c) The word 'lamenting' means expressing deep sorrow or grief. It refers to the act of mourning and expressing sadness over the loss of a loved one.

Ans: Coping with the death of a loved one requires accepting the inevitable nature of death and embracing the teachings of the Buddha. One should understand that death is a natural part of life and that everyone will experience the loss of loved ones. Instead of clinging to grief and allowing it to consume us, we should practice non-attachment and let go of our desire for permanence. By accepting the impermanence of life, we can find inner peace and overcome the suffering and pain that follows the death of a loved one. This can be achieved through mindfulness, meditation, and the cultivation of a compassionate and understanding mindset.

Ans: The Buddha taught Kisa Gotami the truth of life by making her realize the universality of death and the impermanence of life. He asked her to bring him a handful of mustard seeds from a household where no one had experienced death. As she went from house to house, she discovered that every family had experienced the loss of a loved one. This experience made her understand that death is an inevitable part of life and that her grief was futile. The Buddha's teaching helped her to accept the reality of death and find inner peace.

Ans: After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha began to teach and share his newfound understanding. He traveled extensively, spreading his teachings and establishing a community of monks and nuns who followed his path. He delivered sermons, known as discourses, and guided his followers on the path to liberation from suffering. The Buddha dedicated the rest of his life to helping others attain enlightenment and find freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

Ans: The statement made by the Buddha, "The world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world," is still relevant and appropriate in today's life. Death is an inherent part of the human experience, and everyone will eventually face the loss of loved ones. Grieving is a natural response to such loss, but the Buddha's teaching reminds us that excessive grief and clinging to the past only prolongs suffering. Accepting the reality of death and embracing the impermanence of life can help us find peace and move forward with compassion and understanding. The wisdom of the Buddha's statement applies to all times and can guide us in navigating the inevitable losses we encounter in today's world.