Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 10 Question Answer | The Sermon at Benares
Welcome to HSLC Guru. In this article, we provide a complete set of questions and answers for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 10 – The Sermon at Benares by Betty Renshaw. This chapter is an important part of the ASSEB (Assam State Board of Secondary Education) Class 10 English syllabus. Here you will find the summary, textbook solutions (Thinking about the Text), additional short and long answer questions, MCQs, extract-based questions, and value-based questions to help you prepare thoroughly for your HSLC examination.
Summary of The Sermon at Benares
“The Sermon at Benares” is an account of the life of Gautama Buddha and one of his most important teachings about death and suffering. The chapter begins with the story of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in 563 B.C. as a prince in northern India. He was sent away for schooling in Hindu sacred scriptures at the age of twelve. At sixteen, he returned home and married a princess. They had a son and lived in royal luxury for ten years. The prince was carefully shielded from all the sufferings of the world.
However, at the age of twenty-five, while out hunting, Siddhartha chanced upon four sights that changed his life forever. He saw a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights deeply moved the prince. He had never witnessed such suffering before. He immediately decided to leave his royal life and go out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.
Siddhartha wandered for seven years in search of wisdom and truth. Finally, he sat down under a fig tree (peepal tree) and vowed to stay there until he attained enlightenment. After meditating for seven days, he was enlightened. He renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and share his new understandings. From that point, he became known as the Buddha, which means “the Awakened” or “the Enlightened.”
The Buddha gave his first sermon at Benares, the holiest of the dipping places on the River Ganges. The sermon reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering — death.
The chapter then narrates the story of Kisa Gotami, a woman who had an only son and he died. Overwhelmed with grief, she carried the dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine to cure her son. The people thought she had lost her senses. At last, a man directed her to Sakyamuni, the Buddha, saying that he was the physician who could help her.
Kisa Gotami went to the Buddha and begged him for medicine to cure her boy. The Buddha said he wanted a handful of mustard seeds. But he added an important condition: the mustard seeds must be taken from a house where no one had lost a child, husband, parent, or friend. Kisa Gotami was overjoyed and immediately set out to find such mustard seeds.
She went from house to house. People pitied her and were willing to give her mustard seeds. But when she asked whether anyone had died in the family, the answer was always the same — death had visited every household. She could not find a single home that had not experienced the loss of a loved one. Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless.
She sat down at the wayside, watching the lights of the city as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last, the darkness of the night reigned everywhere. She considered the fate of human beings — their lives flicker up and are extinguished, just like the lights of the city. She realised that she had been selfish in her grief. Death is common to all; no one who is born can avoid dying.
She returned to the Buddha, who then preached his sermon. He said that the life of mortals in this world is troubled, brief, and combined with pain. There is no means by which those who have been born can avoid dying. As ripe fruits are in danger of falling, so mortals when born are always in danger of death. As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals. Both young and adult, both fools and wise, all fall into the power of death. The Buddha said that the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world. Weeping and grieving will not bring peace of mind but will only make one sick and pale. He who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow and be blessed.
Thinking about the Text (Textbook Questions and Answers)
Q1. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Ans: When her son dies, Kisa Gotami carries the dead child to all her neighbours and asks them for medicine that would cure her son and bring him back to life. She does not get it because no such medicine exists that can bring a dead person back to life. Death is incurable and irreversible. The people she approaches tell her that she has lost her senses, as the boy is already dead and no medicine can help him. Her grief has blinded her to the reality that her son is beyond any medical treatment.
Q2. 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?
Ans: The second time, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house asking for a handful of mustard seeds. The Buddha had told her that he would cure her son if she could bring mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever lost a child, husband, parent, or friend. People pitied her and were willing to give her the mustard seeds. However, she could not fulfil the Buddha’s condition because she could not find even a single house where no beloved person had ever died. Every family she visited had experienced death and loss. Therefore, she could not procure the mustard seeds as required by the Buddha.
Q3. 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?
Ans: The second time, Kisa Gotami understands that death is common to all human beings. She realises that she was being selfish in her grief. The first time, she was so consumed by personal sorrow that she could not see beyond her own loss. She did not understand that death is universal and spares no one. The second time, after going from house to house and discovering that every family had experienced death, she realised that she was not alone in her suffering. She understood that everyone who is born must die one day. Yes, this was exactly what the Buddha wanted her to understand. He wanted her to accept the universal truth of death and overcome her grief through this understanding.
Q4. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?
Ans: Kisa Gotami understood the truth of death only the second time because, in her first attempt, she was completely blinded by her personal grief. She was only thinking about her own loss and desperately wanted a miracle cure for her dead son. She was not in a state of mind to accept the reality of death. The Buddha changed her understanding by giving her a practical task — to collect mustard seeds from a house untouched by death. This was a brilliant method of teaching. Instead of simply telling her that death is inevitable, the Buddha made her experience this truth herself. As she went from house to house and heard every family’s story of loss and bereavement, she gradually realised that death is a universal phenomenon. Every family was dealing with the loss of a beloved one. This first-hand experience was far more powerful than any sermon, and it opened her eyes to the truth that death spares no one.
Q5. How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’?
Ans: Selfishness is usually understood as being concerned only with one’s own needs, desires, and interests, without caring about others. A selfish person thinks only about himself or herself and ignores the feelings and sufferings of those around them. Yes, we can agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being selfish in her grief. While it is natural for a mother to grieve the death of her only son, Kisa Gotami was so consumed by her own sorrow that she failed to see that every person around her was also dealing with similar losses. She thought her suffering was unique and wanted an exception to be made for her. She did not consider that death is the fate of all mortals. In this way, her grief made her selfish — she could not look beyond her personal loss to see the universal truth that death is common to all. Once she understood this, she was able to accept her loss and find peace.
Additional Short Answer Questions (SAQ)
Q1. When was Siddhartha Gautama born and where?
Ans: Siddhartha Gautama was born in 563 B.C. as a prince in northern India. He was born into a royal family and lived in luxury and comfort during the early years of his life.
Q2. At what age was Siddhartha Gautama married? Whom did he marry?
Ans: Siddhartha Gautama was married at the age of sixteen, after he returned home from his schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures. He married a princess, and they had a son together. They lived for ten years in royal luxury.
Q3. What four sights did Siddhartha Gautama see while out hunting?
Ans: While out hunting, Siddhartha Gautama chanced upon four sights that changed his life: a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These were his first encounters with the suffering and grief of the world, and they moved him deeply.
Q4. At what age did Siddhartha Gautama leave home? Why did he leave?
Ans: Siddhartha Gautama left home at the age of twenty-five. He left because the sights of a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk begging for alms deeply moved him. He was so affected by these encounters with suffering that he immediately went out into the world to seek enlightenment and a solution to the sorrows he had witnessed.
Q5. How long did Siddhartha Gautama wander in search of wisdom?
Ans: Siddhartha Gautama wandered for seven years in search of wisdom and enlightenment. After these seven years of searching, he finally sat down under a fig tree (peepal tree) and vowed to remain there until enlightenment came to him.
Q6. How did Siddhartha Gautama attain enlightenment?
Ans: After wandering for seven years, Siddhartha Gautama sat down under a fig tree and vowed to stay until enlightenment came. He meditated there for seven days. After seven days, he was enlightened. He renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and share his new understandings with the world.
Q7. What is the meaning of ‘Buddha’? Why was Gautama called ‘the Buddha’?
Ans: The word “Buddha” means “the Awakened” or “the Enlightened.” Siddhartha Gautama was called the Buddha because he attained spiritual enlightenment after meditating under a fig tree for seven days. He gained deep understanding about the nature of life, suffering, and death, and he began to teach and share these understandings with the people.
Q8. Where did the Buddha preach his first sermon? What did it reflect?
Ans: The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, which is the most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges. His first sermon has been preserved and it reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering — that is, the suffering caused by death and the loss of loved ones.
Q9. Who was Kisa Gotami? Why was she sad?
Ans: Kisa Gotami was a woman who had an only son. She was extremely sad because her only son had died. In her grief, she carried the dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine to cure him. She was so overwhelmed with sorrow that she could not accept the reality that her son was dead.
Q10. What did Kisa Gotami’s neighbours think about her? Why?
Ans: Kisa Gotami’s neighbours thought that she had lost her senses. They thought so because she was going from house to house carrying her dead son and asking for medicine to cure him. They knew that the boy was dead and that no medicine could bring him back to life, but Kisa Gotami, in her extreme grief, refused to accept this reality.
Q11. Who directed Kisa Gotami to the Buddha? What did he say?
Ans: A man directed Kisa Gotami to the Buddha. He told her that he could not give her medicine for her child, but he knew a physician who could help. When she asked who this physician was, the man told her to go to Sakyamuni, the Buddha. Following this advice, Kisa Gotami went to the Buddha and begged him to give her the medicine that would cure her boy.
Q12. What did the Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring? What was the condition?
Ans: The Buddha asked Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seeds. However, he put an important condition — the mustard seeds must be taken from a house where no one had ever lost a child, husband, parent, or friend. This condition was deliberately imposed so that Kisa Gotami would herself discover that death is universal and no household is free from it.
Q13. Why could Kisa Gotami not find a house where no one had died?
Ans: Kisa Gotami could not find a house where no one had died because death is a universal truth that touches every family. As she went from house to house, people were willing to give her mustard seeds, but every family had experienced the loss of a beloved one — a child, a husband, a parent, or a friend. Death is inevitable and no one can escape it. This is why she could not fulfil the Buddha’s condition.
Q14. What did Kisa Gotami see while sitting at the wayside? What did she realise?
Ans: Kisa Gotami sat down at the wayside, weary and hopeless, and watched the lights of the city as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last, the darkness of the night reigned everywhere. She considered the fate of human beings and realised that their lives were like the flickering lights — they flicker up briefly and are then extinguished. She understood that death is common to all, and she had been selfish in her grief.
Q15. Why did Kisa Gotami say, “How selfish am I in my grief!”?
Ans: Kisa Gotami said, “How selfish am I in my grief!” because, after going from house to house and failing to find any home untouched by death, she realised that death is common to all mortals. She had been thinking only about her own loss and wanting an exception for herself, ignoring the fact that every other family had also suffered similar losses. She understood that she was being selfish by thinking her grief was unique and more important than others’ grief.
Q16. What does the Buddha compare human life to?
Ans: The Buddha compares human life to two things. First, he compares mortals to ripe fruits that are always in danger of falling. Just as ripe fruits will inevitably fall, mortals when born are always in danger of death. Second, he compares the life of mortals to earthen vessels made by the potter. Just as all earthen vessels eventually end in being broken, so the life of all mortals must eventually come to an end.
Q17. Which people are referred to as “wise” by the Buddha?
Ans: According to the Buddha, those who do not grieve knowing the terms of the world are called “wise.” The wise understand that death is inevitable and that both young and old, fools and wise, all fall into the power of death. Instead of weeping and lamenting, the wise accept the reality of death and do not allow grief to overcome them. They understand that grieving will not bring the dead back to life.
Q18. What does the Buddha say about the effect of weeping and grieving?
Ans: The Buddha says that not from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind. On the contrary, weeping and grieving only increase a person’s pain and make the body suffer. The person who grieves excessively makes himself sick and pale. Yet, the dead are not saved by his lamentation. Therefore, one should overcome sorrow rather than be consumed by it.
Q19. How can one obtain peace of mind, according to the Buddha?
Ans: According to the Buddha, one can obtain peace of mind by drawing out the arrow of lamentation, grief, and complaint. A person who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow and be blessed. The Buddha teaches that one should accept the reality of death, understand that it is the fate of all mortals, and not let grief dominate one’s life. By accepting the terms of the world, one can achieve inner peace.
Q20. What was Siddhartha Gautama’s early life like before he became the Buddha?
Ans: Siddhartha Gautama began life as a prince. He was born in a royal family in northern India in 563 B.C. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures. At sixteen, he returned home and married a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years in royal luxury. He was carefully shielded from the sufferings of the world until he was twenty-five years old, when he encountered suffering for the first time while out hunting.
Long Answer Questions (LAQ)
Q1. Describe the journey of Siddhartha Gautama from a prince to the Buddha.
Ans: Siddhartha Gautama began his life as a royal prince in northern India, born in 563 B.C. At the age of twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures. Four years later, at sixteen, he returned home and married a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years in royal luxury. The prince was deliberately shielded from all the sufferings of the world.
However, at the age of twenty-five, while out hunting, Siddhartha chanced upon four significant sights: a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These were his first encounters with the suffering, sickness, decay, and death that exist in the world. The sights so moved him that he immediately renounced his royal life and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.
Siddhartha wandered for seven long years in search of wisdom and truth. Finally, he sat down under a fig tree (peepal tree) and vowed to remain there until enlightenment came to him. After meditating for seven days, he attained enlightenment. He renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and share his new understandings with the world. At that point, he became known as the Buddha, meaning “the Awakened” or “the Enlightened.” He gave his first sermon at Benares, the holiest of the dipping places on the River Ganges.
Q2. Narrate the story of Kisa Gotami and explain how the Buddha taught her the truth about death.
Ans: Kisa Gotami was a woman who had an only son, and when he died, she was overwhelmed with grief. In her desperation, she carried the dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine to cure him. The people thought she had lost her senses, as no medicine could bring a dead person back to life.
At last, a man directed her to Sakyamuni, the Buddha, saying he was the physician who could help. Kisa Gotami went to the Buddha and begged him for medicine. The Buddha wisely asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds, but with a condition — the seeds must come from a house where no one had ever lost a child, husband, parent, or friend.
Kisa Gotami went from house to house. People were willing to give her mustard seeds, but when she asked whether anyone had died in the family, every household had experienced loss. She could not find a single house untouched by death. Weary and hopeless, she sat at the wayside and watched the city lights flickering and going out. She realised that human lives flicker and are extinguished in the same way. She understood that death is common to all and that she had been selfish in her grief.
In this way, the Buddha did not simply tell her the truth about death — he made her experience it herself through a practical task. This method was far more effective than any lecture, as Kisa Gotami came to accept the universal truth of death on her own.
Q3. “The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain.” Explain the main teachings of the Buddha as highlighted in “The Sermon at Benares.”
Ans: In his sermon at Benares, the Buddha shared his profound wisdom about the nature of life, death, and suffering. His main teachings can be summarised as follows:
First, the Buddha taught that the life of mortals in this world is troubled, brief, and combined with pain. There is no means by which those who have been born can avoid dying. After reaching old age, there is death — that is the nature of all living beings.
Second, the Buddha compared human mortality to ripe fruits that are always in danger of falling, and to earthen vessels made by the potter that always end in being broken. Both young and adult, both fools and wise, all fall into the power of death.
Third, the Buddha said that a father cannot save his son from death, nor can kinsmen save their relations. While relatives look on and lament, one by one, mortals are carried off like an ox led to the slaughter. The world is afflicted with death and decay.
Fourth, the Buddha emphasised that the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world. Weeping and grieving will not bring peace of mind. On the contrary, it only increases pain and makes the body suffer. Lamentation cannot save the dead.
Finally, the Buddha taught that one who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation, grief, and complaint. He who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow and be blessed.
Q4. “The world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world.” Do you think this statement is relevant in today’s world? Explain.
Ans: Yes, the Buddha’s statement is absolutely relevant in today’s world. Even in modern times, death and decay are inescapable realities of life. No amount of scientific advancement or medical progress can make human beings immortal. Everyone who is born must die one day. This truth has not changed and will never change.
In today’s world, people often become so consumed by grief and sorrow when they lose a loved one that they lose their will to live. Prolonged grief can lead to depression, mental illness, and physical deterioration. The Buddha’s teaching that the wise do not grieve is not about being heartless or unemotional. Rather, it is about accepting the natural cycle of life and death and not allowing grief to destroy one’s life.
Modern life is full of stress, anxiety, and pressure. People chase material wealth and worldly possessions, often forgetting that everything is temporary. The Buddha’s teaching reminds us that life is brief and that we should focus on inner peace and wisdom rather than lamenting over things we cannot control. By accepting the terms of the world — that death is inevitable — we can find peace of mind and live our lives more meaningfully. This is a timeless wisdom that is as relevant today as it was over two thousand years ago.
Q5. How did the Buddha make Kisa Gotami realise that death is inevitable? What was his method of teaching?
Ans: When Kisa Gotami came to the Buddha with her dead son, begging for medicine, the Buddha did not directly tell her that death is inevitable. Instead, he used a brilliant and compassionate method of teaching. He asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever lost a child, husband, parent, or friend.
Kisa Gotami went from house to house with great hope. People pitied her and were willing to give her the mustard seeds. But when she asked whether anyone had died in their family, every household told her about their losses. She could not find even a single house where death had never visited. Gradually, through her own experience, she understood that death is universal — it spares no one.
The Buddha’s method was experiential rather than theoretical. He did not lecture her about the philosophy of life and death. Instead, he made her discover the truth through personal experience. When she saw that every family had suffered loss, the truth sank deep into her heart. She sat watching the city lights flickering and being extinguished, and she understood that human lives are the same — they flicker briefly and then go out. This practical method of teaching was far more effective than any verbal sermon, and it transformed Kisa Gotami’s understanding completely.
Q6. What impression do you form of Gautama Buddha after reading “The Sermon at Benares”?
Ans: After reading “The Sermon at Benares,” one forms a very positive and admirable impression of Gautama Buddha. Several qualities of the Buddha stand out:
Compassion: The Buddha was deeply compassionate. When Kisa Gotami came to him with her dead son, he did not dismiss her or tell her bluntly that her son was dead. He treated her with kindness and gave her a task that would gently lead her to the truth.
Wisdom: The Buddha possessed extraordinary wisdom. His method of teaching Kisa Gotami about the universality of death was brilliant. Rather than giving her a direct answer, he made her discover the truth through her own experience, which was far more effective.
Sacrifice: Siddhartha Gautama gave up his royal life, his family, and all worldly pleasures to seek enlightenment for the benefit of all humanity. This shows his remarkable spirit of sacrifice and selflessness.
Sensitivity: The four sights — a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk — deeply moved him and changed his life forever. This shows his deep sensitivity to human suffering.
Universal outlook: The Buddha’s teachings are not limited to any particular religion, caste, or creed. His message about the universality of death and the futility of grief is relevant to all human beings, making him a truly universal teacher.
Q7. Through the story of Kisa Gotami, what message did the Buddha try to preach to the common people?
Ans: Through the story of Kisa Gotami, the Buddha tried to preach several important messages to the common people:
Death is universal: The most important message is that death is common to all mortals. Everyone who is born must die. No one — whether young or old, rich or poor, wise or foolish — can escape death. This is the law of nature.
Grief is natural but must be overcome: The Buddha did not say that one should not feel sad when a loved one dies. But he taught that one should not let grief consume and destroy one’s life. Prolonged weeping and lamenting only increase pain and make the body suffer. The dead cannot be brought back to life by lamentation.
Do not be selfish in grief: Kisa Gotami realised that she was being selfish in her grief, thinking only about her own loss and ignoring the fact that everyone else had also experienced similar losses. The Buddha wanted people to understand that suffering is shared by all.
Acceptance brings peace: The Buddha taught that he who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow and be blessed. By accepting the reality of death and drawing out the arrow of lamentation, one can achieve peace of mind. The wise accept the terms of the world and do not grieve.
Q8. What did the Buddha say about death and suffering? Explain with examples from the text.
Ans: The Buddha gave a profound discourse on death and suffering in his first sermon at Benares. He made several important points, supported by vivid examples from the text:
Life is troubled and brief: The Buddha said that the life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain. There is no means by which those who have been born can avoid dying.
Death is like the falling of ripe fruits: He compared mortals to ripe fruits that are always in danger of falling. Just as ripe fruits will inevitably fall from the tree, so human beings who are born are always in danger of death.
Life is like earthen vessels: He compared the life of mortals to earthen vessels made by the potter. Just as all earthen vessels end in being broken, so the life of all mortals will eventually come to an end.
Death is no respecter of persons: The Buddha emphasised that both young and adult, both fools and wise, all fall into the power of death. A father cannot save his son, nor can kinsmen save their relations. Even while relatives look on and lament deeply, one by one mortals are carried off, like an ox led to the slaughter.
Grieving is futile: The Buddha clearly stated that not from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind. On the contrary, weeping and grieving only make a person sick and pale, and the dead are not saved by lamentation. The only way to obtain peace is to overcome sorrow and draw out the arrow of grief.
Q9. Why was Prince Siddhartha shielded from the sufferings of the world? What effect did the four sights have on him?
Ans: Prince Siddhartha was deliberately shielded from the sufferings of the world by his family. As a prince born into royalty, he was raised in luxury and comfort. His family did not want him to witness suffering, sickness, old age, or death. They wanted him to live a happy and carefree life within the palace, surrounded by wealth and pleasure. This continued until he was twenty-five years old.
However, one day while out hunting, Siddhartha chanced upon four sights that shattered his sheltered existence. He saw a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These four sights had a profound and life-changing effect on him. He had never before seen human suffering, and these encounters deeply moved and disturbed him. The sights made him realise that sickness, old age, and death were the inevitable fate of all human beings. He was so moved that he immediately decided to renounce his royal life. He gave up his palace, his family, his wealth, and all his comforts, and went out into the world to seek enlightenment and a solution to the sorrows he had witnessed. These four sights were the turning point that set Siddhartha on the path to becoming the Buddha.
Q10. “He who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief.” Explain the significance of this statement in the context of the chapter.
Ans: This statement by the Buddha is one of the most significant teachings in the chapter. The “arrow of lamentation, complaint, and grief” is a metaphor for the pain and suffering that people inflict upon themselves when they lose a loved one. Just as an arrow causes physical pain when it pierces the body, lamentation and grief cause emotional and psychological pain.
The Buddha teaches that one must “draw out” this arrow — that is, one must remove the grief and lamentation from one’s heart in order to find peace. He does not say that one should not feel sad at all. But he warns that holding on to grief and allowing it to consume one’s life is destructive. Prolonged weeping and lamenting do not bring the dead back to life. Instead, they only make the grieving person sick and pale, increasing their suffering.
In the context of the chapter, this statement is directly connected to Kisa Gotami’s story. She was consumed by the arrow of grief after losing her son. The Buddha’s task of collecting mustard seeds from a death-free house helped her “draw out” this arrow by making her understand that death is universal and that everyone suffers loss. Once she accepted this truth, she was able to overcome her grief and find peace. The statement teaches us that acceptance and wisdom are the keys to inner peace, not denial and lamentation.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. What was Gautama Buddha’s early name?
(a) Siddha
(b) Sadhu
(c) Siddhartha
(d) Sidhanth
Answer: (c) Siddhartha
Q2. When was Siddhartha Gautama born?
(a) 563 B.C.
(b) 463 B.C.
(c) 663 B.C.
(d) 363 B.C.
Answer: (a) 563 B.C.
Q3. At what age was Siddhartha sent away for schooling?
(a) Ten
(b) Twelve
(c) Fourteen
(d) Sixteen
Answer: (b) Twelve
Q4. What did Siddhartha study?
(a) Mathematics
(b) Science
(c) Hindu sacred scriptures
(d) Medicine
Answer: (c) Hindu sacred scriptures
Q5. At what age did Siddhartha marry?
(a) Fourteen
(b) Fifteen
(c) Sixteen
(d) Eighteen
Answer: (c) Sixteen
Q6. What was the first sight Siddhartha saw while out hunting?
(a) A monk begging for alms
(b) A funeral procession
(c) An aged man
(d) A sick man
Answer: (d) A sick man
Q7. For how many years did Siddhartha wander in search of enlightenment?
(a) Five
(b) Six
(c) Seven
(d) Eight
Answer: (c) Seven
Q8. Under which tree did Siddhartha sit to meditate?
(a) Banyan tree
(b) Fig tree
(c) Mango tree
(d) Neem tree
Answer: (b) Fig tree
Q9. After how many days of meditation did Siddhartha attain enlightenment?
(a) Three
(b) Five
(c) Seven
(d) Ten
Answer: (c) Seven
Q10. What did Siddhartha rename the tree where he attained enlightenment?
(a) Bodhi Tree
(b) Buddha Tree
(c) Wisdom Tree
(d) Sacred Tree
Answer: (a) Bodhi Tree
Q11. What does the word “Buddha” mean?
(a) The Holy One
(b) The Great One
(c) The Awakened or the Enlightened
(d) The Teacher
Answer: (c) The Awakened or the Enlightened
Q12. Where did the Buddha preach his first sermon?
(a) Patliputra
(b) Benares
(c) Haridwar
(d) Bodh Gaya
Answer: (b) Benares
Q13. On which river is Benares situated?
(a) Yamuna
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Ganges
(d) Saraswati
Answer: (c) Ganges
Q14. Why was Kisa Gotami sad?
(a) Her husband had died
(b) Her only son had died
(c) She lost all her property
(d) She was very ill
Answer: (b) Her only son had died
Q15. What did Kisa Gotami ask her neighbours for?
(a) Money
(b) Food
(c) Medicine
(d) Shelter
Answer: (c) Medicine
Q16. Who directed Kisa Gotami to the Buddha?
(a) Her neighbour
(b) A man she met
(c) A monk
(d) Her husband
Answer: (b) A man she met
Q17. What did the Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring?
(a) A handful of rice
(b) A handful of mustard seeds
(c) A handful of flowers
(d) A handful of herbs
Answer: (b) A handful of mustard seeds
Q18. What was the condition for the mustard seeds?
(a) They must be from a rich family
(b) They must be from a poor family
(c) They must be from a house where no one had died
(d) They must be from a holy place
Answer: (c) They must be from a house where no one had died
Q19. Could Kisa Gotami find mustard seeds as per the condition?
(a) Yes, from the first house
(b) Yes, from the last house
(c) No, she could not
(d) Yes, from a temple
Answer: (c) No, she could not
Q20. What did the flickering lights of the city make Kisa Gotami realise?
(a) She was being selfish
(b) Death is common to all
(c) Human lives flicker and are extinguished
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d) All of the above
Q21. The Buddha compared mortals to ___.
(a) Ripe fruits
(b) Flowers
(c) Stars
(d) Rivers
Answer: (a) Ripe fruits
Q22. The life of mortals is compared to ___.
(a) Earthen vessels made by the potter
(b) Iron vessels
(c) Wooden vessels
(d) Golden vessels
Answer: (a) Earthen vessels made by the potter
Q23. According to the Buddha, who are the wise?
(a) Those who are rich
(b) Those who are educated
(c) Those who do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world
(d) Those who live long
Answer: (c) Those who do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world
Q24. What is the effect of weeping and grieving, according to the Buddha?
(a) It brings peace
(b) It makes a person sick and pale
(c) It brings the dead back to life
(d) It helps overcome sorrow
Answer: (b) It makes a person sick and pale
Q25. Who is free from sorrow, according to the Buddha?
(a) He who overcomes sorrow
(b) He who does not see sorrow
(c) He who remains happy always
(d) He who gives sorrow to others
Answer: (a) He who overcomes sorrow
Extract-Based Questions
Extract 1
“Gautama Buddha (563 B.C. – 483 B.C.) began life as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, in northern India. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty. At about the age of twenty-five, the prince heretofore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him that he at once went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.”
(a) When and where was Gautama Buddha born?
Answer: Gautama Buddha was born in 563 B.C. as a prince in northern India.
(b) At what age was he sent for schooling? What did he study?
Answer: He was sent away for schooling at the age of twelve. He studied the Hindu sacred scriptures.
(c) What four sights did the prince see while out hunting?
Answer: While out hunting, the prince saw a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms.
(d) What effect did these sights have on him?
Answer: These sights so moved him that he immediately went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed. He renounced his royal life and became a wanderer.
(e) Find a word from the extract that means “until now” or “before this time.”
Answer: Heretofore
Extract 2
“He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a peepal tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and to share his new understandings. At that point he became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened). The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that sermon has been preserved and is given here. It reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.”
(a) How long did Siddhartha wander in search of enlightenment?
Answer: Siddhartha wandered for seven years in search of enlightenment.
(b) What did he rename the tree? What does the name mean?
Answer: He renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree. “Bodhi” means “Wisdom,” so it is called the Tree of Wisdom.
(c) Where did the Buddha preach his first sermon?
Answer: The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, the most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges.
(d) What does his first sermon reflect?
Answer: His first sermon reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering — that is, death.
(e) Find a word from the extract that means “impossible to understand or interpret.”
Answer: Inscrutable
Extract 3
“Kisa Gotami had an only son and he died. In her grief she carried the dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine, and the people said, ‘She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.’ At length, Kisa Gotami met a man who replied to her request, ‘I cannot give thee medicine for thy child, but I know a physician who can.’ And the girl said, ‘Pray tell me, sir; who is it?’ And the man replied, ‘Go to Sakyamuni, the Buddha.’”
(a) Why was Kisa Gotami grief-stricken?
Answer: Kisa Gotami was grief-stricken because her only son had died.
(b) What did she ask her neighbours for?
Answer: She asked her neighbours for medicine to cure her dead son and bring him back to life.
(c) What did the people say about her?
Answer: The people said, “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.” They thought she had gone mad with grief.
(d) Who directed her to the Buddha? What did he say?
Answer: A man she met directed her to the Buddha. He said he could not give her medicine for her child, but he knew a physician who could — Sakyamuni, the Buddha.
(e) Find a word from the extract that means “you” (in archaic English).
Answer: Thee
Extract 4
“The Buddha answered, ‘I want a handful of mustard-seed.’ And when the girl in joy promised to procure it, the Buddha added, ‘The mustard-seed must be taken from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent or friend.’ ‘I will find it,’ said the girl, and went to ask for it, still carrying her dead child.”
(a) What did the Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring?
Answer: The Buddha asked Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seeds.
(b) What was the condition attached to the mustard seeds?
Answer: The condition was that the mustard seeds must be taken from a house where no one had lost a child, husband, parent, or friend.
(c) Why was the girl joyful at first?
Answer: The girl was joyful because the Buddha had asked for something very simple — a handful of mustard seeds — which she thought would be very easy to get. She believed she would soon be able to cure her son.
(d) Why did the Buddha impose this condition?
Answer: The Buddha imposed this condition to make Kisa Gotami realise the universal truth about death through her own experience. He wanted her to discover that death had visited every household and that no family was free from loss.
(e) Find a word from the extract that means “to obtain or get.”
Answer: Procure
Extract 5
“Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless, and sat down at the wayside watching the lights of the city, as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last the darkness of the night reigned everywhere. And she considered the fate of men, that their lives flicker up and are extinguished again. And she thought to herself, ‘How selfish am I in my grief! Death is common to all; yet in this valley of desolation there is a path that leads him to immortality who has surrendered all selfishness.’”
(a) Why did Kisa Gotami become weary and hopeless?
Answer: Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless because she could not find a single house where no one had died. Despite going from house to house, every family had experienced the loss of a loved one.
(b) What did she observe while sitting at the wayside?
Answer: She observed the lights of the city as they flickered up and were extinguished again. At last, the darkness of the night reigned everywhere.
(c) What comparison did she draw between the city lights and human lives?
Answer: She compared human lives to the flickering lights of the city. Just as the lights flickered up briefly and were then extinguished, human lives also flicker up for a short time and are then extinguished by death.
(d) Why did she call herself “selfish”?
Answer: She called herself selfish because she had been thinking only about her own grief and loss, not realising that death is common to all. Every family had suffered the same kind of loss, but she had been focused only on her own sorrow.
(e) Find a word from the extract that means “loneliness and emptiness.”
Answer: Desolation
Extract 6
“The Buddha said, ‘The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain. For there is not any means by which those that have been born can avoid dying; after reaching old age there is death; of such a nature are living beings. As ripe fruits are early in danger of falling, so mortals when born are always in danger of death. As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals.’”
(a) How does the Buddha describe the life of mortals?
Answer: The Buddha describes the life of mortals as troubled, brief, and combined with pain. He says that there is no means by which those who have been born can avoid dying.
(b) What does the Buddha compare mortals to?
Answer: The Buddha compares mortals to ripe fruits that are always in danger of falling, and to earthen vessels made by the potter that always end in being broken.
(c) What is the message of the ripe fruit comparison?
Answer: The message is that just as ripe fruits are always in danger of falling from the tree, mortals who are born are always in danger of death. Death can come at any time, and it is inevitable.
(d) What does the earthen vessel metaphor convey?
Answer: The earthen vessel metaphor conveys that just as all earthen vessels made by the potter will eventually break, the life of all mortals will eventually come to an end. Nothing lasts forever.
(e) Find a word from the extract that means “human beings who are subject to death.”
Answer: Mortals
Extract 7
“‘Of those who, overcome by death, depart from life, a father cannot save his son, nor kinsmen their relations. Mark! — Loss while relatives are looking on and lamenting deeply, one by one mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the slaughter. So the world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world.’”
(a) Can a father save his son from death, according to the Buddha?
Answer: No, according to the Buddha, a father cannot save his son from death, nor can kinsmen save their relations. Death overcomes all, and no one can prevent it.
(b) What comparison does the Buddha use to describe how mortals are taken by death?
Answer: The Buddha compares mortals being carried off by death to an ox that is led to the slaughter. Just as an ox goes helplessly to its death, mortals too are helplessly carried away by death one by one.
(c) Why do the wise not grieve?
Answer: The wise do not grieve because they know the terms of the world. They understand that the world is afflicted with death and decay, and that death is the inevitable fate of all living beings. They accept this truth and therefore do not waste their time in lamenting.
(d) What does the phrase “the terms of the world” mean?
Answer: “The terms of the world” refers to the natural laws and conditions of life in this world — that everything that is born must die, that life is troubled and brief, and that death and decay are inescapable realities.
(e) Find a word from the extract that means “relatives or family members.”
Answer: Kinsmen
Value-Based Questions
Q1. “To seek peace, one has to draw out the arrow of lamentation, grief, and complaint.” What values does this statement of the Buddha teach us? How can we apply these values in our daily life?
Ans: This statement of the Buddha teaches us several important values:
Acceptance: We must learn to accept the reality of life and death. Death is an inevitable part of life, and no amount of lamenting or grieving can change this fact. Acceptance is the first step towards peace of mind.
Emotional resilience: The Buddha teaches us to be emotionally strong. While it is natural to feel sad when we lose a loved one, we should not let grief destroy our lives. We must learn to recover from loss and move forward.
Wisdom over emotion: The Buddha values wisdom over uncontrolled emotion. The wise understand the terms of the world and do not grieve. This teaches us to approach life’s difficulties with a calm and rational mind rather than being overwhelmed by emotions.
In our daily life, we can apply these values by accepting things that are beyond our control, not dwelling on past losses, being supportive to others who are grieving, and focusing on living a meaningful life rather than being consumed by sorrow. When we face difficulties, we should remember the Buddha’s teaching and try to maintain inner peace through understanding and acceptance.
Q2. The story of Kisa Gotami teaches us an important lesson about human grief and universal truth. What moral values can we learn from her experience? How are these values relevant to students today?
Ans: The story of Kisa Gotami teaches us several important moral values:
Empathy and shared suffering: Kisa Gotami’s experience of going from house to house and discovering that every family had lost someone taught her that suffering is universal. We learn the value of empathy — understanding that everyone around us is dealing with their own pain and difficulties. We are not alone in our suffering.
Overcoming selfishness: Kisa Gotami realised she was selfish in her grief. This teaches us not to be so absorbed in our own problems that we fail to see others’ pain. We should learn to look beyond ourselves and extend compassion to others.
Acceptance of truth: The most powerful lesson is the importance of accepting the truth, however painful it may be. Denial does not change reality; acceptance does. Once Kisa Gotami accepted the truth of death, she found peace.
Learning through experience: The Buddha did not just lecture Kisa Gotami. He made her learn through personal experience, which shows that the best learning comes from experience rather than mere theory.
These values are extremely relevant to students today. Students face many challenges — exam pressure, failure, competition, peer pressure, and personal loss. The lesson from Kisa Gotami teaches them that difficulties are a natural part of life and that everyone faces them. Instead of being overwhelmed by problems, students should learn to accept challenges, be resilient, show empathy to others, and seek inner peace through understanding rather than complaint.
Q3. Gautama Buddha left his royal life of comfort and luxury to seek enlightenment for the benefit of all humanity. What values does his life inspire in us?
Ans: The life of Gautama Buddha inspires many noble values in us:
Sacrifice and selflessness: Siddhartha gave up his life of royal luxury, his family, and all worldly comforts to seek enlightenment not for himself alone but for all of humanity. This teaches us the value of sacrifice and thinking beyond our own selfish interests for the greater good of society.
Compassion for others: The four sights that moved Siddhartha — a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk — show his deep compassion for the suffering of others. He did not ignore or turn away from suffering; instead, he dedicated his entire life to finding a solution. This inspires us to be sensitive to others’ pain and to do whatever we can to help.
Perseverance and determination: Siddhartha wandered for seven years and then meditated under a tree for seven days before attaining enlightenment. This shows his extraordinary perseverance and determination. He vowed not to leave until he found the truth. This inspires us to be persistent in our efforts and never give up until we achieve our goals.
Seeking knowledge and truth: The Buddha valued truth and knowledge above material wealth and comfort. In a world where people are often driven by greed and material ambition, his life reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge, truth, and wisdom is the highest and most noble pursuit of all.
Important Vocabulary
1. Sacred scriptures — Holy religious writings or texts.
2. Royalty — People belonging to a royal family; the status of a king or queen.
3. Heretofore — Before now; until this time.
4. Shielded — Protected from danger, harm, or something unpleasant.
5. Alms — Money, food, or other things given as charity to the poor.
6. Enlightenment — The state of gaining deep spiritual knowledge and understanding.
7. Vowed — Made a solemn promise or pledge.
8. Inscrutable — Impossible to understand or interpret; mysterious.
9. Sermon — A religious or moral talk or lecture.
10. Procure — To obtain something, especially with care or effort.
11. Weary — Feeling extremely tired and lacking energy.
12. Flickered — Shone with an unsteady light that goes on and off.
13. Extinguished — Put out; caused to stop burning or shining.
14. Desolation — A state of complete emptiness, loneliness, and destruction.
15. Immortality — The ability to live forever; the state of never dying.
16. Mortals — Human beings who are subject to death; not immortal.
17. Kinsmen — Relatives; people related by blood or family ties.
18. Lamentation — The passionate expression of grief or sorrow; weeping and wailing.
19. Afflicted — Caused pain, suffering, or distress to someone.
20. Slaughter — The killing of animals or people, especially in large numbers.
Conclusion
“The Sermon at Benares” is a deeply meaningful chapter that teaches us about the universality of death and the futility of excessive grief. Through the story of Siddhartha Gautama’s transformation into the Buddha and his compassionate teaching of Kisa Gotami, the chapter conveys the timeless message that death is an inescapable part of life. The Buddha’s wisdom — that the wise do not grieve knowing the terms of the world, and that one must draw out the arrow of lamentation to find peace — is as relevant today as it was over two thousand years ago. This chapter is essential reading for Class 10 students preparing for the HSLC examination under the ASSEB board, as it teaches important life values of acceptance, wisdom, compassion, and emotional resilience.
We hope these solutions for Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 10 – The Sermon at Benares have been helpful for your HSLC exam preparation. For more chapter-wise solutions, visit hslcguru.com.