Class 10 English - GUJARAT
Prose: The Sermon at Benares
The chapter 'The Sermon at Benares' from First Flight narrates the life of Gautama Buddha and his journey from prince Siddhartha to enlightenment. It centers around Kisa Gotami, a grieving mother whose child has died, and how Buddha teaches her the universal truth of mortality through a handful of mustard seeds from a house untouched by death. This chapter is vital for the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 10 board exams as it tests deep comprehension, character analysis, and the philosophical theme that death is common to all mortals, helping students frame reflective long and short answers.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Early Life of Gautama Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, born a royal prince, was shielded from the sufferings of the world until he encountered a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk begging, which deeply moved him to seek spiritual enlightenment.
The Quest for Enlightenment
Leaving behind his royal privileges, Siddhartha wandered for seven years in search of wisdom, finally sitting in meditation under a peepal tree where he attained enlightenment and came to be known as the Buddha.
First Sermon at Benares
Buddha preached his first famous sermon at the holy city of Benares on the River Ganges, which sanctified the place and laid down the fundamental truths of human suffering and sorrow.
Kisa Gotami's Grief
Kisa Gotami's only son dies, and unable to accept the reality of death, she carries his lifeless body everywhere until she meets the Buddha, who gives her a unique task to test the universality of death.
The Mustard Seed Lesson
Buddha asks Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seed from a house where no one has ever lost a child, husband, parent, or friend, making her realize that death is inevitable for all living beings.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 10 English board exam, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 6 marks. Questions commonly appear as short answer questions testing the plot and character motivations, extract-based reading comprehension questions, and long essay-type questions exploring the central theme of grief and acceptance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seeds?
Buddha wanted Kisa Gotami to realize independently that death is a universal reality and that every household suffers from the loss of a loved one.
What lesson does Gautama Buddha impart in the sermon at Benares?
He teaches that human life is brief and troubled, and grieving over the dead cannot bring them back or save anyone from mortality.
How did Kisa Gotami's perspective change by the end of the story?
She understood that the life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief, leading her to accept death and find peace of mind.
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