Class 10 English - TELANGANA
Prose: The Sermon at Benares
The Sermon at Benares is a poignant prose piece in the Class 10 TSBSE English syllabus that recounts the life of Gautama Buddha. It traces his journey from a sheltered prince named Siddhartha Gautama to an enlightened ascetic after confronting human suffering through sickness, aging, and death. The chapter centers on his famous sermon delivered at the holy city of Benares, where he teaches a grieving mother, Kisa Gotami, a profound universal truth: death is common to all mortals, and grief cannot bring back the dead. For board exams, this chapter is crucial for testing reading comprehension, moral understanding, and character analysis.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Siddhartha Gautama's Early Life
Born as a royal prince, Siddhartha was shielded from the sufferings of the world until he encountered an aged man, a sick man, a funeral procession, and a monk, which deeply moved him to seek enlightenment.
The Quest for Enlightenment
At age twenty-five, Siddhartha left his royal life to wander in search of wisdom, finally sitting under a peepal tree where he attained enlightenment after seven days and renamed himself the Buddha.
The Sermon at Benares
The Buddha's first and most famous sermon taught at the holy river Ganges in Benares, revealing the inescapable nature of death and suffering to humanity.
Kisa Gotami's Lesson
Kisa Gotami, grief-stricken by her only son's death, was asked by the Buddha to find mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died, making her realize that death is universal.
Wisdom of the Wise
According to the Buddha, the wise do not grieve because they understand the terms of the world; neither peace of mind nor grief can overcome sorrow.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Telangana (TSBSE) Class 10 English board exams, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 8 marks. Questions frequently appear as reading comprehension extracts, paragraph-length analytical questions about Kisa Gotami's journey, and essay-type questions focusing on the central message of the Buddha's sermon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main lesson taught by the Buddha to Kisa Gotami?
The Buddha taught her that death is universal and inevitable, and that wise people do not grieve because grief only adds to their pain.
Why did Siddhartha Gautama leave his palace?
He left his palace after witnessing the harsh realities of human suffering—old age, sickness, and death—which filled him with a desire to find the cause and cure for human sorrow.
What does 'The Sermon at Benares' teach us about life and death?
It teaches that life is brief and troubled, and just as ripe fruits are early in danger of falling, all mortals are subject to death.
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