Class 10 English - WEST-BENGAL
Prose: The Sermon at Benares
The Sermon at Benares in Class 10 WBBSE English focuses on Gautama Buddha's journey from princely luxury to spiritual enlightenment. The chapter narrates the poignant story of Kisa Gotami, a grieving mother who loses her only son and desperately seeks a medicine to revive him. Buddha teaches her a profound life lesson that death is common to all mortals and that suffering cannot be avoided, urging her to find peace by accepting the inevitable truth of mortality. This chapter is vital for board exams as it tests deep comprehension of human emotions, philosophical themes, and textual analysis through long and short questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Early Life of Siddhartha Gautama
Born as a prince, Siddhartha 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.
Acquisition of Enlightenment
Siddhartha wandered for seven years in search of truth and finally sat down under a peepal tree where he attained enlightenment after seven days, renaming himself the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened).
The Story of Kisa Gotami
Kisa Gotami's son died, and unable to accept the loss, she went door to door asking for medicine, leading her to the Buddha who asked her to bring a handful of mustard seed from a house where no death had ever occurred.
The Inevitability of Death
By failing to find such a house, Kisa Gotami realizes that death is common to all and that people who weep over their departed loved ones only bring more pain and mental distress upon themselves.
The Path of Peace
Buddha preaches that wise people do not grieve because they understand the terms of the world; true peace of mind can only be attained by overcoming sorrow, grief, and lamentation.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) Class 10 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 10 marks. Questions usually include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), short answer type questions (SAQs), and descriptive analytical questions focusing on the central theme, character sketches of Kisa Gotami, and Buddha's teachings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kisa Gotami go door to door with her dead son?
She was blinded by grief and desperately wanted medicine to revive her only son who had died.
What condition did Buddha give Kisa Gotami to cure her son?
Buddha asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever lost a child, husband, parent, or friend.
What is the central message of The Sermon at Benares?
The chapter teaches that death and suffering are universal truths of human life, and wisdom lies in accepting mortality rather than grieving hopelessly.
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