The Sermon at Benares — Notes

Summary

The Buddha's Early Life and Renunciation

Siddhartha Gautama, born a prince, was shielded from worldly suffering. At twenty-five, he encountered sickness, old age, a funeral, and a monk. These sights deeply moved him, prompting him to seek enlightenment on sorrow. He lived as a wandering ascetic for seven years, finally meditating under a peepal tree until he achieved enlightenment. He then became known as the Buddha (the Awakened) and the tree as the Bodhi Tree.

Kisa Gotami's Grief and the Buddha's Request

Kisa Gotami lost her only son and, in her despair, carried his dead body to neighbours seeking medicine. They told her the boy was dead. A man directed her to the Buddha, who promised a cure if she could procure a handful of mustard-seed from a house where no one had ever lost a child, husband, parent, or friend.

Kisa Gotami's Realization

Kisa Gotami went from house to house, finding that in every family, someone had died. She saw that death is common to all and began to understand her grief. Sitting by the wayside, she observed the city lights flicker on and off, reflecting on the transient nature of mortal life. She realized the selfishness of her grief and understood that a path to immortality lay in surrendering selfishness.

The Buddha's Sermon on Suffering and Grief

The Buddha preached his first sermon at Benares, emphasizing that mortal life is brief, painful, and subject to death. He explained that no one can escape death, and grief and weeping do not bring peace; instead, they increase suffering. He advised drawing out the "arrow of lamentation, complaint, and grief" to achieve peace of mind and freedom from sorrow. The wise do not grieve, knowing the nature of the world.

Remember

The core message is that suffering is an inherent part of life, and true peace comes from understanding this reality and overcoming personal grief through wisdom and detachment, not by lamentation. 🎯 Exam-smart: Questions might present Kisa Gotami's story as a source and ask about the universal nature of suffering, the Buddha's remedy for grief, or the meaning of enlightenment. You would need to connect her personal tragedy to the Buddha's broader philosophical points.

Siddhartha Gautama / The Buddha

• Who he is: Born a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, he became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened) after seeking enlightenment.

• Traits:

• Compassionate: He was deeply moved by the suffering he witnessed (sickness, old age, death, a monk begging) and dedicated his life to understanding and teaching about it.

• Seeker of Truth: He "wandered for seven years" and sat under a tree until he achieved "enlightenment," showing his determination to find answers to life's sorrows.

• Wise Teacher: He delivered a sermon at Benares, sharing his understanding that life is "troubled and brief and combined with pain" and that grief does not bring peace.

• Empathetic: He understood Kisa Gotami's intense grief and used a clever method to teach her a universal truth about death.

• How he changes: He transforms from a prince shielded from suffering into an enlightened being who actively teaches others how to cope with it.

Kisa Gotami

• Who she is: A mother who lost her only son.

• Traits:

• Grief-stricken: After her son's death, she "carried the dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine," showing her desperate and overwhelming sorrow.

• Persistent: She diligently went "from house to house" twice, first seeking medicine and then the special mustard seed.

• Initially Self-absorbed in Grief: Her deep personal loss made her blind to the suffering of others, as she did not initially understand the Buddha's condition for the mustard seed.

• Receptive to Truth: After understanding the universality of death, she "became weary and hopeless" and began to contemplate the nature of life and death.

• Wise: By the end, she understood that "Death is common to all" and realized the importance of overcoming selfishness in grief.

• How she changes: She evolves from a woman consumed by personal grief and a lack of understanding about death to one who comprehends its universality and the peace found in surrendering selfishness.

Other characters

• The Man: He directs Kisa Gotami to the Buddha when she is desperate for medicine for her dead son, showing a willingness to help.
• The Neighbours/Villagers: They pity Kisa Gotami, offer her mustard seed, but also remind her of their own losses, highlighting that grief and death are shared human experiences.

Remember

The text emphasizes that suffering and death are universal experiences, not unique to individuals. The Buddha's teaching aims to help individuals move beyond personal grief towards acceptance and peace.

Exam-smart

Questions might ask about Kisa Gotami's initial misunderstanding versus her final understanding, or how the Buddha's method was effective. For example: "Explain how Kisa Gotami’s understanding of suffering evolved after meeting the Buddha. Support your answer with evidence from the text." You would discuss her initial actions and her later contemplation under the wayside lights.

The Universality of Suffering and Death

This theme is central to the Buddha's sermon. The text emphasizes that suffering and death are inevitable parts of life for all mortals, regardless of age, wisdom, or social status. Kisa Gotami's personal tragedy of losing her son highlights this. The Buddha explains, "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." This understanding is crucial because it helps individuals accept the reality of loss and move towards peace.

The Path to Peace Through Detachment and Wisdom

The sermon teaches that true peace of mind is achieved not through grief or lamentation, but by understanding the nature of suffering and detaching oneself from selfish sorrow. The Buddha instructs Kisa Gotami that "He who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief." By recognizing that death is common to all, and by surrendering selfishness, one can find a path towards immortality (in a spiritual sense) and freedom from suffering. This is exemplified by Kisa Gotami's eventual understanding that "Death is common to all."

The Nature of Grief and Its Acceptance

The text, particularly through Kisa Gotami's experience and the comparison with modern texts, explores the complex nature of grief. It shows that grief is a natural response to loss, but prolonged, self-centered grief prevents healing. The Buddha's approach, while seemingly harsh initially, is designed to lead Kisa Gotami to a profound realization: that her individual sorrow is part of a universal human experience. The modern texts further illustrate the varied and personal ways people experience grief, suggesting there isn't one "right" way, but highlighting the Buddha's emphasis on acceptance and moving forward.

Why the title "The Sermon at Benares"

The title directly refers to the location where Gautama Buddha delivered his first significant sermon after achieving enlightenment. Benares (now Varanasi) is described as a holy city and a significant place for religious practices. The sermon itself, focusing on the Buddha's teachings about suffering and the path to its cessation, is what the title signifies. It is a pivotal moment in the Buddha's life and teachings, hence its importance in the title.

Tone and Mood

The tone of the sermon is wise, compassionate, and instructive. The Buddha's words, though direct, carry a deep sense of understanding for human suffering. The initial mood, particularly surrounding Kisa Gotami's story, is one of sorrow and desolation. However, as the sermon progresses and Kisa Gotami gains understanding, the mood shifts towards one of hope, acceptance, and ultimately, peace.

The Message

The core message of the sermon is that suffering is an inherent part of human existence, and the only way to overcome it is by understanding its nature, accepting its universality, and detaching oneself from selfish desires and grief. The Buddha teaches that true peace comes from wisdom and a surrender of ego, leading to a state of composure and blessedness.

Remember

The Buddha's teachings in this sermon are not about avoiding death, but about how to live meaningfully and find peace despite the inevitability of death and suffering.

Exam-smart

Source-based questions might present an extract about suffering or grief and ask students to relate it to the Buddha's teachings in "The Sermon at Benares," or analyze Kisa Gotami's journey. For example: "The text states, 'grief is an emotion natural to all types of loss.' How does Kisa Gotami's experience in 'The Sermon at Benares' illustrate this statement, and what advice does the Buddha offer to overcome such grief?"

The Sermon at Benares

Style and Point of View

The narrative is told from a third-person omniscient point of view. This allows the narrator to access the thoughts and feelings of characters, particularly Kisa Gotami and the Buddha, and to provide background information about the Buddha's life and teachings. The tone is didactic and compassionate, aiming to educate the reader about the nature of suffering and the path to peace, while also conveying empathy for Kisa Gotami's plight. The language, while rooted in an ancient context, is made accessible. The use of parables and analogies (like the ripe fruit, the earthen vessel, and the flickering lights) makes the abstract concepts of life, death, and suffering relatable and understandable.

Remember

The text uses ancient language to convey timeless truths about suffering and acceptance. Pay attention to how the Buddha's words, though spoken long ago, still offer guidance.

Exam-smart

An extract might present Kisa Gotami's initial grief or the Buddha's explanation of life's impermanence. You would be asked to explain the significance of the imagery used, the character's emotional state, or the underlying message of the passage in relation to Buddhist philosophy. For example, a question might ask: "Explain the meaning and effect of the simile used to describe the transient nature of life in the passage."

Vocabulary

Remember

Understanding the precise meaning of words in their contextual usage is crucial for interpreting texts, especially older ones.

Exam-smart

Questions might ask you to define a word as used in the passage or to replace a word with a synonym that fits the context. For example, "What does 'afflicted with' mean in the sentence 'So the world is afflicted with death and decay'?" You would answer "suffering from" or "affected by."

Questions and Answers

Textbook questions

• What is a sermon? A sermon is a religious or moral discourse, typically delivered in a place of worship. It aims to impart spiritual or ethical teachings. It can be more focused on guidance and understanding than a lecture or talk, and is sometimes used humorously to describe long, admonitory speeches.

• What does the phrase "afflicted with" mean? "Afflicted with" means to be suffering from a disease, pain, or some other problem, like being "afflicted with death and decay."

• What does "be composed" mean? "Be composed" means to be calm and tranquil, especially in the face of difficulty or sorrow.

• What does "desolation" mean? "Desolation" refers to a state of complete emptiness, ruin, or deep sorrow, often described as a "valley of desolation."

• What does "lamentation" mean? "Lamentation" is an expression of deep sorrow, grief, or regret, typically through weeping and wailing.

• What does "procure" mean? "Procure" means to obtain or acquire something, usually with effort.

• What does "be subject to" mean? "Be subject to" means to be liable or susceptible to something, such as being "subject to death."

• When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not? Kisa Gotami asks for medicine for her dead son. She does not get it because medicine cannot bring back the dead; people tell her the boy is dead.

• 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? She asks for a handful of mustard seed from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent, or friend. She does not get it because there was no such house; death is common to all.

• 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? She understands that death is common to all mortals and that her grief was selfish. Yes, this was precisely what the Buddha intended for her to understand.

• Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding? The Buddha's approach of asking for a special mustard seed, rather than directly lecturing her, forced her to personally witness the universality of death through her own search. He changed her understanding from personal sorrow to a broader, compassionate view of life's impermanence.

• How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’? Selfishness is usually understood as excessive concern for oneself without regard for others. Kisa Gotami was being selfish in her grief because she was so consumed by her personal loss that she failed to see that her suffering was shared by everyone, hindering her ability to accept reality.

Practice for the exam

Short Answer Questions

1. Briefly describe the events that led Siddhartha Gautama to seek enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama, shielded from suffering, encountered a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and a monk begging for alms. These sights profoundly moved him, prompting him to leave his princely life and seek enlightenment about the sorrows of existence.

2. Explain the Buddha's core message in the Sermon at Benares regarding suffering. The Buddha's sermon emphasizes that life in this world is inevitably filled with pain, sickness, and death. He teaches that death is unavoidable for all living beings, like ripe fruits falling or pots breaking, and that grieving does not bring peace but prolongs suffering.

3. What did the Buddha mean when he said, "As all earthen vessels made by the potter end in being broken, so is the life of mortals"? This is a metaphor illustrating the impermanence and fragility of life. Just as any pot created by a potter is destined to break, so too are all human lives, regardless of age or wisdom, ultimately subject to death and decay.

Long Answer Questions

1. Narrate the story of Kisa Gotami and how the Buddha helped her overcome her grief. Kisa Gotami’s only son died, and she desperately sought medicine to revive him, approaching everyone. The Buddha, understanding her state, asked her to procure mustard seed from a house where no one had died. This impossible task led her to realize that death is a universal reality. Her personal grief transformed into a broader understanding of impermanence, and she eventually found peace by accepting death as part of life, thus overcoming her sorrow.

2. Discuss the Buddha's teachings on grief and peace of mind as presented in the Sermon at Benares. The Buddha taught that weeping and grieving do not bring peace; instead, they intensify suffering and harm the grieving person. True peace comes from understanding the transient nature of life and accepting death as inevitable. He urged individuals to "draw out the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief," and to become composed and free from sorrow to achieve blessedness.

Extract-Based Question

Extract: "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. Both young and adult, both those who are fools and those who are wise, all fall into the power of death; all are subject to death."

1. What do the comparisons to ripe fruits and earthen vessels highlight about human life? These comparisons highlight the fragility, impermanence, and inevitability of death for all mortals, regardless of their age or status.

2. According to the extract, who is subject to death? The extract states that both the young and the adult, the fools and the wise – essentially all living beings – are subject to death.

3. What is the underlying message conveyed by these metaphors? The underlying message is that life is transient and death is an unavoidable part of the human condition, a universal law that affects everyone.

Remember

The key to understanding this chapter is grasping the concept of impermanence and how the Buddha taught acceptance rather than resistance to suffering. 🎯 Exam-smart: Be prepared for questions that ask you to explain the Buddha's method of teaching, especially through parables or indirect approaches like Kisa Gotami's request for mustard seed.