NCERT Class 10 English — The Sermon at Benares Detailed Summary
Introduction
The Sermon at Benares is a chapter from the book First Flight. It is based on the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha. The chapter explains how Buddha became enlightened and how he taught people an important truth of life — death is unavoidable and sorrow is part of human life.
The story mainly focuses on a woman named Kisa Gotami, whose experience helped her understand the reality of life and death.
Detailed Summary
Buddha’s Early Life
Gautama Buddha was born around 563 B.C. in a royal family. His childhood name was Siddhartha Gautama. He lived a luxurious and protected life inside the palace. His father did not want him to see pain or suffering because he wanted him to become a great king.
However, one day Siddhartha saw:
These sights disturbed him deeply. He realized that:
old age,
sickness,
and death
are unavoidable parts of human life.
At the age of 25, he left his palace and family in search of truth and peace. After years of meditation under a peepal tree, he attained enlightenment and became known as Buddha, which means “the awakened one”.
Buddha’s First Sermon at Benares
After attaining enlightenment, Buddha gave his first sermon at Benares (now called Varanasi). In his teachings, he explained:
life is full of suffering,
attachment causes sorrow,
and peace can be achieved by controlling desires and understanding truth.
The chapter highlights one important incident from Buddha’s life involving Kisa Gotami.
Story of Kisa Gotami
Death of Her Son
Kisa Gotami was a young woman whose only son died. She loved him deeply and could not accept his death. She carried the dead child from house to house asking people for medicine to bring him back to life.
People thought she had lost her mind because no medicine could cure death.
Meeting Buddha
At last, a kind man advised her to meet Buddha. She went to him and begged him to save her son.
Buddha listened calmly and said that he could help her if she brought:
“a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever lost a family member.”
Kisa Gotami became hopeful and started visiting houses to collect mustard seeds.
Realisation of Truth
Every house she visited was ready to give mustard seeds, but when she asked whether anyone had died in that family, the answer was always:
a father had died,
a mother had died,
a husband had died,
or a child had died.
Slowly, Kisa Gotami realized that death comes to every family. Nobody can escape it.
She finally understood Buddha’s message:
She stopped grieving uncontrollably and accepted the truth of life.
Buddha’s Teaching
Buddha taught that:
people who are selfish and attached to worldly things suffer the most,
wise people understand that life is short,
death is natural and unavoidable.
According to Buddha:
“The world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve.”
This lesson helped Kisa Gotami gain peace of mind.
Main Themes of the Chapter
1. Reality of Death
Death is certain for everyone. No one can escape it.
2. Human Suffering
Life contains pain, sorrow, sickness, and loss.
3. Importance of Wisdom
Understanding truth helps people overcome grief.
4. Detachment
Too much attachment to worldly things causes suffering.
Character Sketch
Gautama Buddha
Kisa Gotami
Moral of the Chapter
The chapter teaches us that:
death is a natural part of life,
sorrow can be reduced through wisdom,
and people should learn to accept reality with patience and understanding.
Important Lines
“The world is afflicted with death and decay.”
“He who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow.”
“Living beings are mortal.”
Conclusion
The Sermon at Benares is a meaningful chapter that teaches an important lesson about life and death. Through the story of Kisa Gotami, Gautama Buddha explains that suffering is universal and acceptance of truth brings peace and wisdom.
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