CLASS 10
THE SERMON AT BENARES
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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because she walked too much
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because she couldn’t find a single house where no one died
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because she couldn’t find mustard seeds
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All of the above
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Detailed explanation-1: -Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless after she was unable to get a handful of mustard that could save her son. Sitting at the wayside all alone and seeing the darkness engulfing the place, she realised the truth about the destiny of human beings. She had understood that death is common to all and no one can escape it.
Detailed explanation-2: -When Kisa Gotami’s son died, she went from house to house, asking for medicine that would cure her child. No, she didn’t get it because her child was dead and no medicine could have brought him back to life.
Detailed explanation-3: -Kisa Gotami was the wife of a wealthy man of Savatthi. Her story is one of the most famous ones in Buddhism. After losing her only child, Kisa Gotami became desperate and asked if anyone could help her. Her sorrow was so great that many thought she had lost her mind.
Detailed explanation-4: -The Buddha was aware of Kisa Gotami’s grief. He wanted her to the see truth of life and death and accept the destiny of human being. He asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died to show her that death is common to all.
Detailed explanation-5: -This is when she realizes that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’. I agree with this because by asking for medicine for her dead son and then asking people if anyone they know has died, Kisa Gotami was indeed being selfish. She was reminding those people about the loved ones that they had lost.