LESSON - 10 THE SERMON AT BENARES

LESSON - 10 THE SERMON AT BENARES BETTY RENSHAW Mp3

 LESSON - 10 THE SERMON AT BENARES BY - BETTY RENSHAW

OPTIONAL - 1. Gautama Buddha’s early name was--------

a) Sidhha b) Sadhu c) Siddhartha d) Sidhanth

2. What moved Siddhartha to seek out enlightenment?

a) a sick man b) an aged man c) a monk begging d) all of the above

3. Where did Siddhartha vow to stay until his enlightenment came?

a) his palace b) under peepal tree c) under banyan tree d) under a tree

4. What did he name the tree?

a) Bodhi tree b) Buddha tree c) Gautama tree d) Siddhartha tree

5. Which seed did Buddha ask Kisa to bring?

a) Pumpkin seeds b) Mustard seeds c) Sunflower seeds d) Sesame seeds

6. What did the flickering lights make Kisa realise?

a) she is being selfish b) death is common to all

c) men are mortals d ) all of the above

7. What did Buddha tell Kisa about life?

a) It is troubled b) It is brief c) combined with pain d) all of the above

8. Both young and adults, fools and wise fall into the power of _____

a) life b) death c) food d) all of the above

9.. In which city did Buddha deliver his first sermon?

a) Patna b) Benaras c) Lumbini d) Gaya

Ans. 1-c, 2-d, 3-b, 4-a, 5-b, 6-d, 7-d, 8-b, 9-b,

QUES. - 1. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?

Ans. When her only son dies, Kisa Gotami carries her dead child to all her neighbours, asking them for medicine. She does not get any medicine as her son was already dead and could not be cured.

2. 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?

Ans. The second time she realised that death was common to all and she was being selfish in her grief. Yes, this is what Buddha wanted her to understand.

3. 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?

Ans. Gautam Buddha asks Kisa Gotami to get handful of mustard seed from a house where death has never visited she doesn't get it because there is no house where death has not visited.

4. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?

Ans. Kisa Gotami understood the reality of death only the second time because she found that there was no house where death had not visited. The Buddha changed her understanding by practical experience.

5. How did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth of life?

Ans. Kisa Gotami went from house to house but couldn't find such a house where no death had occurred. Finally, she understood the truth and the secret of life.

6. How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’ ? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’ ?

Ans. A selfish person is one who only thinks about himself. Same has happened with Kisa Gotami. As it was her only child, she did not want him to die finally went to Buddha to ask for help.