CBSE Class 10 English First Flight The Sermon at Benares Summary & Notes

CBSE

CBSE Class 10 English First Flight The Sermon at Benares Summary & Notes

Chapter 8 in the Class 10 English textbook, titled ‘First Flight,’ features a prose piece called “The Sermon at Benares” by Betty Renshaw. This chapter illuminates the teachings of Lord Buddha, which carry a deep-rooted significance in our everyday life.

CBSE Class 10 English The Sermon at Benares Summary

The Sermon at Benares highlights the important teachings of Lord Buddha. Originally a prince named Siddhārtha Gautama in North India, he left home at the age of twelve to study Hindu scriptures. After coming back four years later, he married a lovely princess. They had a healthy son and lived a royal life for another ten years, protected from the hardships occurring in the world due to his royal status.

One day, while out hunting, the Prince encountered a sick person, an elderly individual, a funeral procession, and a monk seeking alms. Touched by these experiences, he decided to leave his royal life behind to seek enlightenment and address the sorrows he had witnessed. After seven years of spiritual quest, he attained Salvation. Sitting beneath a tree, he named it the ‘Bodhi Tree’ (Tree of Wisdom) and began sharing his newfound understanding. This marked the beginning of his teachings as the Buddha, meaning the Awakened or the Enlightened one. His first sermon took place in Benares, a sacred city on the banks of the river Ganges. In one of his teachings, he spoke about Kisa Gotami, a woman who had lost her only son. Overwhelmed with sorrow, she went from house to house desperately seeking help and medicine to bring her son back to life. People believed she had lost her sanity due to the deep grief she was experiencing.

One day, she encountered a man who suggested seeking guidance from Lord Buddha, thinking he might help in her difficult situation. Following the advice, she approached Lord Buddha and pleaded with him to cure her son. In response, Lord Buddha instructed her to gather mustard seeds from a house where no family member, relative, or friend had ever experienced loss. Filled with hope, Kisa Gotami began searching from one house to another but could not find such a place. Feeling sad, she understood she had been selfish in trying so hard for something impossible to achieve. In this realization, she understood the universal truth that all humans are mortal, and when they pass away, they leave behind their relationships and possessions. This profound lesson from Lord Buddha helped her understand the cycle of life and death in the universe, emphasizing that no one can escape this natural course.

Lord Buddha shared an important lesson that feeling of sorrow and grief only makes a person’s suffering worse. It harms health and makes the situation more difficult. A wise person understands how nature works and doesn’t lose hope or stay in constant grief for something that is inevitable. Only then can one find joy and stay happy and blessed in life.

Conclusion of The Sermon at Benares

The chapter – The Sermon at Benares explains Lord Buddha’s most important teachings that brought peace to a grieving mother named Kisa Gotami, who had suffered the loss of her son. By understanding the deep truth of life, Kisa Gotami set herself free from the never-ending sadness that had taken hold of her. This important lesson from Lord Buddha not only made Kisa Gotami feel better but also stands as a lasting guide for anyone looking to ease the unavoidable pains of life. It shows how knowing and accepting things can help us go beyond suffering and discover peace within ourselves.

We trust that this summary of the CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Prose, “The Sermon at Benares,” has provided you with a quick grasp of the chapter. Stay connected with GK Publications for the latest updates on CBSE and study materials. Explore sample papers and question papers from various years to enhance your preparation for the Board exams.

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