CBSE Class 10 English The Sermon At Benares Worksheet

 

Answer: ‘Selfishness’ means when a person does something only for his own benefit or think only about him/ her self. Kisa Gotami was selfish in wanting her dead son to be alive. It was a mother’s love which had blinded her. She was wrong in wanting that. She could not see the reality of life. It is perfectly natural for anyone to be selfish at times. When this desire becomes harmful to others or the demands become unrealistic, it is wrong. A little bit of selfishness is there in generally everyone and it is natural to be so.

 

Answer: ‘Sakyamuni’s’ first Sermon at Benares was to accept death as a fact, as a truth that cannot change Grieving and lamenting cannot lessen the pain or revive a dead one, but only make life more difficult. ‘Man is mortal’, is a harsh reality which is as steadfast as the various other natural phenomena. The cycle of birth and death is eternal and continues ceaselessly. Acceptance of this truth is important and in the light of the transient nature of life, one must strive to do at least one good deed every day and live life to the fullest.

 

Answer: Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a grief in her life when her only son died. She went from house to house in search of a medicine to cure him. She had become selfish in wanting her son back, but later she realised that man is immortal. The lesson we learn from her story is that peace of mind cannot be obtained by grieving. I would try to overcome my sorrow and accept the fact that human life is mortal, when faced with such a situation.

 

 

Gautama Buddha was born to a North Indian royal family as a prince and was named Siddhartha Gautama. When he was twelve years old, he was sent to a far away place to study Hindu sacred scriptures and upon returning four years later, he got married to a princess. Soon, they both had a son and they continued to live the royal life for about ten years. The royals were shielded from all the unpleasant experiences of the world until one day, on his way to hunt, the Prince met a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and a monk begging for alms. These experiences acted as eyeopeners for him and thus, he left all the royalty behind to seek a higher sense of spiritual knowledge.

Upon attaining salvation, he began preaching. He gave his first sermon in the city of Benares. There was a lady named Kisa Gotami whose son had died. Suffering with unending pain, she went from house to house looking for a medicine to bring her son back to life. People started thinking that the lady had lost her senses. One day, she met a man who directed her towards Lord Buddha who could possibly have a solution for her problem. Buddha asked her to look for mustard seeds and the seeds must be procured from a house that had seen no death. Reinstated with hope, Kisa Gotami once again went on a search from house to house but to her dismay, she could not find mustard seeds from a house that would fulfill Buddha’s condition. Disheartened, she sat at the edge of the road thus realising how selfish she had been. She became conscious to the fact that men were mortal and no one could escape the cycle of life. This was exactly what Buddha wanted her to understand. According to Lord Buddha, feelings of grief and sorrow only increase man’s pain and suffering thus, deteriorating his health. Therefore, a wise person fully aware about nature’s functioning must not grieve at something bound to happen and only then he can be happy and blessed.

 

Very Short Answer Questions

Question. The physician he referred to was..........
a. his Neighbour
b. the physician from the Royal Palace
c. Kisa Gotami
d. Gouthama Buddha
Answer. D

Question. In order to help the lady Gouthama Buddha asked her to bring......
a. a handful of mustard from a poor man’s house.
b. a handful of mustard from the house where deaths have happened
c. a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one has lost a beloved to death.
d. handful of mustard from the house of a lady who has lost her son
Answer. C

Question. Kisa Gotami kept asking for medicine for her dead son as............
a. the son was about to die
b. she was not ready to accept the truth of her son’s death.
c. there was a medicine that could cure death.
d. she thought she could get medicine that would cure her son.
Answer. B

Question. Kisa Gotami thought she was selfish as............
a. she was thinking only about her loss
b. she was not ready to leave her son.
c. she thought her son’s death is more aggravating than anybody else’s.
d. she wanted to have the medicine all for herself
Answer. A

Question. People won’t get.................from weeping and grieving
a. happiness
b. wealth
c. contentment
d. peace of mind
Answer. D

Question. Both young and adult can be victim of _______
a. torture
b. grief
c. loneliness
d. death
Answer. D

Question. Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless because______
a. the lights were flickering.
b. nobody gave her the mustard seed she needs.
c. she realised what was asked to get to cure her son is unattainable.
d. it was too late when she was finished searching for the cure.
Answer. C

Question. Kisa Gotami saw.................... after losing all hope of getting the medicine to cure her son
a. Buddha waiting to receive her .
b. lights flickering and extinguishing.
c. The lights burning continuously
d. Buddha waiting to get the mustard seeds
Answer. B

Question. The terms of the world are.................
a. the world is afflicted with death and decay.
b. wealth is nothing compared to life.
c. nobody will be able to get over grief.
d. love makes people suffer.
Answer. A

 

Extract Based Questions

1. At about the age of twenty-five, the Prince, heretofore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while out hunting chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him that he at once went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.

Question. The statement /statements that is /are incorrect with regard to the life of Buddha is............................
1. Immediately after schooling he went to seek enlightenment under the Bodhi tree
2. He was moved by the sufferings of people and went out to seek enlightenment.
3. He was not satisfied with the knowledge he had and decided to seek enlightenment.
4. He was not aware of the sufferings of the world as he was kept away from them and lead a comfortable life till old age
a. 1,2 and 3
b. 1 and 3
c. 1 , 3 and 4
d. 2 and 4
Answer. C


Question. The sights that Buddha witnessed showed..................
a. the prosperous and comfortable life of the people
b. the negligent attitude of the people
c. the pain, sufferings and hardships of the people
d. the sadness that reigned in the life of old people
Answer. C

Question. The emoticon/emoticons that does not reflect Buddha’s state of mind on seeing the sufferings around him is/are...........

a. 1,2 and 4
b. 2 and 3
c. Only 4
d. 1,2 and 4
Answer. C

Question. Choose the quote/quotes that do not reflect the sentiments in the lesson. 1. “There is an ancient tribal proverb I once heard in India. It says that before we can see properly we must first shed our tears to clear the way.” ― Libba Bray, The Sweet Far Thing 2.“We are healed of a suffering only by experiencing it to the full.” ― Marcel Proust 3“The total amount of suffering per year in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation. ― Betty Smith, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn 4 "Sometimes we can feel like we are not good enough, but it is important to remember that we have nothing to prove others. Love and respect yourself each and every day." — Lisa Lieberman-Wang
a. 1 and 4
b. 1 and 3
c. 2 and 4
d. only 4
Answer. D

Question. The word in the extract which means ‘a state of high spiritual knowledge is .......................
a. Procession
b. Enlightenment
c. Shielded
d. Witnessed
Answer. B

 
2. Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard seed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.

Question. “Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” The tone of the speaker is.............
a. disillusioned
b. sceptical
c. ironic
d. sarcastic
Answer. A

Question. The word that represents the correct understanding of ‘poor’ in the above context is..........
a. in need of money
b. weak
c. unfortunate
d. inferior
Answer. C

Question. Pick the option that explains ‘..the living are few, but the dead are many’.
a. The death rate in the city of Benares is high.
b. Highlights the holy status of Benares where many people wish to breathe their last.
c. Speaks of the number of children who had died in the village due to natural disasters
d. Everyone had experienced the loss of many of their loved ones ,and the numbers were more than that of the living
Answer. D

Question. The people do not want to be reminded of their deepest grief as.........
1. they had forgotten their loved ones who had died and didn’t want to think of them again.
2. they wanted to forget the sufferings and enjoy life
3. the loss of dear ones to death is an unforgettable pain that one has to live with.
4. time heals the pain of losing beloved ones.
a. Both 1 & b2are valid
b Only 3 is valid
c. Both 3 & 4are valid
d.1,2 and 3 are valid
Answer. B

Question. Sakyamuni asked Kisa Gotami to collect mustard seeds for the medicine...........
a. as he wanted to make her realise that death is inevitable, and it can happen to anyone at any time.
b. As mustard seeds have medicinal properties that can cure death.
c. as it would make her forget about her grief.
d. as it had great healing powers
Answer. A

 
3.“Not from weeping or from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind; on the contrary, his pain will be the greater and his body will suffer. He will make himself sick and pale, yet the dead are not saved by his lamentation. He who seeks peace should draw out the arrow of lamentation, and complaint, and grief. He who has drawn out the arrow and has become composed will obtain peace of mind; he who has overcome all sorrow will become free from sorrow, and be blessed.”

Question. The ‘he’ mentioned here in the above extract is.........
a. anyone who has faced the loss of their dear ones.
b. One who is in pain due to injury.
c. the person who has peace of mind.
d. anybody who is in his death bed.
Answer. A

Question. According to the Buddha, peace of mind is attained by those who
a. renounce worldly life like the Buddha
b. take out the arrow and become stronger
c. grieve, suffer and then go out to seek enlightenment
d. recognise the terms of life and free themselves from sorrow
Answer. D

Question. The statement that if incorrect with reference to the extract is............
a. Pain and grief are unavoidable hence one must learn to overcome it.
b. the inevitability of death makes grieving futile.
c. by meditating one can get rid of all the sufferings, become immortal and lead a happy life
d a person who overcomes sorrow can free himself of sorrow.
Answer. C

Question. The sentence that does not use the phrase ‘on the contrary ‘correctly is.....
a. I thought he was busy, but on the contrary he was idle.
b. He seems cheery but, on the contrary, he is very happy.
c. i thought it was going to clear up. On the contrary, it began to rain.
d. He is not rich. On the contrary, he is deep in debt.
Answer. B

Question. The word that can replace the word grief in the above extract is.....................
a. anguish
b. desire
c. happiness
d. perseverance
Answer. A

 

4. Poor Kisa Gautami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, "Here is mustard-seed;
take it!" But when she asked, "Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?" they answered her, "Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief." And there was no housebut some beloved one had died in it.

Question. The community's response to Kisa in the above extract was somewhat different from before. Why do you think that was the case?
(a) They had learnt from Buddha's sermons.
(b) They were able to help Kisa in some way this time.
(c) They understood parental grief.
(d) They liked Kisa and enjoyed talking to her.
Answer. B

Question. Which of the following options represent the correct understanding of the word "poor" in the phrase
"Poor Kisa Gautami"?
(a) in need of money
(b) weak
(c) unfortunate
(d) inferior
Answer. C

Question. "Do not remind us of our deepest grief." The tone of the speaker(s) is
(a) disillusioned.
(b) sceptical.
(c) ironic.
(d) solemn.
Answer. D

Question. Pick the option that explains — '...the living few, but the dead many.'
(a) It shows the high death rate and low birth rate in the city of Benares.
(b) It highlights the holy status of Benares where many Hindus go to die.
(c) It throws light on the numerous loved ones the villagers had lost over time.
(d) It reflects that many children who had died in the village for various reasons.
Answer. C

Question. Imagine you are a photo journalist visiting the city at the time Kisa Gautami went from house to house.
You documented her experience given in the above extract in a photo series.
Your publisher wants to publish the photo series in three parts wherein Part 1 shows Kisa's visits to the houses; Part 2 depicts her conversations with people, and Part 3 captures Kisa's reflections at the end of the day sitting by the wayside.
The publisher would also like you to choose titles for the series and its three parts. Look at the titles given below, and choose the options that provide the most appropriate set of titles.
(1) Series Title - From Darkness to Light.
Part I - Living in Loss; Part II - A Mother's Journey; Part III - Mustard Seed
(2) Series Title - Mustard Seed.
Part I - A Mother's Journey; Part II - From Darkness to Light; Part III -Living in Loss
(3) Series Title - A Mother's Journey.
Part I - Mustard Seed; Part II - Living in Loss; Part III - From Darkness to Light 
(4) Series Title - Living in Loss.
Part I - From Darkness to Light; Part II - Mustard Seed; Part III - A Mother's Journey
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
Answer. B

 

ASSERTION/REASONING QUESTIONS

Question.
1. Siddhartha went out into the world to seek enlightenment
2. He was moved by the sufferings of people around him.
A. (1) is the result of (2).
B. (1) is the reason for (2).
C. (1) is independent of (2).
D. (1) contradicts (2).
Answer. A

Question.
1. The Buddha preached his first Sermon at the city of Benaras.
2. His sermon has been preserved and it reflects Buddha’s wisdom.
A. (1) is the result of (2).
B. (1) is the reason for (2).
C. (1) is independent of (2).
D. (1) contradicts (2).
Answer. C

Question.
1. Kisa Gotami became weary and hopeless.
2. She could not find a house where no beloved had died.
A. (1) is the result of (2).
B. (1) is the reason for (2).
C. (1) is independent of (2).
D. (1) contradicts (2)
Answer. A

Question.
1. A father cannot save his son, nor kinsmen their relations.
2. Death is common to all. There is no means by which those that have been born can avoid dying
A. (1) is the result of (2).
B. (1) is th;,P[-PP-P[HYGTREe reason for (2).
C. (1) isJJJ independent of (2).
D. (1) contradicts (2)
Answer. A

Question.
1. The lights of the city flickered up and were extinguished again.
2. In the valley of desolation there is a path that leads to immortality.
A. (1) is the result of (2).
B. (1) is the reason for (2).
C. (1) is independent of (2).
D. (1) contradicts (2)
Answer. C

 

Short Answer Questions :

Question. Who was Gautama Buddha? When and where was he born?
Answer. Gautama Buddha was a Prince who was named Siddhartha Gautama by his parents. He was born in 563 B.C. in North India. He had been shielded from the sufferings of the world.

Question. Why did Prince Siddhartha leave the palace and become a monk?
Answer. While going out for hunting Prince Siddhartha saw a sick man, an aged man and then a funeral procession. Then he saw a beggar begging for alms. These sights mourned him very much. He realised that the world is full of sorrows. He thus turned into a monk.
 

Question. How did Prince Siddhartha get exposure to spiritual knowledge?
Answer. Once, Prince Siddhartha went on a hunt
There he came across a sick man, an old man, a monk asking for alms and a funeral procession. Unable to find out the reason for those sufferings he went in search of spiritual knowledge.
 

Question. Grief is often seen as a measure of Love. Do you think the Buddha’s sermon undermines a mother’s low? Justify your response.
Answer. I think that Buddha's sermon doesn't undermine a mother's lave for his child. It aims to make the person who is grief-stricken realize that grief and lamentation lead to destroying peace of mind. It never helps the person. Instead, accepting the loss and Letting go of the compLaints bring solace to the grieved person.
 

Question. What message might the Buddha's story held for those who are in positions of power and privilege?
Answer. Fhe story of Buddha is an eye-opener for those who are in positions of power and privileges
Materialistic possessions can never give peace of mind to anybody. A person's real aim in life is to attain inner peace and Love far God.
People who hoLd power and positions are always engrossed in worldly pleasures. They are unknown to the sufferings of human Life.
 

Question. What does the Buddha say about the world ? 
Answer. Buddha says that everything in this world is transitory. Those who are barn, have to die someday. Humans of the world are suffering from a lot of pains and probLems. Yet everybody is engrossed in the worldly pleasures of possessions.
 

Question. Kisa understood the temporality of life as she sat at the way side watching the city lights. Con you think of any other object or
phenomenon, natural or man-made, that might similarly reflect the fragile nature of human life? Justify your choice.
Answer. I believe the water bubbles reflect the fragile nature of human Life. They develop fully though for a few seconds only; then they burst and become water again. Human Life is also transitory. A person comes to Life on earth, fulfils his/her obligation of Life and then finally leaves this world to start a new journey.

Question. What is a sermon? Is it different from a lecture or a talk?
Answer. A sermon is a spoken or written address on a religious or moral subject. It is a serious talk. It is different from a lecture or a talk. It is because a lecture or a talk can be on anything. A sermon has to be on religion or a moral subject.

Question. What did the Buddha do after he had attained enlightenment?
Answer. When Buddha attained enlightenment, he started preaching and telling people about life and its meaning. He spread his preaching far and wide. He shared his knowledge with people through his teachings.

Question. Why was Kisa Gotami sad? What did she do in her hour of grief?
Answer. Kisa Gotami was sad because her only son had died. In her hour of grief, she went from house to house in search of a medicine to cure him. She had become selfish in wanting her son back.

Question. What did her neighbours think about Kisa Gotami?
Answer. Kisa Gotami’s only son had died. She was overwhelmed with grief. She carried the dead child to all her neighbours. She asked them for medicine to cure her son. The neighbours thought she had lost her senses. A dead child could never be cured.

Question. Why did Kisa go to Gautama Buddha?
Answer. One of the neighbours advised Kisa Gotami to go to Buddha who could have given her some lifesaving medicine for her son.

Question. What did Buddha ask the lady to do?
Answer. Buddha asked the lady to bring a handful of mustard-seeds. But these must be taken from a house where no one had ever lost a child, husband or a friend. Then he would be able to help her.

Question. How did the Buddha teach Kisa Gotami the truth of life?
Answer. Buddha changed Kisa’s thinking with the help of a simple act—asking her to procure a handful of mustard seeds from that house where none had died. She could not understand it. But, gradually she understood that death is inevitable.

Question. Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?
Answer. Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, which is regarded as the most holy of the dipping places on the river Ganges.

Question. How is the city of Benares important??
Answer. Benares is a sacred city of the Hindus as the river Ganga flows through it. Gautama Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares. It was about accepting death as an inseparable part of life and not grieving unduly over it.

Question. What is the moral of the lesson,’ The Sermon at Benares’?
Answer. The moral of the lesson is that one should understand that human beings are mortal and no one can escape death. People must understand that thinking about bound situations will increase one’s stress and lead to sorrow. So, our primary focus should be on neglecting sorrows and focusing on things that make us happy.

Question. What were the sights that moved and shocked Gautama?
Answer. Prince Gautama had been deliberately shielded from all the sufferings of the world. One day he chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man and then a funeral procession. Finally, he saw a monk begging for alms. These sights moved him. He went out into the world to seek the solution of all these sufferings. He wanted to seek enlightenment.

Question. What did the Buddha preach to the people?
Answer. Buddha said that death is common to all mortals. You cannot avoid it. No amount of Weeping and lamenting can bring back a dead. So wise men don’t grieve. Weeping and lamenting rather spoil one’s health. To overcome sorrow, become free of sorrow.

Question. According to Kisa Gotami what is the greatest grief of life?
Answer. According to Kisa Gotami, the greatest grief in life is the death of one’s loved ones and one’s inability to stop them from dying. She had tried in vain to revive her son. Finding her so miserable the Buddha thought of a way to teach her to stop grieving. She eventually understood the lesson that Buddha wanted to convey-death should be accepted as it is inevitable.

Question. How did Kisa Gotami realise that life and death is a process?
Answer. Kisa Gotami went from house to house to bring a handful of mustard seeds but was unable to find one house where nobody died. She sat down by the roadside and saw the lights of city flickering and extinguishing. Thus she realised that the human life is similar to the lights.

Question. How did the Buddha teach Kisa Gautami the truth of life and death?
Answer. Kisa Gotami had lost her son. The Buddha told her to bring mustard seeds from the house where there had been no deaths. When she could not fulfil this condition she understood that death is the ultimate truth. All creatures that are born must die one day. This is what Buddha wanted her to understand. Finally the grieving mother accepted the death of her beloved son.

Question. How did Siddhartha Gautama get enlightenment? Why did he name the peepal tree as the Bodhi tree?
Answer. Gautama wanted a final solution for the sufferings and pains that afflicted the people of the world. He wandered for seven years for seeking enlightenment. Finally, he sat down under a peepal tree. He vowed to stay there until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the peepal tree. It was named as the Bodhi Tree or Tree of Wisdom.

Question. What did Buddha say about death and suffering ?
Answer. After enlightenment, Buddha started to spread his teachings about life, truth and the likes of it. He told that death and suffering are the part and parcel of life. None can avoid this truth. Whoever has born, will die one day. In the hour of grief, one must remain calm and composed so that grief doesn't overcome one. Only wise accept the truth. People should not get distressed with pain, suffering and death.

Question. Can grieving and lamentation avoid death and decay in this world? What did the Buddha say in this regard?
Answer. This world is afflicted with death and decay. Therefore, the wise don’t grieve. No one will ever get peace of mind by weeping or grieving. Weeping or grieving only makes a person sick and pale. Only the person who has overcome all sorrows will be free from sorrow. He will then be blessed.

 

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

Question. Personal losses are a part and parcel of life. Instead of wailing on them, we should move on in life. This message of Gautama Buddha has become more relevant in this pandemic situation. Do you agree? Why /why not?
Answer:
Yes, I agree with the message that Gautama Buddha has given about life. The prevailing pandemic has made a huge impact on all of us. In the modern times, people have a lot to explore and move with the world at the same pace. If people don’t understand the practicality of life, they will be under stress which would in turn will affect their personal and professional lives dearly. People need to understand that everyone who is born to this planet will have to leave it one day. There is no use being sad or crying over the loss. People should accept the reality of loss, remain calm and composed in such situations. They should face the truth and move on in life resolutely.

Question. Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a period of grief in her life. How does she behave in those circumstances?
Answer:
Kisa Gotami became extremely sad after the death of her only child. She carried her dead child to her neighbours in order to get medicine to bring him back to life. Her neighbours concluded that she had gone insane as she was unable to accept the reality. Seeing her agony someone suggested her to meet Gautama Buddha. When she met Gautama Buddha asked her to collect mustard seeds from a house where no one has ever died. She went from one house to another but was unable to find a single house in the village where no one has died. This way she realised that death is a part of life and anyone who is born is bound to die one day. Thus, Buddha changed her understanding of death by this exercise. could come to terms with the truth.

Question. What is the nature of the life of the human beings according to the Buddha?
Answer:
According to Buddha, “The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain. 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. 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.”

Question. How did Gautam Buddha get enlightenment? Explain with reference to the story.
Answer:
At about the age of twenty-five, Siddhartha went for hunting. He happened to see a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights administered a shock for him as he was insulated from the sufferings of the world. He renounced worldly pleasures and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.
Siddhartha wandered for seven years pursuing enlightenment and finally sat down under a peepal tree. On the seventh day, he received enlightenment and renamed the tree as ‘Bodhi Tree’. He became known as the Buddha (the Awakened or the Enlightened) and began to teach and to share his new understandings.
Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, regarded 6as the spiritual capital of India and one of the world's oldest continually inhabited cities

Question. “The World is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the world”. Express your view with reference to the story “The Sermon at Benares”.
Answer:
According to Gautama Buddha, the world is afflicted with sufferings, disease or pain, death and decay. Neither from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind; on the contrary, his pain will be the greater and his body will suffer. He will make himself sick and pale, yet the dead are not saved by his lamentation. We have to accept personal loss as a reality and pursue our journey of life with positive thoughts. Nothing is constant in the world, including human life. Keeping eyes shut can’t diminish the reality in front of us. Those who have overcome all sorrows will become free from sorrow, and be blessed.

 

 

 

Gautama Buddha (563 B.C.- 483 B.C.) began life as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama, in northern India. At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty.

 

(a) Who was Gautama Buddha?

(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘people of royal family’.

(d) When did Gautama Buddha marry?

(b) What did Gautama Buddha study?

 

2. He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a peepal tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree and began to teach and to share his new understandings. At that point he became known as the Buddha.

 

(a) What was the name of the peepal tree under which Buddha sat?

(b) What did Buddha do while sitting under the tree?

(c) Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘solemnly promise to do a specified thing’.

(d) After how many days did Gautam Buddha get enlightenment?

 

 

1.What do you know about the early life of Buddha?

2. Why was Kisa Gotami sad? What did she do in her hour of grief?

3. What did Buddha do after he had attained enlightenment?

4. Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?

5. How did Kisa Gotami realise that life and death is a process?

 

 

1. Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a period of grief in her life. How does she behave in those circumstances?