The Sermon at Benares

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 eye openers for him and thus he ...

1.
When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
2.
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?
3.
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?
4.
Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did the Buddha change her understanding?
5.
How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief’?

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The Sermon at Benares

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