8. The Sermon at Benares

A sermon is a talk on a religious or moral subject, usually given by a religious leader.

A lecture or a talk can be on any subject. A sermon always gives moral advice.

Yes, the word can be used in a negative way or as a joke. It then means a long, boring piece of advice, as in “my mother’s sermon about getting my work done on time”.

1. afflicted with — troubled by pain, disease or suffering
2. lamentation — expression of deep sorrow; weeping
3. be composed — be calm and in control of one’s feelings
4. desolation — a state of great sadness and loneliness
5. procure — obtain; get with some effort
6. be subject to — be likely to be affected by

The Sermon on the Mount was delivered by Jesus Christ. The sermon at Benares was delivered by Gautama Buddha. It was his first sermon after enlightenment.

She asks for medicine to bring her dead son back to life. She does not get it, because no medicine can bring a dead person back to life. People think she has lost her senses.

The second time, she asks for a handful of mustard seed from a house where no one has lost a child, husband, parent or friend.

She does not get it. Every house has lost some loved one. There is no house where no one has died.

The second time, she understands that death is common to all. Everyone who is born must die. She was being selfish in her grief.

Yes, this was exactly what the Buddha wanted her to understand.

The first time, she was blinded by her grief. She did not want to accept her son’s death.

The Buddha did not lecture her. He sent her to find mustard seed from a house where no one had died. Through her own experience she learnt that death comes to every family. In this way the Buddha changed her understanding.

Selfishness means thinking only about oneself and not about others.

Yes, I agree. Kisa Gotami thought only of her own loss. She forgot that everyone suffers the loss of loved ones. Her grief made her think only of herself.

1. give thee medicine for thy child — give you medicine for your child
2. Pray tell me — Please tell me
3. Kisa repaired to the Buddha — Kisa went to the Buddha
4. there was no house but someone had died in it — there was no house where no one had died / someone had died in every house
5. kinsmen — relatives
6. Mark! — Listen! / Pay attention!

Three simple sentences:

1. There is not any means by which those who have been born can avoid dying.
2. After reaching old age there is death.
3. Living beings are of such a nature.

The single sentence using semicolons has a better rhythm. It flows smoothly and connects the ideas well.

Yes, the Buddha’s ideas still hold meaning for us. He teaches that death is common to all and that weeping does not bring peace. The modern texts also say that grief is natural. They suggest that we should help and support one another in times of grief. Both the old and the new ideas help us to accept loss and find peace.

The “great honey-coloured ramparts” are Anne Gregory’s beautiful golden hair falling over her ears like the walls of a fort.

Young men are thrown into despair because they fall in love with her beauty. Her beautiful hair is like a wall that stops them from seeing her real self.

Her hair is yellow (golden). She says she can dye it brown, black or carrot.

She wants to do so because she wants young men to love her for herself alone, not for her beautiful yellow hair.

A car is desirable for its looks, speed, comfort, safety and mileage. A phone is desirable for its camera, battery life, memory and price. A dress is desirable for its colour, design and comfort.

If I were selling a phone, I would stress its good camera, long battery life, fast speed and reasonable price.

We often like people for their qualities, such as looks, talent or kindness. The public loves a film star or a sportsperson for their talent.

But true love does not depend on qualities. Parents love a newborn baby or a challenged child for itself alone. We love our brothers, sisters and pets without any conditions. So it is possible to love someone for themselves alone.

It is not easy to separate a person from the way he or she looks or behaves. These are a part of the person. People change as they grow older, but true relationships do not change. My grandparents have grown old, but my love and respect for them have only grown stronger.