The Sermon At Benares Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 CBSE Notes (2025-26)

Gautama Buddha began his life as Siddhartha Gautama, a prince in northern India. Despite his privileged upbringing, he encountered suffering for the first time in adulthood when he saw a sick man, an elderly man, a funeral procession, and a monk seeking alms. 

These experiences deeply impacted him, and he set out on a journey seeking enlightenment about life and suffering. After years of wandering, Siddhartha meditated under a peepal tree until he attained enlightenment, becoming the Buddha, or “the Enlightened One.” 

His first sermon, delivered at Benares, shared profound wisdom about life’s nature and the universality of suffering.

The Story of Kisa Gotami Kisa Gotami, a heartbroken mother, lost her only son. In desperation, she carried her child to every neighbor, pleading for medicine to bring him back to life.

Everyone she reached out to recognized the finality of her loss, telling her that her son could not be revived. Her distress led one man to direct her to Buddha, known for his compassion and wisdom.

When Kisa Gotami met Buddha and begged for a cure, Buddha told her he could help if she brought a handful of mustard seeds from a house where no one had lost a family member. 

Eager for hope, she went door to door asking for mustard seeds, but in every house, she discovered that everyone had experienced loss and grief. Eventually, Kisa Gotami realised that death is universal and inevitable.

Teachings of Buddha on Life and Death Through the story, Buddha teaches that all mortals are inevitably subject to death. Life brings both wisdom and suffering, and just as ripe fruit can fall at any moment, human life is fragile and temporary. Buddha explains that neither the wise nor the foolish can escape death, and grieving or lamenting excessively does not bring the dead back, only leads to more pain for the living.

Buddha advises to “draw out the arrow of lamentation,” meaning that instead of letting grief take control, one should accept the reality of loss and seek peace for themselves. Understanding the universality of suffering helps individuals handle grief with wisdom rather than despair.

Key Vocabulary From the Chapter

• Afflicted with: to be affected by suffering, pain, or disease.
• Lamentation: the expression of sorrow or grief.
• Enlightenment: a state of high spiritual knowledge.
• Mortals: beings who are bound to die.
• Desolation: a state of emptiness or deep sorrow.
• Be composed: to remain calm and collected.
• Procure: to obtain something, especially with effort.
• Be subject to: likely to experience or suffer from something.

Comprehension Insights

• Kisa Gotami at first tried to cure her son, not understanding the universality of death. Only after visiting many homes did she realise that grief and loss are shared by all.
• Buddha’s lesson was about overcoming selfishness in one’s own grief by seeing one's suffering as part of the larger human experience.
• He encouraged people to seek peace by letting go of the pain that grief causes, instead of holding onto sorrow.

Language and Thought Exercises The chapter includes exercises where students are invited to modernise old-fashioned language, such as rephrasing “give thee medicine for thy child” as “give you medicine for your child.” 

They are also encouraged to think about how sentence structure affects meaning and rhythm, for example, breaking a complex sentence into three simple ones, and noticing the effect of punctuation.

Reflective writing tasks encourage deeper thinking about the chapter’s philosophy, such as teaching new or difficult ideas, supporting one another through hard times, and contemplating what makes each person both unique and similar to others.

Comparative Perspectives on Grief Two additional texts included provide guidance on coping with the loss of loved ones. The first, “A Guide to Coping with the Death of a Loved One,” outlines common feelings of grief—sadness, anger, guilt, anxiety, loneliness—and suggests ways to support people, such as being present, patient, and offering help. 

The second, “Good Grief” by Amitai Etzioni, discusses how there is no “correct” way to grieve and that comfort can be found in mutual support and action for each other. These readings reinforce Buddha’s core message by highlighting the reality of grief, individual ways of coping, and by encouraging empathy and compassion in the community.

Philosophical Reflections The lesson concludes by suggesting students read and reflect on passages from Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet” and Rabindranath Tagore, both of which show that joy and sorrow are deeply linked, and encourage gratitude for the lives of those who have passed. 

These readings deepen the understanding of the impermanence of life and the importance of letting go of grief for personal peace.

Overall, “The Sermon at Benares” is a lesson in wisdom and compassion. It teaches that grief is a universal experience, but through acceptance, understanding, and kindness to oneself and others, one can find true peace of mind. Buddha’s message remains timeless, guiding readers to accept the inevitability of death and to live with empathy and composure, even in pain.

CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Notes Chapter 8 The Sermon at Benares: Key Points for Quick Revision

These Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 8 notes cover all the main events and lessons from “The Sermon at Benares.” With clear explanations, glossaries, and reflection activities, students can quickly grasp why Buddha’s teachings on life and death remain important. Key phrases like universal grief and Buddha's message are easy to remember with these revision notes.

By reviewing these notes, learners can prepare effectively for school exams, practice comprehension, and explore deeper themes of life and suffering. CBSE Class 10 English Chapter 8 revision notes will help you remember facts, quotes, and provide meaningful answers during assessments.