Class 10 English Prose 10 The Sermon at Benaras

The Sermon at Benares by Betty Renshaw narrates an important lesson taught by Gautama Buddha. It tells the story of Kisa Gotami, a woman deeply grieving the death of her only son. Unable to accept his death, she went from house to house, asking for medicine to bring her child back to life. Eventually, someone directed her to Buddha, who told her he could help if she brought a handful of mustard seeds from a household that had never experienced death. Kisa Gotami eagerly began her search, but she soon realized that death had touched every family she visited.

Through this experience, she understood the universal truth: death is a natural part of life, and no one can escape it. Buddha explained that wisdom comes from accepting this reality rather than grieving endlessly. He compared human life to the flames of a lamp, which eventually go out. The sermon teaches us to embrace life’s impermanence and focus on achieving inner peace through wisdom and understanding. The Sermon at Benares class 10 notes, worksheets, experiential learning activities, CBSE and Kendriya Vidhyalaya question bank, and other support materials are curated by experienced SMEs in an easy-to-understand language.

S.No. Table Of Contents
1 Chapter-wise Notes
2 DoE Worksheet
3 Experiential Activities
4 Mind Maps
5 Question Banks
6 CBSE Support Material

CBSE Class 10 The Sermon at Benares  Notes

The Sermon at Benares class 10 notes will provide a summary and topic-wise details to help students understand what the story is about. Below, we have provided the links to downloadable PDFs of chapter-wise Notes for class 10 English and that too for different categories of marks.

<red> ➜   <red> The Sermon at Benares Class 10 Notes

CBSE Class 10 The Sermon at Benares DoE Worksheets

Below, we have provided the links to downloadable PDFs of class 10 DoE Worksheets English and that too for different categories of marks.

<red> ➜   <red> Worksheet 70

<red> ➜   <red> Worksheet 85E

CBSE Class 10 The Sermon at Benares  Experiential Activities

Below, we have provided the links to downloadable PDFs of Experiential Learning Activity for class 10 English to help students implement their acquired knowledge in the real world.

<red> ➜  <red>The Sermon at Benares Experiential Activities

CBSE Class 10 The Sermon at Benares  Mind Maps

Below, we have provided the links to downloadable PDFs of Mind Maps for class 10 English to help students implement their acquired knowledge in the real world.

<red> ➜  <red>The Sermon at Benares Mind Maps

CBSE Class 10 The Sermon at Benares  Question Bank

Below, we have provided Class 10 English Question Banks that cover every typology question with detailed explanations from various resources in one place

<red> ➜   <red>The Sermon at Benares  CBSE Question Bank

<red> ➜   <red>The Sermon at Benares  Kendriya Vidyalaya Question Bank

CBSE Class 10 The Sermon at Benares  Support Material

Below, we have provided Class 10 English Support Materials that cover Case Study-based questions from the various concepts explained in Eng NCERT chapters. 

<red> ➜   <red>The Sermon at Benares Support Material

Chapter 10 The Sermon at Benares Class 10: Why?

The chapter The Sermon at Benares is included in the Class 10 CBSE English Syllabus because it offers timeless lessons about life, death, and the acceptance of universal truths. Here's why it holds importance:

  1. Moral and Philosophical Teachings: The chapter conveys profound wisdom from Gautama Buddha. It teaches students the inevitability of death and the importance of accepting life's impermanence, which helps in coping with grief and loss.
  2. Spiritual Growth: It introduces students to Buddhist philosophy, which encourages self-awareness, detachment, and inner peace.
  3. Universal Values: The story emphasizes compassion and understanding, showing that everyone experiences suffering, making it easier to empathize with others.
  4. Literary Value: The chapter offers an engaging narrative through the story of Kisa Gotami, making it relatable and easier for students to grasp complex philosophical ideas.
  5. Emotional Resilience: By addressing grief and loss, the chapter equips students with a healthier perspective on dealing with emotional challenges.

In essence, The Sermon at Benares is a valuable addition to the syllabus because it blends moral, spiritual, and emotional lessons, helping students grow as individuals.

Chapter 10 The Sermon at Benares  Class 10: Character Sketch?

  1. Kisa Gotami

Grief-Stricken Mother: Kisa Gotami is a young woman devastated by the death of her only son. Her initial inability to accept this loss shows her deep attachment and love for her child.

Determined but Ignorant: In her grief, she desperately searches for a way to bring her son back to life, unaware of the universal truth of death.

Transformative Journey: Through her interaction with Buddha, Kisa transitions from ignorance to enlightenment. Her search for mustard seeds reveals to her the inevitability of death, leading her to understand and accept the impermanence of life.

Symbol of Human Struggle: Kisa represents the universal human tendency to resist and grieve over the loss of loved ones until wisdom brings acceptance.

  1. Gautama Buddha

Compassionate Teacher: Buddha is a figure of immense wisdom and kindness. He patiently guides Kisa Gotami toward understanding life's truths without directly imposing them.

Skillful Guide: Instead of lecturing, he sets a task that allows Kisa to learn through her own experience. This reflects his ability to teach profound lessons in a practical and relatable way.

Philosophical Leader: Buddha embodies detachment and wisdom, encouraging others to rise above grief and focus on achieving inner peace. His comparison of life to a lamp flame that eventually extinguishes illustrates his profound understanding of life’s impermanence.

These character sketches highlight Kisa Gotami’s emotional journey and Buddha’s role as a compassionate guide, making the story both relatable and inspiring.

How Can This Chapter-wise Material Help Students?

Chapter-wise material like summaries, character sketches, and explanations for chapters such as The Sermon at Benares can significantly help students in the following ways:

Clear Understanding of the Chapter

  • Simplifies Complex Ideas: Philosophical and moral teachings, like those in this chapter, are broken down into easy-to-understand points. This helps students grasp the essence of the text.
  • Key Highlights: Summaries and explanations focus on the main ideas, making it easier for students to remember important details.

Better Preparation for Exams

  • Quick Revision: Chapter-wise material acts as a concise resource for last-minute preparation, saving students time.
  • Answer Writing Practice: Detailed content like character sketches and themes helps students frame effective and complete answers in exams.

Enhanced Analytical Skills

  • In-Depth Analysis: Resources such as character sketches encourage students to think critically about a character’s journey, personality, and role in the narrative.
  • Themes and Messages: Understanding themes help students connect the chapter's message to real-life situations and develop a deeper perspective.

Improves Writing Skills

  • Structured Answers: Well-organized material teaches students how to structure answers, which is crucial for securing good marks in descriptive questions.
  • Vocabulary Building: Exposure to chapter-wise material enriches students' vocabulary and improves their language proficiency.

Builds Moral and Emotional Intelligence

  • Life Lessons: Chapters like The Sermon at Benares impart valuable lessons about acceptance, grief, and detachment, shaping students' character.
  • Empathy Development: Understanding the struggles of characters like Kisa Gotami encourages empathy and compassion.

By using chapter-wise material, students not only perform better academically but also grow emotionally and intellectually. It makes learning systematic, engaging, and meaningful. At Educart we have provided these questions and other support materials, so teachers can help the students practice these types of questions thoroughly. These PDFs can be downloaded just with a click and user authentication.

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