Long Questions and Answers
Question 1 : Life is full of trails and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a period grief in her life. How does she behave in those circumstances?
Answer : After the death of Kisa Gotami’s only child, she became very sad. She carried her dead child to her neighbours in order to get medicine to bring him to life. Her neighbours thought that she had gone insane as she was unable to accept the fact that her child is dead. It was then that someone suggested her to meet Gautama Buddha. When she met Gautama Buddha, he gave her an exercise to do. She was asked to collect mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died. She went from one house to another but was unable to find a single house in the town where no one had died. This way she realised that death is a part of life and anyone who is bound to die one day. Thus, Buddha changed her understanding of death by this exercise. Buddha told her that only the wise do not grieve and they accept the reality. mourning brings only pain and sufferings to the body. One, who is composed, obtains peace of mind and will be free from sorrow and be blessed. This gave her strength to overcome grief.
Question 2 : 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 modern times. Do you agree? Why/ why not?
Answer : Yes, I agree with the message that Gautama Buddha have given about life. In the modern times, people have a lot to explore and move with the world at the same place. If people don’t understand the practicality (practical aspect of reality) of life, they will be under stress which would in turn affect their personal and professional lives. People need to understand that everyone who is born will have to die one day. There is no use being sad or crying over the loss. People should remain calms and composed in such situations. They should face the truth and move on in life.
In today’s world, people have to explore their growth prospects at a broader aspect. The pace of life is so fast that to catch it, we all have to move on in life as it never waits for anyone. We have to accept the truth of life and death and should think about the younger generation and the persons who are alive.
Question 3 : What lesson on death and suffering did the Buddha teach Gotami in the chapter, ‘The Sermon at Benaras’.
Answer : The lesson on death and suffering that Buddha taught Gotami was that these are part and parcel of life. No one can avoid this truth. One has to meet one’s destined end one day. Whoever has come into this world will die one day. Thus, in the house of grief for a loved one who had died, one must remain calm and composed so that one doesn’t become overcome with grief. Otherwise, they will fell the pain more. However, those persons who are wise never complain or lament over their loss, or even try to bring back to life their loved ones who are dead, as Gotami wanted to do. They accept the truth and overcome their sorrow. Persons who overcome their sorrows will be blessed. So, wisdom is in the fact that people should not get distressed with pain, suffering and death.