In his sermon, what two analogies does the Buddha use to describe the mortality of human beings? Explain the significance of each analogy.
Answer
The Buddha compares mortals to ripe fruits in danger of falling and earthen vessels made by a potter that eventually break.
Step-by-step solution
- Identify the first analogy: The Buddha compares human beings to ripe fruits that are in constant danger of falling early from trees.
- Explain its significance: Just as ripe fruit inevitably falls, anyone who is born is perpetually in danger of death.
- Identify the second analogy: He compares human lives to earthen vessels created by a potter, all of which end in being broken.
- Explain its significance: Whether young or adult, foolish or wise, every human being is subject to the power of death.
- Summarize: Both analogies emphasize that death is inevitable and unavoidable for all living beings.
Common mistake: Confusing these two specific textbook metaphors with allegories or poems from other chapters in the English syllabus.
Concept tested: Metaphors for death in Buddha's sermon
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Related questions
- 1 According to the sermon delivered by Buddha at Benares, how does lamenting over the death of a loved one affect a person, and how can one attain peace of mind?
- 2 Analyse how the poet creates a contrast between the Buddha’s teachings and the materialistic world in "The Sermon at Benares".
- 3 Write two words that describe the narrator’s tone in the sermon and quote one line from the poem that illustrates each tone.
- 4 Why did the Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring a handful of mustard seeds specifically from a house where no one had lost a child, parent, brother, or friend?
- 5 Which of the following best describes the central theme of "The Sermon at Benares"?
- 6 Describe Kisa Gotami's realization while sitting at the wayside watching the city lights. What comparison did she make between the lights and human lives?