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?
Answer
The Buddha set this condition to make Kisa Gotami realize through her own search that death is universal and no family is untouched by it.
Step-by-step solution
- State the context: Kisa Gotami was grief-stricken over the death of her only son and went from house to house asking for medicine to restore his life.
- Explain the specific condition: Buddha requested mustard seeds, but strictly specified they must come from a home free from any death of a family member or friend.
- Explain Buddha's underlying purpose: He wanted her to discover firsthand that every home had suffered a loss, thereby understanding that death is a universal reality common to all human beings.
Common mistake: Believing that Buddha intended to use the mustard seeds as an actual medicinal remedy to cure her dead son.
Concept tested: Buddha's condition for Kisa Gotami's mustard seeds
Published · How this solution was prepared and checked
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 In his sermon, what two analogies does the Buddha use to describe the mortality of human beings? Explain the significance of each analogy.
- 3 Analyse how the poet creates a contrast between the Buddha’s teachings and the materialistic world in "The Sermon at Benares".
- 4 According to the chapter 'The Sermon at Benares', which four sights did Prince Siddhartha encounter while out hunting that moved him to renounce his royal life?
- 5 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?
- 6 Which of the following best describes the central theme of "The Sermon at Benares"?