The Sermon at Benares — Chapter Summary

Siddhartha Gautama was born as

Siddhartha Gautama was born as a prince in northern India. At twelve, he went for schooling in Hindu sacred scriptures and later married a princess. A

After seven days under the peepal

After seven days under the peepal tree, Siddhartha attained enlightenment, renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree, and became known as the Buddha, meaning th

Kisa Gotami had only one son

Kisa Gotami had only one son, who died. In her sorrow, she went from neighbour to neighbour asking for medicine for her dead child, but people told he

The Buddha asked Kisa Gotami

The Buddha asked Kisa Gotami for a handful of mustard-seed, but only from a house where no one had lost a child, husband, parent, or friend. She went

The Buddha teaches that all beings

The Buddha teaches that all beings, whether young or old, wise or foolish, are subject to death. He uses similes such as ripe fruits falling early and