PREP p141

1) What does the story of Kisa Gotami mean?

The story shows that death is everywhere and no one escape it as it

is a part of like just like Dukkha, which says that suffering occurs in
all aspects of life and we can not escape it. It shows Impermanence-
Anicca, which is one of the 3 universal truths. And it shows that we
cannot create attachments with things as it always creates suffering
and to rid this suffering you must become enlightened and rid
yourself of attachments. The Buddha knew this from when he was
born as he said he would pluck out by the roots, the sorrow caused
by birth and death.

The story also shows how emotions can sometimes deny us from
facing the truth that we wanted to avoid. These emotions caused by
craving prevent us from being enlightened and amplify the effect of
the 3 poisons as when these attachments are broken it leads us to
be ignorant of the truth, greedy and hateful. Kisi Gotami is mentally
unbalanced by the grief and therefore is blind to the teachings of
the Dhamma. Only when we break these bonds to things, can we
accept the teachings of the Buddha and become enlightened.

2) What does the mustard seed symbolise? Why?

A Mustard seed symbolises how big things occur from little things as
a mustard seed is very small but it grows to form a massive tree.
The Buddha uses this to show how small attachments lead to large
amounts of suffering and how death is that suffering. A mustard
seed can also represent Nibbana and as it was common to most
Indian households it shows how Nibbana is possible in all people and
all you have to do is accept the Dhamma and you can become
enlightened instead of doubting it.

3) What does this story teach about the 3 universal truths?

The story uses the 3 universal truths to express the Buddhas

teachings. It shows Dukkha and Anicca. Dukkha meaning life
involves suffering states that suffering is apparent in all beings and
the only way to overcome it is to become enlightened. The story
shows this as every house has experienced death and no one can
contain it as it occurs in everything. The story also shows how
nothing is permanent-Anicca. This is shown by death as the human
body does not last forever. This also links to Anatta, which means no
self and states that the human soul is not permanent. Death is also
used to show this as all of the 5 Khandhas have changed as the
corpse no longer as the same form, sensations, perceptions, mental
formation or consciousness. We are just like heaps of sands, which
are blown and changed by the wind and death finally blows the
heap of sand away.