New Life

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New Me

I bet that a lot of people can relate to Siddhartha in this part of the book.  “He felt that he had also left his former life behind him” Here he is starting a new life. He has a clean slate, he has new ideas, he thinks differently. When he says this we know he will start living differently, he has left his old life behind he is starting a new one. I think this is where people can relate to him.  I personally can’t relate to him, I have never moved or gone to another school I haven’t real made any big drastic changes, I haven’t really started a new life.  But people who have moved or changed schools should know how it feels just to start over. “The reason why Siddhartha has remained alien and unknown to myself is due to one thing,  to one single thing-I was afraid of myself I was fleeing from myself.” I think this is a really good point. Sometime people are afraid of being there selves. They are afraid of being and doing what they want to, so they never really get to know themselves they only know the mask that is hiding them.

Asceticism- the manner of life, practices, or principles of an ascetic.

ascetic: Person that dedicates his life to contemplating ideas. Or a person who decides to live a simple life. 

I am Not Staying

When Siddhartha says “but there is one thing that this clear, worthy instruction does not contain; it does not contain the secret of what the Illustrious One himself experienced” I think this happens a lot people just give you instructions and steps of how to do something they never tell you how they got there how it felt or how the road was.  I think often people don’t tell you their experience because you have to create your own. They can only help you and try to guide you but you have to make your own decisions and path.

“But he has given to me Siddhartha, myself.”  I think that when Siddhartha says this he is trying to say that Buddha help him find himself.  This chapter left me with a lot of doubts. I wonder, where is Siddhartha going? He is not going to look for another master, teacher or anyone he left that clear when he said “I am going my way not to seek another and better doctrine, for I know there is none” but, if he is not looking for more teacher and only wants to achieve his goal alone with not even his friend where will he go will he just isolate himself? Or what?

A bode- a place in which a person resides; residence; dwelling; habitation; home

Monk- a man who is a member of a monastic order: (person who is related to monasteries)

 

Sojourn-temporary stay

Siddhartha No Longer Samana

(pg 11) “Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die.”  I think that this goal to become empty is really interesting. In my opinion what he wants is to stop feeling. I connect this to someone that wants to become a robot, I mean robots don’t feel but, they are still alive (you could say.) I don’t really understand fully this goal. I think that it would be cool not to feel certain things but at the same time he is always saying that he wants more knowledge and wisdom but if he does get more knowledge and wisdom he won’t be empty. Maybe this is why he wants to be empty maybe he wants to stop wanting to want more knowledge every time.

In pg 13 Siddhartha compares meditating with drinking. “It is a flight from the self, it is a temporary escape from the torment of Self. It is a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life. The driver of e=oxen makes this same flight, takes this temporary drug when he drinks a few bowls of rice wine” I agree with this statement, well I do think that they are alike. I think this is true because people especially now days drink so that they can get away, and get some time in peace just like meditating and they are both just temporary solutions.

I agree with Govinda when he says “We have learned much, Siddhartha. There still remains much to learn. We are not going in circles, we are going upwards. The path is a spiral; we have already climbed many steps.” (pg 14) I agree with him in this because I do think life is a spiral. I agree because I do think we go upwards we don’t just stay in the same place, also I don’t think it’s a circle because even if similar things happen in life you learn from your mistakes and from your past.

I think it’s really brave how Siddhartha decides not to follow the Samanas anymore and instead goes to find Buddha. I like that he took the risk of going to find Buddha because he wasn’t getting what he needed with the Samanas.

Heron: any of numerous long-legged, long-necked, usually long-billed birds of the family Ardeidae.

Empty: containing nothing; 

I think this was an important word because it described Siddhartha’s goal.

Buddha: Also called Butsu, Gautama, Gautama Buddha. ( Prince Siddhāttha  or Siddhartha  ) 566?–c480 b.c,Indian religious leader: founder of Buddhism.

Is it what I want?

I just started to read the book Siddhartha, by Hermann Hessen. The main character in this book is Siddhartha, a boy who is very intelligent, wise and, most importantly makes everybody happy. You would think he is perfect, but there is only one problem, even though he makes everyone happy he isn't happy himself. Siddhartha says that he thinks something is missing. He thinks that his knowledge and wisdom is not complete.

 I can’t really relate to Siddhartha, well I can’t imagine myself making everyone happy but myself. I don’t want to be selfish, but I do think that to make people happy you have to be happy first. Something else in which I can’t relate to Siddhartha is in the treatment of his parents. It looks like his parents have his future planned out. In pg 6 there is a question from Govinda to Siddartha “will your father permit it?” from this question I could infer that his parents already have a plan. Also, they don’t support him in every decision. I can’t relate to him in this matter either because my parents are the total opposite, they support me in every decision or idea even if it’s the craziest thing they have heard.  Even though I can’t relate to Siddhartha in these matters, I could relate to him when he talks about his friend Govinda. Govinda looks like a really good friend to Siddhartha; he supports him, helps him and, follows him. I can relate to him in this matter because I also have that really good friend that supports you in any decision and helps you. 

I don't think its selfish that he has changed his mind and has decided to find his own happiness, i think that its what people deserve and I would do the same.