Siddhartha Section 4

Siddhartha reached many stages, many aspects and ways of thinking throughout the book, however the only thing that didn't change was his desire to find peace. After having left the town and encountering Govinda, he heads to the river, where he reaches and old ferryman he met more than 20 years ago. Siddhartha feels a strong attraction towards the river. He decides to stay with the old man, a man who seems to have found peace, who knows how to listen and who speaks few but wise words. They are regarded as wise and holy men by travelers, foolish and crazy to others. Siddhartha learned the way of life of the ferrymen, acquired admirable patience, humbleness, tranquility , but most importantly, to listen. The river spoke to him, gave him advice, and taught him what no one could. This teachings however, could never prepare him to the past he was bound to face again. Kamala journeys, along with her son, to see the Illustrious One, but sadly passes away after a tragic snake bite. They are taken to  Siddhartha's and Vasudeva's hut where she dies and leaves her son behind. The boy experiences a strong feeling of hatred towards his father and Vasudeva. Their calm and loving manner towards his spoiled arguments brought him anger and frustration. As a result, the boy leaves one night and is never to be seen again. Siddhartha searches for him, and after many days of trying to heal the wound that his son had left behind, he realizes that he did the same thing to his father many years ago. Accepting what was happening and after a final teaching from Vasudeva and the river, he finds peace and finally understands the harmony of the "Om". 

The questions I asked in my second reading blog post were answered during this last section. When Siddhartha met Kamala, I thought that she would deviate him from the path that would lead him to find a way to conquer the self. However, having had Kamala as a lover, a luxurious life, and gambling where something he had to experience in order to reach peace. He had to know what it was like having everything, material wise, and yet finding himself empty. Siddhartha believed in learning through experience, he discovered what it was like to be rich, how  it was like to starve, to conquer the body, to leave people behind and because of all that he was able to become Gotama himself. As he explained at the ending, the bad must exist for us to be able to experience the good. "I learned through my body and soul that it was necessary for me to sin, that I needed lust, that I had to strive for property and experience nausea and the depths of despair in order to learn to resist them, in order to learn to love the world, and no longer cop are it with some kind of desired imaginary world, some imaginary vision of perfection, but to leave it as it is, to love it and be glad to belong to it" (p. 116). What appeared to be an obstacle in his path, was actually part of his journey. Siddhartha's journey to becoming Buddha.

Siddhartha Section 3

Siddartha came to a completely different stage of his life, that he had not intended to reach when he left the life of a Brahim to become a Samana. After being tempted by the a beautiful woman named Kamala, he becomes exactly what she wants him to be. As his pockets fill with money, his body, heart and soul forget the abilities he learned after three years of being a Samana. Everything was just a game at first, taking part of the business, losing and gaining money and even though it seemed as if Siddartha had no interest in material things, he slowly lost himself in them. He became a passionate and obsessive dice player, a drinker and a selfish man who no longer treated the poor and rich equally. Changed into a completely different character as the one at the beginning of the book, he realizes that money, riches, and physical pleasure do not bring him the fulfillment he searches for. Disgusted with himself, he leaves Kamala, his enormous house and gardens, his money and dice playing behind with nothing with sorrow in his heart.

While reading this I was reminded of the story of Steve Jobs, the creator of Apple. Like Siddhartha was as he arrived to the town, Steve Jobs was a college student who could barely pay his tuition. He passed through hard times, including dropping out of college and having nowhere to go. After dropping out of college however, he did not give up and instead chose to take the classes that he really wanted even though he would not be acknowledged. He learned small things like in calligraphy, which later resulted to be something important when creating the fonts for the computers. Siddhartha also learned small thing that would prove to be important in his life, like meditating and fasting. Steve Jobs slowly started gaining money, more than he had ever dreamt of. Siddhartha reached this point as well.  However after both faced hardships, Steve Jobs being kicked out of his own company and Siddhartha falling into the hands of gambling, they both found their path. Steve Jobs was one of the most successful man in the world as well as the riches, but that did not change the way he was. He did not boast about the money, and when he made presentations he used a simple black shirt and jeans. Both of them were very clever, and they proved themselves and others that they could accomplish whatever they wanted. However they had principles and beliefs, they valued friendship, family and respect. They both constructed a path of success with honesty, and are true role models for the rest of us.

Siddhartha Section 2

Many important events happen during the second section of the book. Govinda stays behind after they visit the man who claims to be Buddha, leaving Siddhartha all to himself in his search to conquer the Self. He exchanges words with the Buddha, leaves the Samana's and arrives at a town where he meets a beautiful young woman named Kamala. Siddhartha appears to have fallen in love with her and drastically changes his ideals and ways of thinking after a day of having met. Kamala allows Siddhartha to enter her grove, where they talk and exchange a kiss after Siddhartha makes up a poem for her. However even though the poor skinny man was interesting and unlike others she had ever met, that was simply not enough. Siddhartha must first have fine clothes, fine shoes, and plenty of money to be enough for her. He blindly accepts and the next day he makes radical changes concerning his physical appearance. This makes me wonder, will Siddhartha divert from his path to conquer the Self? How could he have fallen in love with someone as superstitious as Kamala? Will he figure out soon enough that the teacher he has chosen will not bring satisfaction to his Self? After all everything Siddhartha has accomplished in three years of hunger, with no belonging could be lost. 

Siddhartha Section 1

During the first section of the book Siddhartha experiences feeling of emptiness within himself that makes him question what he wants to do with his life.  He doubts whether staying with his parents and becoming a Brahim will help him become closer to Atman and therefore conquer the Self. As a group of Samana's arrive, he takes the choice to follow them. Leaving everything behind, with only Govinda at his side, he follows the Samana's to wherever they may lead him. I felt a personal connection as Siddhartha leaves what has been his home for years and goes to places he has never been to before. Siddhartha's departure is abrupt and without much time in advance, just like when my parents tell me we are going to move. Everything is normal, like it has for several years. Then one day they announce that we are moving in a couple of months and from that day on everything changes. Like Siddhartha we go to places we had never been to before, places which will one day be our future home. We follow my dad and accept what will become of our lives, trusting that everything is for the best; just like Siddhartha follows the Samana's without questioning the path. Another thing we have in common is Govinda. Even though Siddhartha is leaving his home behind, he is taking a little part of it with him. Govinda is someone who will be there to support him when he is in need. My family is like Siddhartha's Govinda, we take care of each other wherever we go.