" He had started to suspect that his venerable father and his other teachers, that the wise Brahmans had already revealed to him the most and best of their wisdom, that they had already filled his expecting vessel with their richness, and the vessel was not full, the spirit was not content, the soul was not calm, the heart was not satisfied. The ablutions were good, but they were water, they did not wash off the sin, they did not heal the spirit's thirst. They did not relieve the fear in his heart. The sacrifices and the invocation of the gods were excellent, but was that all?"
This quote means that there is a hunger and thirst that is needed to be satisfied; whatever substance that is there it is surely not enough, their is a desire or an appetite that must get satisfied, if it does not get its satisfaction them it will do any thing to reach it until it is achieved. This is what Siddhartha show us that, he was getting bored the traditions of teachings from his teachers about life, he believe there got to be more to life than these teachings. As a individual he felt incomplete as he spoke his spirit, soul and heart, and all these were unfulfilled, so he now believes that he has to go and explore life for himself and get few experiences.
I chose this quote because it gives an individual the empowerment to seek more to life. The empowerment can be anything a person wants to achieved, and it can be both good and bad based on the choices the individuals make.This quote makes me think of the American dream, how many people migrated from all over the world to come to american for a better life. The American dream give every one the empowerment to do what they in terms of the dreams they want to pursue, however you have to work very hard to accomplish that dream. Therefore, after you accomplish the dream and a person feels like they feel like they can accomplish something else, they still have the opportunity to go on further and they can also take different approaches.
QUESTIONS
1.Siddhartha leaves his father's to join the ascetic samanas and to find a better meaning in life. He feels that there has to be more to life than just the reading and teachings.
3. If Siddhartha never lived with Kamala and the people in the city I believe he would have reached Enlightenment faster, because he would have been focused and not distracted. Since he lived with them he changed, he started drinking and gambling and became a sinner.
4. The significance of the river is the fullness of existence, something that cannot be taught but experienced. I believe also it is a reminder for Siddhartha to see his reflection, to show what he has done and learn so far. The river also represent himself, the river is everywhere at once just like him.
8. Vasudeva is the ferryman who Siddhartha met when he began his journey decades ago. Siddhartha learned a lot from him about life. Siddhartha believes he's a god.
10. Siddhartha decide not to follow Buddha, because the truth is that whatever he had experienced can only be experienced and not taught, even though Siddhartha reaches the enlightenment.
when you said, "The American dream give every one the empowerment to do what they in terms of the dreams they want to pursue, however you have to work very hard to accomplish that dream." I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteEach one of us as an individual, we have the power to decide what we want from life and how we are going to accomplish our dream. Even if we all take a different path to reach the same goal, how can we learned our capability to obtain that happiness that we desire if we don't try. Through trial and error we can all learn the value of life and the confidence to say that we try our best. It's best to try in hopes of the best, than to not try at all.
Well said, and to add to your though of the american dream in connection to Siddhartha; hearing of the american dream is much different from experiencing it.Many people desire some thing (enlightenment for the brahmans and american dream for immigrants)but neglect to make it personal, they deem it to be what others sees it as. So I love that Siddhartha looked into himself and said my father and traditions tell me this would fill me but I still am thirst im still not full.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most of your answers to the questions mine were similar but I wanted you to think about the possibility of distraction(question 3) helping him to find his way back to his greater purpose and search.
I partially agree with you Crystagay, about the immigrant that came to this Country to achieve their dreams, but not all of them was able to accomplish this aim. Its hard to make a good living when you are in this country. You need lots of dedication and hard work to reach your dreams. And most of us, end up deviating into something else that make living more affordable and accommodating.If you have a family here that are ready to assist you with your education, then you are luck, but if you are in this country alone, and you need to think about surviving before reaching your dreams.
ReplyDeleteYour right and it all goes back to the choice that individual chose, whether achieve or not to achieve the dream based on their cirsumstances.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great discussion. It is really interesting how you relate Siddhartha's searching to the search people have chasing the American Dream. Do you think though that the American dream and the kind of happiness people look for is the same kind of spiritual quest that Siddhartha is on?
ReplyDelete