Note: To fully understand and appreciate Siddhartha, it may be helpful for you to explore concepts like spiritual enlightenment, self-reflection, and even some of the more specific ideas and beliefs of Buddhism. Words like brahmin, ascetics, samanas, nirvana, and om, are very culturally specific and warrant some understanding while trying to make meaning and relevance out of this text. It would be in your best interest to note these words as you come across them in the text and do some quick, informal research on these topics.
Siddhartha explores the path to spiritual enlightenment. In the novel, Siddhartha encounters several people who aid him in one way or another toward achieving enlightenment. Can you discuss at least one important person on Siddhartha's journey who aids in his self-discovery? Be specific as to how that individual helps Siddhartha. Also, in your own life, have there been specific people who have helped you discover important realizations about yourself? Be sure to use false names when writing about real people.
Why is it important for American students to read and understand world literature about other cultures, religions and ways of life? What important lessons learned from Siddhartha's way of life are especially relevant to American culture today? Why?
Siddhartha, too, is rich with symbolism. Again, without consulting resource web cites, can you identify a minimum of three important symbols and explain their significance.
Is it best to learn by studying the ways of others and imitating them or by experiencing life yourself? Define what you think is the best path of education or, if you will, enlightenment and defend your stance.
There have been many poems and songs written about learning from mistakes and improving. My favorite song on the topic is by a band called The Main Ingredient. The song is entitled, "Everybody Plays the Fool." It talks about the pains and agonies of love, and how everyone must experience it sometimes. I have always applied the lyrics of this song to greater subjects. The reason I bring it up is because it pertains to my stance on life experiences. I believe that while it is important to learn from whatever lessons someone else has to teach you, you're probably going to have to experience a lot of things on your own.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be nice if someone could tell us to do something or not to do something, and we could see it all through their eyes and understand exactly how they felt? Perhaps it would, but this would never be enough. Human beings have curiosity, desire, and mistrust. Peter Rabbit was told not to go into Mr. McGregor's garden by his mother but he didn't listen. Not only did he barely escape, but he became ill. Dr. Lanyon advised Dr. Jekyll against continuing his transformations into Hyde, but his objects were mute. The bottom line is, even if your friend tells you someplace is haunted or dangerous, you might be inclined to check it out yourself.
Curiosity can be viewed as a bad thing, I mean, we all know that curiosity killed the cat, but if we never get out there and experience it ourselves then we may never know. It took him awhile, but Siddhartha realized that no teacher could ever teach him what he desired. He could not obtain Atman through self-denial like the Semanas had wanted. How could he destroy Atman if he was only pushing it away? To obtain himself he first had to know himself. Your personal quest may also be strenuous like Siddhartha's was, but not letting life break you is what makes you stronger. With maturity and experience comes wisdom. This is why I firmly believe that while it is important to learn from others what you can, everybody plays the fool sometimes.
There were many different people in Siddhartha's life, Govinda, Gotama, Kamala, Kamaswami, and the Samanas, but most of them did not impact his life. Siddhartha was a very smart young man, but also very strong headed and his knowledge got the better of him just as Gotama the Buddha warned against. It took many mistakes of his own, self determination, and the help of a ferryman named Vasudeva to understand friendship and what getting to know, your "Self" or Atman truly meant. There first meeting was the ferryman taking a poor dirty Samana across the river with nothing expected in return except friendship and the return of him later in life.
ReplyDeleteThe reader silently slips this to the back of their minds as Siddhartha changes from a Samana to a worldly man with money to please a rich mistress named Kamala. This money is made by becoming partners with a business man named Kamaswami which quickly sucked Siddartha into the physical attraction to goods. After many years Siddartha lost his guiding Om and after much agony left this easy life behind and retraced his steps to the river he left so long ago. Vasudeva took Siddhartha in, although not a man of words, Vasudeva showed Siddartha the knowledge of the river, how to be patient and listen. For near the end of the novel Siddhartha said himself that words are deceiving, and a person must experience the sense of knowledge and never-ending unity through the river before they can truly understand, it is beyond what words can describe. With the help of Vasudeva Siddhartha found the happiness in nature, and became one with his "Self". It was not about the physical actions, goods, sacrifices of his youth, depravity taught by the Samanas, or love taught by Kamala. Instead his joy came from the never-ending and understanding river and the rest of creation that was a cycle, for becoming one with this natural cycle is truly finding peace.
Within Siddartha I see a peace of myself trying futilely to find peace and happiness with myself being a perfectionist. I tried depriving myself of food, buying materials, and fining love (not to the extent that Siddartha did) but it was not until a woman named "Betsy" came alongside me and showed me that the only way to be happy and accomplish much was to place all of my faith and trust in God. Through her help and an example of emanating love as Vasudeva was to Siddhartha, I wanted a part of that as well and listened to what God was trying to tell me all along, I just first had to go through some rough patches to truly understand.
Elizabeth Kingshott
I personally think that both, experiencing life yourself and learning through others, is the best path of enlightenment. If you can combined both of these two i think you find your perfect path. Everyone learns and thinks in different ways, but sometimes the help and guidance of others can push you along your path further. It's like when your parents give you the whole.. back in the day i wish wouldn't have done blah blah blah so you shouldn't either. Sometimes you take their advice, but other times you need to experience these things for yourself in order to make the best decisions.
ReplyDeleteTo me Siddhartha almost seems a little hypocritical throughout the book. After his awakening in part two He decides that no teacher can teach him about his inner self. He even argues with Gotama, saying that following him would be pointless because everyone finds their self in a different way. Yet when Siddhartha happens upon Vasudeva for the second time, he mimics and follows all that Vasudeva does and on the inside he finally finds his peace. He never regards Vasudeva as a teacher, only as a friend, but yet he learns from him and in the end he finally finds what he is searching for by learning from others and experiencing life himself.
In response to Emily Lerner...
ReplyDeleteThat is a very deep observation and I feel that it is 100% true, no only in literature which you provided great examples for, but also in deep life lessons for everyone. Now that I have come out the other side of my turmoil I feel free and more confident to talk about this and compare to life lessons. Every person must experience for themselves destruction in order to improve just as gold must be put through the fire at high temperatures to become valuable. Gold cannot simply watch on the sidelines as its friends gets put into the fire, it must itself have its turn in the flames as I have had mine. Anorexia is a common wide mental illness and I had plenty of mentors in my days of struggle and even before the fact to speak with me about it, but I continued down the same path no matter how hard and strict they headed me from it. Me, headstrong as I was, as I imagine Siddartha was as well, I needed to experience the terror for myself to become well-rounded, compassionate, and understanding. Siddartha also needed to reach that point and it took listening to the river to get him there.
In response to Lauren Burkart...
ReplyDeleteI personally think that in the end it comes down to self determination and persaverence to ever do anything different than what you were raised to do. On the other hand however each person needs someone older and wiser to help them along, encourage them to think on their own as Vasudeva did to Siddartha. The problem with Gotama I believe is that his method was follow what I do, do not have a mind of your own and you will be happy where Vasudeva encouraged thinking for himself which was exactly what Siddartha needed to function. For ever since Siddartha was a child, he wanted to challenge himself, think and find answers which in the end he did do, by seeking and finding in the river instead of having a doctrine and a set of rules that must be followed...
Original Comment
ReplyDeleteAmerica has been a place for all cultures, so if the future Americans were to suddenly disregard other cultures, wouldn't that make us hypocrites? After all, that is what makes America great. Any religion can be practiced here. Therefore, if we wish to keep America as free as it is today, it makes sense that we as students would learn about other cultures and religions. Siddhartha teaches us about meditation, the worship of other gods, and self-denial. These are all things that are still in practice today. Although we may not agree with that form of religion, we can be comfortable with the fact that it's out there. Should we meet a person that practices the ways of Buddhism, we would also have some common ground, making us all the more comfortable. The same goes for any other piece of world literature. We read these books as students to stay culturally aware and keep the American ideal of free religion pure.
Siddhartha is set in India, talks about the founding of an Indian culture, and never mentions America. However, it's relevant to our culture, too. Siddhartha leaves his home to go out and find enlightenment. He tries to be a Samanan, but that doesn't work out. He then goes on to hear the Buddha speak. However, he does not completely agree, so unsatisfied, he goes off on his own to find enlightenment. Therein lies the relevancy to our culture. We do not go out on our own to discover life or enlightenment. Instead, we have magazines that tell girls that if they are not a size zero, then they cannot be happy. We have shows on television that tell guys that if they don't have the right muscles showing in bulk or have sex at a young age, then they can't be happy. If we don't have a sports car, we should be sad about that. If we aren't on a particular diet, then we should be. If we aren't meditating like Oprah, then how is it that we have even lived as long as we have? Our culture breeds us to be sheep. Our culture tells us that we should look to Oprah for enlightenment, seek sage advice from Eminem, or learn to laugh the right way with Ellen DeGeneres or Dane Cook. There are not enough things out there in America that tell us to look inside ourselves for the answer and experience life for themselves. I'm not saying that we can't be inspired by people, I'm simply saying that once we start idolizing these people as spiritual mentors is when we have issues. Like Siddhartha, we should take our own path without denouncing or critiquing the path that others choose. That is what Americans should learn to do, thus making it relevant to our culture.
About four years ago I didn't see the necessity or fun in going to places such as the zoo, a museum, or to a play. Why should I do that when I can just look at photos, read a history book, or watch a movie? My pre-teen mind figured that I already knew it all and these activities were stupid. It's almost like a food you have never tried, but you are convinced it tastes disgusting and want no part of it. It isn't until someone else forces you to try it that you discover it's wonderful. This is what a friend did for me when she dragged me to the Detroit Zoo in eighth grade. Being up close to exotic animals I usually only saw in photos, I realized I needed to expose myself to the real deal in addition to learning from others. By gaining personal experience and learning from other sources, I had knowledge from both my point of view and another's, completely enriching my understanding of the subject.
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha came upon a similar piece of wisdom thanks to a monk named Gotama. Although Siddhartha only met and spoke with Gotama once in his life, the man was a huge influence on Siddhartha. Siddhartha was a Brahmin's son, so he was near learned men during his youth. Later he joined the Samanas and led an ascetic life. Despite constantly being surrounded by those who dedicated their life to reaching Nirvana, until he met Gotama he had never before seen someone that had achieved this goal. Simply meeting this enlightened monk proved to Siddhartha that it was possible to obtain Atman. Gotama's example made him realize that he could not achieve spiritual enlightenment by only being taught; he must seek it out and experience it himself.
Siddhartha and I have basically uncovered the same lesson: Although learning from others is extremely important and can help you avoid some mistakes, personal experience is necessary to obtain the wisdom and understanding that most people strive for. You can look at pictures of a baby elephant, but trust me, you don't realize how cute and amazing it is until you see it up close.
In response to Elizabeth Kingshot:
ReplyDeleteWhile I think Vasudeva was the most important person involved in Siddhartha's search for enlightenment, I believe that the other people he surrounded himself with did, in some way, impact his life. If you ponder the question of who has an influence on a particular person's life, I don't believe you can truly rule out any one person. In Siddhartha's case, who knows how he would have grown up if he hadn't always had Govinda by his side? Would he have been this thirsty for knowledge and so determined to obtain Atman? Also, without Kamala he may not have been introduceded to the material world and would not have hit rock bottom, which he admitted was necessary for his path to enlightenment. I agree that these were only minor characters in directly showing him the way to enlightenment, but they had an immense effect on the way he lived his life. We can't really know, but it's possible that if one of these characters would have been absent, he wouldn't have found what he was searching for.
In response to Amanda L:
ReplyDeleteI agree with just about everything you said. America is a melting pot, a wonderful mixture of almost every type of culture out there. As long as we are part of this diverse nation, we need to be tolerant of other religions and ways of life, just as we want others to accept ours. Also, as we become a more united and global world, we need to be knowledgeable of other cultures because many of us will have future careers requiring us to work alongside people from a variety of countries. To work with others well, it is vitally important that you understand and accept them. To do so, you have to learn about their culture and religion, and it's best to do that during school where our minds are open to different types of people. Siddhartha is a great learning tool in regards to learning about the Buddhist religion and culture.
It's also true that those in America are bombarded with advertisements that almost force us towards self-hate. It seems as if you don't look and act exactly like you "should", that if you don't fit in and conform to what everyone else is doing, then you won't be accepted and will have more trouble in the world. Like you said, the message Siddhartha gives us is that you must look into yourself, not to others, to define and express yourself. If you simply try to live up to what others tell you to, then you will not find true happiness, just as Govinda coulnd't obtain Atman while he just followed the teachings of Gotama.
In Response to Emily L....
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you brought up the business aspect that Siddhartha is useful for! I believe that if you can't appreciate Siddhartha as a great piece of world literature, you should at least appreciate it for it's worth in the future. This is especially true for teens like us who have to read books like these in order to pass classes and graduate high school. We may not like the books, but the knowledge in them is important to store away somewhere.
It is books like these that teach us some of the social conduct of peoples of other cultures. Perhaps this is not totally relevant to the story of Siddhartha, but it could be for some other piece of world literature out there. You are also right that it is best to learn how to accept people now when we are in school. However, I cannot agree that all minds are currently "open". Hopefully though, through books such as Siddhartha, those closed minds can become open. This further places value on the world literature we read in class. After all, it's better to learn in an environment when the consequences aren't as severe, like high school, than when the stakes are high, like in the business world where your income can depend on how well you handle associates from foreign countries.
Original Comment
ReplyDeleteIn America we all learn early that we are a melting pot of many different cultures, religions and ways of life. In America we have many different cultures and ways of life, but speaking from my own experiences I don’t feel that much diversity here in Brighton, Michigan. I can only speak for myself, but it seems to me that where we live is a predominately white area with many people in the middle class. This is exactly why it is important for American students to understand world literature about other cultures, religions and ways of life. Because many of us don’t ever experience this kind of diversity learning and understanding world literature can be a great tool to help us respect other cultures. American students may think other cultures are a little weird or different compared to the one we live in. However, I still believe it is important for us to learn about them so we can respect the way other people live and it can be useful if you ever get put in a diverse situation. If nothing else American students should read and understand world literature about other cultures, religions and ways of life to make us appreciate our own.
There are many lessons from Siddhartha’s way of life that are relevant to American culture. It may not seem that way because not many of us go on a journey to find enlightenment, but Americans always are searching for something. Siddhartha leaves home because he is not finding what he is looking for there so he goes on a journey to find enlightenment. Siddhartha searches and he eventually finds what he is looking for in the river. I find this journey very relevant to not only American culture, but to my own life. As seniors we all have to think about what we will be doing not only after high school, but with our lives. We are now at a time in our lives that, like Siddhartha, we leave home and find out who we are and what we are going to make of our lives.
Throughout his quest for spiritual enlightenment, Siddhartha is aided by many drastically different people. From the desired courtesan, Kamala, to the holy Gotama, each person who comes into Siddhartha’s life teaches him an incomparably valuable lesson that brings him nearer to enlightenment. One of the greatest lessons that is taught to Siddhartha is the lesson he learns from his loyal friend Govinda. After Siddhartha abandons his rich life and begins his pilgrimage again, he is meets his friend again by the river he had earlier crossed. When Siddhartha wakes up to find Govinda looking over him, he feels an unwavering love for his friend. After his friend leaves, Siddhartha realizes that the love he felt for his friend is one he feels for all things after he wakes up from his sleep started with “Om.” Although he does not see the importance in this at the time, after he has attained enlightenment and again meets Govinda, he points this understanding out to Govinda. He states, “Love is the most important thing in the world. It may be important to great thinkers to examine the world, to explain and despise it. But I think it is only important to love the world... (119).” Siddhartha at this point truly understands the lesson which his friend unintentionally taught him.
ReplyDeleteIn the world we live in today we are constantly bombarded with images and words of violence, hate and greed. We are shown truly the darkest and most demented sides of human nature. What we don’t take notice to, are all the kind deeds and traits of the people we see everyday. We as humans focus so much upon our capacity for evil that we fail to remember that we have a much greater capacity for good. Siddhartha learns to love all things no matter what they are. Herman Hesse wrote about a man trying to gain the highest possible understanding of his religion, but in doing so I believe that he also set forward an insight into humanity as a whole. We as a race are so inclined to hate that we forget that we are all the same. We have all been children, been raised by parents, felt the need for companionship, and much more. So if we are all the same why can we not just love each other as a race? If we all respected one another then the feuds and troubles of our world would not rise to haunt our consciouses.
In the book Siddhartha by Herman Hesse the reader goes through a version of experiential worship to the almighty and perfect "Om" or perfection in nature. Growing up Siddhartha and his friend Govinda travel India and learn the ways of many different holy men and teachings. The question is, who learned more Siddhartha or his friend Govinda. They both strived to learn and grow to be spiritual men but they went about their lives in drastically different ways. Govinda after traveling through the first step of his spiritual enlightenment stopped striving to learn more differently and signed up to become a monk for the new supposed Buddha. At this point in the book Siddhartha continues on without his friend. While Govinda is content living a life of servitude to a Buddha, Siddhartha continues on to many more stages of enlightenment in his life. Siddhartha learns from many more teachers and himself. He learns from living the lives of his teachers which include holy men and sinful men, rich men and beggars, and everyone and everything in between. Siddhartha chose to split from Govinda to realize his own potential and to live life to the fullest by experiencing life in all its many ways. I feel that Siddhartha made the right choice but also the much harder choice. Many people including myself wish to take the life of Govinda and allow ourselves to escape and get by with simply accepting one way and running with it. The harder path but the more rewarding path is the path that Siddhartha struggled to complete. He learned from all people and experiences without being taught how to think or react to life and its constant changes. Siddhartha learned how to live by living, Govinda learned how to live by being taught what life is. I think all of us wish it was as easy as what Govinda experienced but we all know that Siddhartha was the one with the better reward at the end of life.
ReplyDeleteIn Response to C. Raby
ReplyDeleteI agree completely that this book truly emphasizes the critical importance of love within our lives. In society we have the struggles of people no longer caring what love truly is. Love is a word thrown about as if it were as natural as breathing. Love is not this simple thing you can toss back and forth it is a deep and spiritual thing that Siddhartha experiences several times throughout his life in my different ways and through many different people. Herman Hesse has hidden his views on the world through this story and C. Raby's comment about how we as a society today need to realize the same fate as Siddhartha. We must learn from our past and struggle and strive forward or risk being left behind like Govinda and the only way to do that is to truly respect and love on another as a race just as Siddhartha loves Govinda.
I personally believe that it is necessary to study the ways of others until a certain level of maturity has been reached. This is the basic of the education system in America. We go to school until age 18, and then we are thrust into the “real world” and are expected to fend for ourselves. It is important to have morals and beliefs impressed upon you as a child in order to be able to discern what is good and what is bad when you are older. The primary and secondary education that we are accustomed to and trained with will prepare us for college level classes and discussions, as well as basic knowledge of the world around us. Some reach this level of maturity before others, and maybe others are taught better in a home environment where they learn best. However you are taught, it is important that you learn from others so that you don’t make mistakes in life that can be easily prevented.
ReplyDeleteSo that being said I believe that the best source of “enlightenment” is through years of gaining knowledge, which you use later in life to make decisions that matter most. For example, learning to save money as a kid so that you are ready to save for a house when you are older.
In Response To Emily L.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Emily L.'s comment upon which she discusses the need to figure things out for yourself. The example that come to my head constantly was that even if your parents tell you something is bad for you often we all push the envelope and try it anyways just to make sure for ourselves. I can almost guarantee that our parens all tried the things that their parens told them not to do. Often these choices to try things can be detrimental but if we never try them in our minds it will never be a clear black and white good vs. bad situation. So in what Emily said that we all wish we had a friend to tell us what will happen next we will often not even listen to that. People need to realize that we live like Siddhartha by doing and not being told.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn Response to C. Raby...
ReplyDeleteLove is an important lesson taught in this story. Siddhartha learns about all different forms of love. He learns about the shallow, material love from Kamala and Kamaswami. He learns about the deeper love of listening from Vasudeva. He learns about the even deeper love of brotherhood and friendship from Govinda and the unconditional love that comes with being a father. It isn't just a word you can throw around either even though we are guilty of it! I'll be honest, that wasn't the first theme that came to mind when asked to write and explain two of them on the MWDS. Props to you for pointing that out!
Siddhartha met many people on his own journey to peace. He never reached Nirvana but in a sense I feel that he found his own Nirvana. Everyone that he met on his journey had an impact on him in a certain way, large or small. It is hard to choose the most prominent character in the novel. Vasudeva was very warm and understanding. He himself was at peace with his life and had discoverd his Self. He taught the ways of the river and most importantly the teachings one can recieve from observing nature, and allowing the trees to talk to you or the animals show you how to live etc. Then there was Kamala who opened up a side of Siddhartha I as a reader did not expect to see in this novel. She showed him how to love and feel passion for things not just thinking. She also shared a miracle of life with Siddhartha. One character that in a way ties all the other characters together is Gotama, the Illustrious One, or Buddha. He has reached Nirvana and preaches the ways of life! Then there is Kamaswami who had an impressive impact on Siddhartha's strong personality. Siddhartha was a new man after living with Kamaswami for a short while. The most impactful person in my opinion would be Vasudeva. He seemed to be a man of knowledge and incredible wisdom. When he said that there is no such thing as time, and Siddhartha had realized thats the truth since the river is everywhere at the same time. That was just one of the instances of Vasudeva teaching Siddhartha something. He had a calming effect on Siddhartha and was always there for him. When Siddhartha's son did not want anything to do with his father and ran away, Vasudeva was there to show the path back to peace for Siddhartha. He wrapped up Siddharthas life in an incredible way. He helped bring peace to Siddhartha.
ReplyDeleteSomeone who really brought me back to reality and showed me to back to reality was my youth group leader Mary. She really has found her own sense of peace, and was outrageously comfortable with herself and her faith. She was a solid person and very dependable. She showed me to find peace within myself and renew my own faith with God.
We as Americans live in a "melting pot" and it's a beautiful thing. Diversity is important and learning about other poeple's cultures and beliefs makes us more appreciative and understanding of our world and of each other. Peace may be unattainable but understanding is in our reach.
I agree with Anthony MichShaw almost ninety percent. I think that people learn from others and that shapes their beliefs, morals, and life skills. I believe that people learn from each other even after they're 18 and in the "real world". Enlightenment isn't reached through learning though. It's about finding yourself and being happy with the life you're living. Getting to know yourself though takes other people. School, clubs, sports, anything that gets you involved and enriched in life. Travel is also an important aspect to ones finding of their "self". We learn how to act and be ourselves through our home life, and many other environments that we face in daily activities.
ReplyDeleteIn response to C. Raby
ReplyDeleteI really feel the same about this evil that just blankets our society. We have this layer of no moral code and deceit and betrayal. We neglect our loving nature every day. Siddhartha does the same in parts of the book. He neglects his love and embraces evil when he gets sucked into the life of being a merchant. Everyday people are sucked into their work and luxuries. Sometimes we miss the big picture. We're all the same in some way, getting wrapped up in daily life, forgetting whats important. The ferryman somehow, did not let his job affect his enlightenment. He always saw the beauty in everything! He was an inspiriation to Siddhartha. Just like us, Siddhartha is still learning well into his adult life and realizing that love and acceptance is what brings you happiness and enlightenment.
Original Comment:
ReplyDeleteIt would be ideal if we could always learn from others’ example, but of course, it is not within human nature to be so believing. We are curious, questioning creatures and often do not accept what we are taught until we experience it for ourselves. Think of all the studies and first-hand accounts that show the deadly effects of nicotine, and yet with each generation, people continue to take up smoking. Perhaps, if we cannot relate to the experience society deems as “good” or “bad,” then we won’t trust their judgment of it. With this notion in mind, I believe that to discover the ways of life, you must learn through experience at some time or another. Siddhartha realizes when he talks to the Buddha that Nirvana cannot be taught but must be experienced. So, he leaves to live a life in the city, immersing himself in money, gambling, and drinking. Afterward, he finally understands:
It is a good thing to experience everything oneself…As a child I learned that pleasures of the world and riches were not good. I have known it for a long time, but I have only just experienced it. Now I know it not only with my intellect, but with my eyes, with my heart, with my stomach. (80)
It is not until Siddhartha experiences the misery of worldly pleasures that he reaches Nirvana. Not only do experiences teach life lessons like Siddhartha’s but also teach empathy. Through different experiences, both good and bad, you develop memories that will help you relate and connect with those around you. Although it may be more “efficient” and “practical” to follow others’ example, sometimes only experience can be the teacher.
That being said, not everything must be learned in the above way. When we are young, we are taught basic rules like “stealing is wrong” and “name-calling is mean.” Learning right from wrong and learning to act on the right side is something that most people are taught from example. Of course, everyone slips up once in a while and hopefully learns from the mistake, but the overall notion of following your moral compass should be taught through example. Life is not a simple matter, so learning how to live it isn’t either. However, through a balance of learning by example and through experience, most learn how to make the most of it.
In response to Amanda L:
ReplyDeleteAmanda’s statement of how Siddartha relates to our American culture is both shocking and true. Americans really do look to the media for the right path to happiness—what to buy, what to wear, who to be. Not enough of us try to find ourselves without listening to the TV’s opinion. With the spread of media reaching into our day-to-day lives, it is hard not to be influenced by mainstream opinions. This effect is shown in Siddhartha through the influence of Gotama the Buddha. The Buddha’s name and his achievement of inner peace are known across India, and people flock to hear what they must do to be happy, to reach Nirvana. Only Siddhartha takes his own path to find happiness. He does not turn to the Buddha for answers, as thousands of others do. However, like Amanda said, this does not mean that we can’t be inspired by someone famous. Although Siddhartha did not join the Buddhist monks, he was inspired by the Buddha to find himself through experience. Siddhartha’s path was his own, so why can’t we find ours? Maybe it’s time we turn off the TV and shut our magazines and look to ourselves to find our own paths.
In response to Ashleigh K:
ReplyDeleteI love the comparison Ashleigh K. made between Siddhartha’s journey and our own upcoming journey through college! Not only are we leaving home like Siddhartha did, but we also must realize that we cannot rely on a teacher to tell us who we are, just as Siddhartha realized that the Buddha could not tell him how to reach Nirvana. Through his experiences as Kamala’s lover and Kamaswami’s business partner, Siddhartha finally saw the faults of a worldly life and discovered his Self. Likewise, we may face our own tribulations in college, but because of these experiences we will finally find who we are supposed to be.
Kaitlin Aleshire
ReplyDeleteOriginal comment
I believe that it is important for us as a nation, a generation, a school, and a class to read and understand world literature about other cultures, religions and ways of life. Without knowledge of these things we have no way to talk to them, we will not know if we have anything in common or anything that separates us greatly. If we were not to know why people of other nations do the things they do, we may assume and criticize them on falsely assumed information which would make us look bad. But by learning these things we have the ability to learn, explore, and expand. We can find new ways of doing things that may suit some of us better, we could learn of religions that are new to us so we could understand them and possibly if they were to interest us to study them, or even join them. The idea of Buddhism has always interested my mother and I, we have gone to many shrines and read many books on the subject. The idea of spiritual enlightenment is something that we wish to understand, not because it’s different from many religions here in the U.S. but because it’s like ours. It’s a religion based on the idea of finding one’s self or one’s path to lead to a better place in the universe.
Kaitlin Aleshire
ReplyDeleteResponse to Natalie:
I completely agree with you that “We are curious, questioning creatures and often do not accept what we are taught until we experience it for ourselves”. We have always been this way, from the beginning of our lives we have been like this. No matter our age we always want to find things out for ourselves, no matter the risk; whether we may be burned or fall, we take the risk because we are curious. It is the same with Siddhartha, he didn’t believe the teachings he had heard. He had decided that he needed to find out if a life of pure pleasure and luxury really had no meaning to it. I think that from the beginning of time till the end of it, we will always have Siddharthas who must experience the pain and sorrow to understand the way to reach Nirvana.
Response to C. Raby:
ReplyDelete“We as humans focus so much upon our capacity for evil that we fail to remember that we have a much greater capacity for good.” When reading your response this line struck me as familiar, it’s a common moral to many stories and plots. It’s something that everyone must be reminded of, whether it’s someone in the highest political office or the newlyweds who live next door, it’s a common piece of knowledge that we forget. We remember it from time to time when something great happens, such as Rachel Beckwith. She has been on the news for a few weeks, and all because she did a good deed which reminded everyone of their potential to affect others, she collected money for her birthday and gave it all to charity:water. “At the time of her death, she was $80 shy of reaching her $300 goal. That's when the public stepped up to honor the young humanitarian” (quote from ‘Young girl turns tragedy into charity…’) that right there is a perfect example of how something bad happens, but it makes people see the good that they can do.
Link to the article:
http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-young-girl-who-died-in-car-accident-leaves-quite-a-legacy-more-than-1-million-donated-to-her-charity-of-choice-20110812,0,1211391.story
In response to Kaitlin Aleshire:
ReplyDeleteI like the way that you thought of this book because it's very similar to how I felt about it. It is awesome that you and your mother enjoy learning about Buddhism; I like to study other religions as well. It is important to keep an open mind to study and learn from all cultures. One good example of another person who had an open mind was Jack Kerouac. He held contradicting viewpoints, all of which he valued (sort of like doublethink, eh?). He practiced Buddhism but he was also Christian. I feel like some people are afraid to study other religions or cultures because they feel as though they are cheating on their own beliefs. Maybe if the world kept more of an open mind, then we could all be brought closer together and understand each other better.
In response to Harrison Jones:
ReplyDeleteI like the way you described the two different paths Siddhartha and Govinda chose to take. Reading over your comment, I think that their choices really reflected on their characters. Siddhartha was a much stronger person than Govinda. Govinda liked to go with the flow. Siddhartha didn't have a harder life only because he had to experience things for himself, he had a harder life because he did things that no one in his clan had done. His family, for example, would not understand the life of a merchant. All his father had known was being a Brahmin. For the longest time, all Siddhartha had known was how to fast, think, and wait. I agree, the road less traveled was definitely more rewarding; Siddhartha found enlightenment.
Carrie Shuler
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
Original Comment
People learn in different ways; that is a given. However, there is one truth among all learners that cannot really be disputed: learning must be done by oneself. There is a difference between being shown something and actually learning how to do it. Another person can obviously show you how to ride a bike, but you must try it yourself to truly be able to ride it. Adults can show children how to spell words, but they must recite and practice them on their own in order to learn truly how to spell those words. All lessons in life can be demonstrated by others and one can get an idea of the message by watching, but one cannot truly learn to do something without doing something on their own.
Take music for example. As an oboist, I have constantly been shown different fingerings, how to read music, and told when to crescendo, use vibrato, or accent certain beats. However, certain things cannot be shown to a new musician. Vibrato is not something that can be demonstrated. Obviously, a teacher can teach you how it sounds, but they cannot tell you how to do it, as it is different for everyone. The vibrations come from the diaphragm, but how it is done varies from person to person. You cannot say, “Move this muscle,” and have a magical outcome of vibrato. It takes months to learn it, and some people never learn. Also, when reading music, your teacher can tell you what note is A or B or the difference between A flat and A sharp. However, when reading the music during a performance or while practicing at home, the teacher is not there to yell out the notes. It takes the work of the student on their own time to truly make them a musician.
Another concept that cannot be taught is feelings. One can constantly show patience and compassion to all those around them, but that does not mean that the people around them are going to learn patience and compassion. The other people must learn from their own experiences. They must be tested in real-life situations to know if they have the capacity to be patient. Some are born to it naturally, and others cannot ever manage to master it. A couple can go to marriage counseling and be told how to fix their relationship, but just being told what to do will not fix the problem. They must actually act on it to make a change. Alterations to relationships and feelings can be suggested by others, but they can be made only by those directly involved.
In Siddhartha, this point is made to be quite true. There are many times when Siddhartha thinks that he knows all about something but realizes that he does not until after he experiences it. One such case is when he thinks he knows what it is to be loved. He thinks that by watching other people, he will be fulfilled. However, once he meets Kamala, he learns of the pain that comes with love, along with the great pleasure. Before, he viewed it as a simple problem. Another important thing that he cannot learn was how to find Nirvana by simply watching others. He watches the Samanas and tries their way of life for several years but fails to be satisfied. He then tries to live a life of sustenance and realizes that it also does not work. The Buddha is supposed to be able to lead others to Nirvana by teaching them how to live. What Siddhartha realizes is that Nirvana is different for every person. Each person has to reach it in the way that is right for them. Thus, he cannot learn by the examples of others; he has to live his own life to learn the truly important lessons. This is because every person is different and what works for one does not necessarily work for another.
Lauren Jones
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
Response to Ashleigh K.
I completely agree with Ashleigh’s comments on the importance of reading works about other cultures. Even though America is considered a melting pot of cultures, I do agree with Ashleigh that Brighton seems to lack a lot of this “melting pot” diversity. It is weird to think that there are so many different cultures all across the world and yet Brighton seems to only express one: as Ashleigh said, white, middle-class people. I almost wish and wonder what it would be like to have more diversity in Brighton. I really liked Siddhartha and also the comments Ashleigh made because they made me realize just how important it is to realize, understand, and know other cultures. By understanding different cultures, an unsaid respect is laid down and all different cultures can continue to coexist together. I am really glad that we live in a world where so many cultures can coincide instead of one world where only one religion, society, way of life, and culture exists (kind of reminiscent of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four society called Oceania). Lastly, I do agree with Ashleigh that by reading and learning about other “worlds” or cultures, we can learn to appreciate our own culture. America may not be as united and close as the Brahmins or other Indian cultures, but Americans are still united together under freedom. We have our own traditions and culture and hopefully no one ever in the future comes to trample and stamp us out or convert us to their ways like the Europeans do in Achebe’s Things Fall Apart. Hopefully all the cultures today will continue to exist tomorrow, just like Siddhartha’s religion of Buddhism has transcended hundreds of years to now.
Lauren Jones
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
Response to Carrie Shuler
After reading Carrie’s post, I realize now that there is a distinct difference between learning and teaching. I mean, sure, I know learning and teaching are not the same thing, but I do not think that anyone truly takes the time to think about things like learning. I mean, we just learn things; learning is a talent that has been imprinted upon ourselves and our minds ever since birth. We learn to learn things automatically in our minds. Learning is not always easy, and for that, we have teaching as an aid. Teaching is essential to learning. Yes, I agree with Carrie most full-heartedly that one really must learn things on their own. I remember in sixth grade when I first started playing the clarinet that I could not learn how to tongue the notes properly. I became frustrated because it is not like a lesson teacher can just show you how to play an instrument a certain way, especially when you are the only one in control of your body. Thus, I later learned how to play the clarinet correctly later all by myself. Learning comes with observing others and with personal experience. Siddhartha observes people like Kamala and Vasudeva and learns to love and be at peace with himself. He really does learn talents and such by himself because although he can observe Kamala, Govinda, Gotama, etc., he is not truly learning. Like Carrie says, one learns things by practicing things by themselves. One can tell another how to do something but it is completely up to the other person’s decision whether or not to learn or take the other person’s advice. Siddhartha observes lots of characters and then he takes those lessons and applies them personally to himself and learns a lot along his path to self-enlightenment.
Lastly, I really do agree with Carrie on the fact that learning us something one must do on their own. With the example of Nirvana, it is really true that one cannot just be told how to attain it. Gotama tries to show his followers the way to Nirvana and Siddhartha calls him out and says that he cannot accurately describe the way to Nirvana no matter how clear his words are. Enlightenment is personal and how to achieve it is different with everyone. Everyone is not identical in feeling and opinion and so learning is different for everyone. Hence, learning is better served by the personal individual, as Carrie so accurately puts it.
Lauren Jones
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
Original Comment
While Siddhartha is on his spiritual and physical journey to attain enlightenment, or Nirvana, he encounters many people, places, and objects that act as religious and spiritual symbols. The three of the most significant ones, (other than the obvious ones, like the river and Vasudeva), that I will further discuss are: 1) Hunger, impatience, and material possessions 2) Kamala, the beautiful courtesan and 3) Kamala’s bird.
When Siddhartha first talks to Kamala, he mentions his only talents as a man being that, “[He] can think, [he] can wait, [he] can fast” (46). Throughout the novel, Siddhartha advocates these three talents continuously, and in a way, their polar opposites are symbols. In short, ignorance, impatience, and hunger are general symbols for weakness and distractions. Without knowledge, one cannot seem to obtain Nirvana. By being impatient to attain enlightenment, a person will run circles attempting to attain Nirvana but never really attain it. Then with hunger, one is constantly in need and if they cannot obtain food themselves then they are completely dependent upon others. Without having to worry about finding food each night, Siddhartha can continue his journey uninhibited. Problems occur along Siddhartha’s journey whenever he forgets his three talents of thinking, waiting, and fasting. Hunger, impatience, and ignorance are important symbols of weakness in the novel because they are common human follies and weaknesses. By trying to forget them and avoid embodying them, the readers see that Siddhartha is trying to transcend his humanity and attain Nirvana and become a Buddha, an entity that is not troubled by human follies. These three follies combine to form one symbol that reminds readers of the difference between humans and what Buddhas and Nirvana represent.
Another symbol is Kamala, the lovely courtesan. Kamala symbolizes human vice and the obstacles in life that push people off of their intended paths. She symbolizes the lust and forbidden desire. It is she that nudges Siddhartha off of his path to Nirvana and corrupts him. She tries to show him love and he gets so enraptured with this new style of life (fine clothes, money, food, and being a lover) that he takes a “vacation” from his journey to enlightenment. He does say that he intends to learn things from her, and he does, but he is pushed off of his intended path while he is with her. He is sucked into the life that he never has experienced, and that is what Kamala symbolizes: distractions in life that compromises people’s destinies. Without Kamala, Siddhartha may never have experienced the wilder and more luxurious side of life. By seeing this new side of life, Siddhartha sees that it is not the path to Nirvana. Sometimes you have to experience something to realize it is not for you.
A third symbol is Kamala’s caged bird. In a sense, the caged bird symbolizes people like Siddhartha who are trying to attain enlightenment. When Siddhartha is living the “good” life with Kamala, he has a dream that the caged bird is dead. This dream greatly saddens him and he realizes that it is a sign that he must leave his life and start another one anew. Then once he is with Vasudeva, he hears the metaphorical bird in his soul alive and singing happily. Thus it seems that the caged bird symbolizes the path towards Nirvana. While caged, Nirvana cannot be attained because itself is a “free,” natural entity and cannot be caged. So once Siddhartha flees his vice and luxury-ridden life with Kamala, his inner caged bird is set free. Once free, Siddhartha later attains his own true enlightenment. The caged bird signifies that enlightenment is, in a sense, a freedom. Being caged only limits people, and when they are set free, they can follow their own true paths to their own personal forms of enlightenment, like Siddhartha later finds.
Marianne Maresh
ReplyDeleteOriginal comment
It is crucial for American students to learn about other cultures and religions because of the advancements in technology. Prior to the invention of the internet, there was a communication barrier between the United States and surrounding countries. There was no way for the general public to communicate with people from other countries.
Today we have websites such as Omegle, Skype, Facebook, and online gaming websites. We come in contact with people from all over the world constantly. It's amazing to think that we are capable of communicating with people across the world in real time! Learning about other cultures allows us to maximize the full potential of the internet. Now that we can talk to people from all over the world, learning about culture is important. Understanding other ways of life can help us form bonds with people our age in other countries.
Understanding culture is also important in the workforce. My dad works for Chrysler and has clients from India and China. These clients are not just people on the other side of the world he never sees, he comes in contact and talks his clients on a daily basis. It is important to understand their culture and be respectful as we would like them to be respectful to us. More and more people around the world are attracted to American business. Understanding their ways of life it the first step toward starting a partnership!
Marianne Maresh
ReplyDeleteIn response to Lauren Burkart
I agree with Lauren when she says the best way to enlightenment is experiencing your life. We can hear countless stories about the mistakes people have made or their regrets, but sometimes we need to make these mistakes ourselves to completely understand them. For example, when I was little my mom would tell me not to slide down the stairs on my stomach because I would get hurt. Being a little kid, I did not see the danger in the activity and continued to slide when my mom was not around. One day, as I was sliding down the stairs, I hit my head at the bottom of the steps. While I am not happy I got hurt, I needed to get injured to understand why it was dangerous. There is no shame in making mistakes. It is more important that we are able to draw thoughtful conclusions from them and incorporate these conclusions into our lives. I feel we learn more from personally making mistakes than hearing about them.
Marianne Maresh
ReplyDeleteIn response to Elizabeth K
I agree that Vasudeva was one of Siddhartha's greatest teachers. It seems ironic that the man who talked the least was able to teach Siddhartha more than any teacher. I think this shows that Vasudeva is truly wise. He was one of the few people in the novel that realized finding inner peace cannot be described in words to other people. Instead, he guides Siddhartha to the river. As Siddhartha sits by the river and listens, he is given ample time to think about his problems and events in his life. The more he studies the river, the better he understands the way he thinks and reacts to problems. Vasudeva knew giving Siddhartha time to think and concentrate on the river would help him achieve enlightenment. The teachers before Vasudeva tried to give Siddhartha specific information about how to achieve enlightenment, while Vasudeva understood everyone's path to reaching enlightenment is different. Siddhartha needed to figure out his path for himself. The river served as a medium to organize his thoughts and led him to realize the way the life cycle worked. This knowledge is what Siddhartha had been searching for throughout his entire journey. Vasudeva shows less is more. Siddhartha needed more time to think for himself, not hear more teachings and lectures. Some people learn better through self discovery, not direct teaching. Vasudeva is Siddhartha's wisest teacher because he understood this.
Original Comment
ReplyDeleteThis novel is all about Siddhartha's quest for enlightenment. I believe that the most important person on this quest was the ferryman Vasudeva. Vasudeva taught Siddhartha to listen to the river in order to give him peace. "...When he did not bind his soul to any one particular voice and absorb it in his self, but heard them all, the whole, the unity; then the great song of a thousand voices consisted of one word: om-perfection." Vasudeva taught him about the importance of the river, and that was his final piece of knowledge to learn on his path to enlightenment. In my own life, I have made many realizations. The person who has helped me the most to realize certain things in my life is my dad. He has taught me the importance of my faith and religion in my life. That has shaped the person I am today by staying strong and true to what i believe in. I have realized that as long as I know I am living my life for God, and staying true to my values, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
It is important for American students to read and understand world literature about other cultures, religions and ways of life. Some students don't realize that there is a whole world outside of their little city. Many kids these days are shletered growing up. They only know what they know, and they don't take time to study anything else. By learning about other ways of life, it will help you to become more well-rounded of a person overall. For example, by studying different cultures and learning traditions and customs of different people, you will be able to interact and communicate with others more efficiently. Siddhartha lives a simple life which i think all Americans could learn from. We tend to get caught up in all our technology and busy schedules that we forget to remember the beauty in the little things. We need to simplify our lives and appreciate what we have instead of always wanting more.
While both ways of learning are important, I believe it is more important to learn for yourself than to learn from others. Take for example this situation. A father may tell his daughter not to fall in love with a boy in high school; that it will only lead to heartache. In the end, the only way she will ever learn is if she has to go through the pain and heartache. You can hear the words someone says, but if you have not put an action to them, they don't have a true meaning. In Siddhartha, many people along the way tried to tell him how to think and achieve enlightenment. Govinda tried to get him to become a monk and follow Gotama. Kamala told him to follow Kamaswami and become rich by becoming a merchant. In the end, he found enlightenment for himself, in his own way.
In response to harrisonjones...
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the quote "The harder path but the more rewarding path is the path that Siddhartha struggled to complete." While Govinda learned a lot on his quest, Siddhartha had to work a lot harder in order to find what he was looking for. It was hard for the two best friends to seperate and go on different paths, but it was neccessary. As in many students lives, including my own, sometimes you need to go on seperate journeys from a close friend. It is hard but one person may be trying to find something in their life, while your friend is going along a completely different path. Even though both of you may be learning and growing, sometimes it is mandatory that you learn while apart from each other to really discover yourself.
In response to Marianne Maresh...
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your comment that technology (facebook, skype, etc) has made it absolutely necessary to learn about other cultures, religions, and customs. This wasn't as important in the past when there was no such thing as a computer or a cell phone. When you could only talk to people that were within walking distance, you did not need to know about anyone else in your city, yet alone in the world. Now that we are advanced in technology, we must learn and teach future generations about other cultures.
The most important lesson that people in our society can learn from Siddhartha is to embrace who we are. Many people today want to rid themselves of certain pleasures, desires, sorrows, and pains. Some people use drugs or alcohol to dull the pain and sadness. "Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow-to let the Self die" (11). Trying to destroy himself and empty himself of emotion does not make Siddhartha happy, and it does not work for people today. Others want to hide who they really are and may lose themselves in their quest, just like Siddhartha. "I was afraid of myself, I was fleeing from myself...I wished to destroy myself, to get away from myself, in order to find the unknown innermost, the nucleus of things...But by doing so, I lost myself along the way" (31). Whether to fit into a group at school or conform to society's ideals, some students repress their true feelings, opinions, and personality. They lose themselves in their desire to fit in, so they succumb to peer pressure, taking part in gangs and other inappropriate activities. Siddhartha becomes truly happy once he embraces who he is deep down inside. I think that people today will be much happier if they learn to accept themselves, like Siddhartha, rather than try to run away from or destroy who they really are.
ReplyDeleteThe lesson learned from Siddhartha's way of life that is most applicable in American culture today is that people do not need material things in order to be happy. So many people think that if they have one more promotion, they will be happy. If they buy one more outfit, they will be happy. If they have the newest gaming system, they will be happy. This is just not true. Siddhartha learns this lesson in two ways in this novel. First, he learns that material things are not necessary when he lives the life of a Samana. When he did this he had no possessions whatsoever, and yet, he was content. Second, he learns this lesson after he has become rich with Kamiswami. He never really cares much for his possessions and then leaves them altogether without much thought to continue his journey to enlightenment. He had learned that it was not the possessions that would bring him peace, but learning.
ReplyDeleteIt is important for American students to read and understand world literature about other cultures, religions and ways of life. It is very important in the world, today, to be understanding and accepting of people whose beliefs and customs are different that one's own. The amazing thing about America is that it is a melting pot of cultures and religions. The responsibility that comes with that is that one should know enough about these religions and customs so as not to offend people that follow them. Almost everyone will get annoyed with an ignoramus.Also, with learning about different people comes an appreciation for them. This brings our world closer together.
In Response to Sarah Thorwall
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that it is important for Americans to be themselves. A funny quote from John Green, a young adult author is, "Whose self would I otherwise be being?" Yes, this is true. Obviously, you can't literally be someone else. However, it is important for us to realize that we should not try to. It is a scary thing to put yourself out there and not be afraid of what other people think. I also believe that it is not possible to completely do that. Though, we can, bit by bit, learn about ourselves and become less and less afraid to be who we are.
In Response to Harrison Jones
ReplyDeleteI with Harrison in saying that the harder path is the more rewarding path. It is easy to be good at things. It is hard to be great at them. I have found that when I am given criticisms, the ones that seem the hardest to take and apply to my skills are the ones that have the most positive effects. The same is true in respects to drugs and alcohol. Sometimes it is harder, socially, to not participate in these things, but if one abstains from the use of them, they will be healthier and less likely to get into trouble.
In response to Cassi
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is very important for American students to understand the other cultures of the world. If people understood each other the stereotypes that we all have heard of might not be such a common occurrence. I mean it doesn't take a complete in-depth understanding of islam to realize that not all muslims hate Christians. In fact is one would take the time to learn about Islam, they would see that Jesus Christ is worshiped but Muslims. So why do we allow a slight difference of beliefs lead to so much death and warfare. I believe some of our conflicts could be avoided if we took the time to understand one another.
In response to Sarah Thorwall
ReplyDeleteI agree that people today need to embrace who they truly are. As a society we get too wrapped up in what the latest fashion craze is or what we need to do to be popular. When in reality none of that really matters. In the future no one is going to know or care about what kind of clothes you wore in high school, or who you friends with. When people grow up and move into the real world, most of them will have grown mature enough to realize that it is the quality of the person that truly matters and not the quality of what they can buy.
In the novel, Siddhartha was always saying how he needed to find his own path to enlightenment, but he actually relied heavily on others to achieve his enlightenment. For example, Vasudeva was extremely influential in Siddhartha's enlightenment. Although not directly, he guided Siddhartha and taught him how to become enlightened. It is also evident that he was Siddhartha's teacher or mentor because once Siddhartha had finally reached his enlightenment, Vasudeva basically said that he had finished his job, and then he left. The fact that he left shows that he was teaching him, not just being a friend. I find that this is interesting because Siddhartha was always saying that he does not need anyone else, or that the ways of other men did not work for him. He was being prideful and did not realize the impact that others had on his path to enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Cassi
ReplyDeleteI completely agree on how you say that it shows us that we do not need more money or material things to be happy.Most Americans believe that the more things you get, the happier you will be. Many people find out that this is not the case, and one was Siddhartha. When he had obtained money, he did not become happy. In fact he completely left his money in order to be truely happy
In response to Marianne Maresh
ReplyDeleteI too think that it is now more important than ever to know as much as possible about other cultures. Now these other cultures can have a direct affect on us in America. It is much easier for us to get in contact with other countries, and also it will soon become a necessity. My dad also works with many foreign people, and i believe that many other jobs will start to have the same thing occur
In response to Carrie Shuler:
ReplyDeleteI can relate to your scenario of learning how to play an instrument. My dad played the piano when he was a little kid, but he quit because he would rather be playing outside with his friends. Constantly, he told me that he deeply regretted quitting. When I was little, I also played the piano. I never became very good because I did not have the attention span or desire to sit down for an hour and practice everyday. Although my dad acted as a great teacher and gave me wonderful advice, I was not able to internalize it. I did not learn from my dad's mistake and made the same one myself. In this case, I was not able to learn from a teacher.
But, I believe that there are some disciplines where you must learn from a teacher, like classical singing. No one wakes up one day knowing the proper technique. There are just some things that you cannot figure out on your own. In order to sing classically, you need to breathe the correct way and support the sound with your diaphragm, sing the proper vowels, have the sound resonate in the correct place, raise the soft palette, and minimize tension in the throat and tongue, just to name a few of the things that go into proper technique. If that last sentence was complete gibberish to you, my reader, then you would probably need an instructor to teach that information to you, rather than looking inside yourself for the answer. I highly doubt that you can truly understand certain things, like classical singing, without the help of a teacher. Throughout my life, I have found my vocal instructors to be invaluable, and I would not be where I am today without them.
I believe that we need the experience and knowledge of various teachers in life, but it is our job to internalize what we learn.
Original Response
ReplyDeleteIn the world, I feel like learning from others and experiencing life by yourself are so close that you really can’t choose one to live by. They are so closely intertwined I feel, that to speak of one is to speak of the other. I mean, people do not live in a vacuum. From the moment we are born we are influenced by our parents, people we see on the television, other children, and even random individuals off the street. We all need a little guidance, and it is just ignorant to believe that you can survive well without any. However, there of course comes a point in life where a person just wants to break free and venture out into the world and figure more things out for themself. When that time comes, one usually take all the information you have gathered over the years by learning from others to make an informed decision about what path to take from there. At that point, it is vital that you go out alone into society to make your own mistakes and learn from them. It gains a person valuable experience and information that they can then use to find their ultimate state of Nirvana. They can then pass on their information to future generations and give them the necessary tools to build their own lives. So you see, the trick to achieving Nirvana is by combining education and personal experience to achieve true happiness.
In Response to Cassi
ReplyDeleteI really agree with your comment about how material things don’t make people happy. Your one comment that reads that people think that “if they buy one more outfit, they will be happy” is something I can really relate to. When I’m bored, I shop. It’s just what I do, and this year I feel like I’ve been doing it a lot. Way to much in fact. And you’re right, it really doesn’t make me feel that happy. I mean, it does for a while but then it fades. I feel like what truly makes a person happy is just filling their live’s with love. I think spending time with people who love you, and spending time with people you love is the secret to real happiness. It’s a happiness that never goes away. :)
In Response to Chris Raby
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your line that reads “we as humans focus so much upon our capacity for evil that we fail to remember that we have a much greater capacity for good.” I completely agree. I feel as though every time I turn on the news, it’s just story after story about people getting robbed, raped, murdered, and countless other terrible things. It’s gotten to a point where I don’t even bother turning it on the news anymore because I just don’t want to hear about all of these depressing things anymore. I just wish we as a nation could focus more on the happy things in our world. Life would be so much better.
Siddartha, a blind man in my opinion has accomplished much and valued nothing. His mind does not allow him to feel the satisfaction of achieving his wants, whereas most humans would have trouble fighting off their envy in wishing to resemble him. To be honest, I disapprove of Siddhartha taking in words of wisdom, listening, teaching himself and moving on in such a modest way. To me, Siddhartha is not human like, but what most humans wish to acquire throughout their entire life spam.
ReplyDeleteWhile Siddhartha was lead and helped on his way to his destiny, I do not believe that just one person caused him to change, but the situations he found himself in. His parents taught him modesty and enough to start his own life, while his best friend, Govinda, allowed him to take the incentive on leaving. The Buddha was the first one to inspire him with his own desires and teachings, which caused Siddhartha to want to earn his right and start doing the same. As Siddhartha’s homes change, so do the people and his priorities. His first love, Kamala, introduced him to his first business partner who made him a rich man. However, even after becoming human, Siddhartha still does not allow himself to be happy.
Yet, the older Siddhartha finds himself, the more he is looking for a place of peace which he finds with Vasudeva. While Vasudeva is one of the most important people in his life, this was only allowed because that was what Siddhartha was looking for: peace. His son, in the end, would have been considered the most important influence on Siddhartha. Looking at this stranger, he looks at himself from the eyes of an outsider and begins to understand everything he had done and why. Watching his son made him realize that his story is not over yet.
Franziska Pugh
In response to C. Raby:
ReplyDeleteI understand your concern about the hatred that children and adults feel towards the world, but I am wondering whether this was much of a concern in this book. While each family raises its kids in different circumstances, hatred can be easily confused with envy and jealousy. I am glad you mentioned Siddhartha’s parting with Govinda, because it helps the reader understand how both of them have changed throughout this entire book while reaching their potential. I, also, believe that love is the most important lesson in life, which is followed by trust and your first instinct. If we cannot trust the stranger on the opposite side of the street, what allows us to make the commitment to this world to keep it safe?
In response to Amanda L.:
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for mentioning how magazines and the television change the vision of teenagers and the citizens of America. Not only do many seek guidance concerning the social medium, but tend to an unhappy mood when it seems impossible to stay “mainstream.” Whereas Siddhartha was blessed with a strong character, it was made easier for him because he was only surrounded by the people of one race. America itself takes pride in its diversity, which makes it hard to keep up when you have so many different races, languages, and body types. I believe that our culture is dependent on its roots of traditions and while we try and find the “Self,” we constantly make it harder on ourselves because we watch others do the same. As you said, we should all look at Siddhartha and be inspired by him doing what he wants, and trust our instinct more than the media.
In response to the last question posed, I feel that it is vitally important to study the ways and customs of others. On the other hand, who is to say that studying and learning from others before you is not living your own life? I feel strongly to the contrary, I believe that taking from the past is a crucial part to living your own life. Isn't part of living your life learning and advancing to reach your full potential and happiness in all facets of your life? So why continue to make mistakes man has made countless times before you when you can learn them before hand and avoid them altogether, especially when they are documented and easily accessible. Even with the ability to skip some of these mistakes, we are all human and we will make plenty of our own living our lives anyways, so the same individual human experience still exists.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Tommy Stevenson and in turn to Marianne Maresh
ReplyDeleteI also feel that it is becoming even more critical to accept and understand other cultures. Not only is it easier to do this nowadays but like Tommy said it is starting to become a necessity with the job markets narrowing down to those selective few that have bilingual talents or at least those people that can understand the circumstances of the people in different parts of the world.
In response to Emily Lerner in turn to Kaitlin Aleshire
ReplyDeleteI really like and completely agree with Emily's point of how people are afraid or at least do not think it is possible to believe different concepts from various Religions or ways of thought. In our current way of life we are led to think as our affiliation does, and that deviating from these thoughts is betraying what we believe. Why can't people pick and choose what they want to believe and what not to, or in other words actually have their own opinion?
Siddhartha
ReplyDeleteI think it is very important for American students to read about other culture and religions. By reading about different ways of life, not just students but people in general can learn about how people of other countries live and how their values differ from ours. Also, because our country is a melting pot, we have people who practice many different religions. By reading about these different religions in literature, we can also understand the different people living in our country and how their beliefs differ from ours. Some important lessons that we could learn from Siddhartha is that we should not think there is just one certain way to live your life just to look cool or have more friends. People can choose their own way to live their life and experience many different things along the way, just like Siddhartha, in order to enjoy their lives and be happy instead of conforming to what the people around you tell you to do. Just by reading Siddhartha, we can learn about Buddhism and enlightenment.
I believe that it is best to experience life yourself. If you are stuck in a classroom reading about what life has to offer and just listening to people telling you about the different things you can do, you would know about it but unless you actually experience it for yourself, you could never truly understand it. For example, when you take driver’s ed and you sit and listen to what the teacher tells you about how to drive a car, you learn how to operate the car and all the functions of it but unless you get in a car and drive it yourself, you will never know the feeling of what it is like to drive. Siddhartha learns through Gotama that the best way to achieve enlightenment is to go and experience life for yourself and then you can find your inner peace. By listening to the sound of the river with Vasudeva’s guidance, Siddhartha is able to appreciate the earth and find his way to enlightenment. If he had not made the decision to go out and explore what life had to offer, Siddhartha would not have been able to achieve enlightenment. I believe that the best path for education is also to learn by experience. Of course, we should also read and learn through books but to really learn about something, a person should go out and experience it for themselves.
Seoyoung
ReplyDeleteIn response to Emily L.
I agree that you can never really know what a food tastes like or going to the zoo is like unless you experience it for yourself. Even if someone says something is spicy, you never know how spicy it really is until you actually try it. Although you can anticipate that it will be spicy, you would not know the feeling of the spiciness in your mouth or the other flavors in that food. You have to go and live life for yourself to know what something is like.
Seoyoung
ReplyDeleteIn response to Amanda L.
I agree with you, Amanda. Since America is so diverse, it is very important for us to learn about the different religions and cultures of the people in our country. By learning about different cultures, we are not only showing them respect but also we are expanding our own knowledge of the many cultures surrounding us. We would feel just as offended if other countries disregarded our beliefs and showed no respect for it so we need to be open to learning about what people from around the world believe.
There really isn’t one way of learning that is better than others. Something that works well for one person might not necessarily be the same as what works for someone else. Some people learn best by following others examples and learning directly from them. On the other hand, others learn best on their own, where they can experience life from their own perspectives instead of thinking the way someone tells them to. Personally, I think that the people who find the best path to enlightenment are the ones who use a combination of the two techniques.
ReplyDeleteIn the first part of the novel, Siddhartha chooses to follow others. He learns from the Brahmin teachers, the Samanas, Kamala, and Gotama. Although he is never completely satisfied with any of these teachings, he still has learned many useful things, such as to think, wait, and fast. And through experiencing each different way of life, he learns a little more about himself.
In the second part of the novel, Siddhartha decides to abandon his search for a teacher that can show him the path to finding his “Self”. He ends up settling with the ferryman, Vasudeva, who shows him how to listen to the river. In the end, Siddhartha finally finds his “Self” and is happy after he has combined what he has learned from all of his teachers and his own thoughts from his different experiences throughout his life. Siddhartha didn’t follow one path to enlightenment, he followed many. He studied with many different teachers, and he also experienced different ways of life for himself. The combination created a perfect path.
Original Response:
ReplyDeleteI think that it is important for American students read literature from other cultures, religions and ways of life because it encourages understanding between different types of people. When there is a lack of understanding, it often leads to ignorance and even fear. These are the kinds of feelings that lead to people getting ridiculed and bullied for the things that they believe in or the way they live. If more students took the time to understand other cultures and religions, there might be less bullying and more tolerance for different ways of life.
I think that tolerance is one of the lessons that can be learned from Siddhartha and be applied to American culture today. Siddhartha went through his life doing what he thought was best for himself and following his own values, but he did not judge others around him for not valuing the same things. He acknowledges that everyone must go their own way in life and that means that not everyone will end up in the same place, or thinking the same way. Furthermore, Siddhartha learns from the different people he encounters, instead of discrediting what they do simply because he does not do the same thing.
Another lesson that can be learned from Siddhartha and be applied to American culture today is that things can be learned from a person’s past and the experiences they have had. Siddhartha takes the time to learn from himself and his experiences. In American culture today, there is a tendency to encourage people to move on and not dwell on the past. While I agree that a person should not dwell on the past, they should look to their past experiences to see what they can learn from what they’ve been through. Often, when I look at what I’ve been through I can see things much more clearly and find value in a situation I wouldn’t have seen while I was in the middle of it.
In response to C. Raby:
ReplyDeleteI agree that as humans, we tend to look at the negative aspects of life. Even watching the news is horribly discouraging, with nearly every story being about a violent altercation or a new warning against a product gone wrong. When there are stories that are considered happy, they are always the shortest segments of the news, taking the least amount of time possible. Why is it that the negative things draw in the biggest audiences? Maybe it’s because watching other peoples’ suffering, often so much worse than our own, makes us feel better about ourselves and our own lives. I know that I often spend a lot of time wishing that parts of my life improve and when I see that other people are going through worse situations. Siddhartha spends his life trying to find happiness and through it all, he does not heavily criticize his life, if he does not like something in his life he changes it. I think I sometimes forget that I have that power, to change my life if I want to, instead I just look for ways to make myself feel better about the situations I’m in.
In response to Marianne Maresh:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your point about American students needing to learn about other cultures to prepare for the workplace. Many students who have not had opportunities to experience international travel do not always realize how far behind Americans are when it comes to learning about other cultures. Especially with foreign languages, American students are not encouraged to learn nearly as many languages as students around the world. I was lucky enough to be able to travel quite a bit around the world and nearly everywhere I went, people spoke English. It was helpful, of course, but I was also amazed by it. All of these people that I spoke with knew English, but they did not expect me to know one bit of their language. If I so much as said “thank you,” to them in their own language, I would be given a huge, surprised smile. It just further increased my hope to be able to learn more languages because I feel as if I should extend the same courtesy to people I meet, making it easier for them to communicate with me.
Reading Siddhartha was a pleasure, simply because nowadays we don't think about stepping back and enjoying the peace of nature around us. Distractions are even more prevalent in our daily lives than they ever were back in Siddhartha's time period, and it's almost impossible to just stop and relax.
ReplyDeletePersonally, if I have a deadline in front of me (summer reading perhaps) I can never fully put it out of my mind and enjoy the present. Even when I do have time, I usually fill it with listening to my Ipod or reading Twitter, activities which I really should become less dependent on. I enjoyed reading Siddhartha, but I wish I saved it for last because the three other books were not nearly as positive in tone. Oh well.
In Response to Lauren Jones
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with all the symbols you pointed out, Another one I find important is the river itself, which represents present time. The river is always in one place but everywhere at the same time and is constantly changing shape before Siddhartha's eyes, and he comes to the realization that the present is what matters to the self.
In Response to Carrie Schuler
ReplyDeleteI agree that the best learning is done by the individual. I found that lesson to be strangely surprising in that I never really thought about it but found myself completely agreeing. As someone who loves drawing, that idea makes complete sense, especially in creative applications, because at the most, you can only teach someone the basics. If art was dominated by one or two methods, we'd probably be hanging out with Winston Smith in some hellish mass-produced society. Art is all about the individual learning what works and what does not, developing a style imitable only by its creator, and having complete control over what he creates.
In response to Hayley W.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about Mary when i read this, but now that you mention it you are right on. She reminds me so much of Gottam in someways. Like she has reached peace and happiness and i just want to follow her around. She just walks and talks like such a peaceful person. Honestly i don't even think she is a human being she is so kind. But thank you for making this real life connection for me!
In response to C. Raby:
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about being bombarded with hate and evil in our everyday society. Although, i absolutely love reality TV i realize that is filled with the most negative and disgusting people. The sad part is that these people are actually really entertaining.. I wish they could all sit down and be at peace with themselves. They could all use a few lessons from Siddhartha and i think they would be much happier.
Paulina Devlin
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
Original Comment
One of the motifs of Siddhartha is the value of first hand experience demonstrated by Siddhartha versus learning from teachers expressed through Govinda. As Harrison Jones pointed out in an above comment, it is easy for us to identify which we path we prefer; of course we like the idea of taking action and experiencing life rather than read about it. Though we tell ourselves we learn from experience, I believe most of us have spent the majority of our lives in Govinda’s position and now as we become adults, we should occasionally take risks that allow us to learn in Siddhartha’s way.
From my experiences in Brighton, I believe many of us are raised in the tradition of Govinda’s learn-from-others view. We are born in a comfortable house with few worries or ideas, of the world beyond our neighbors, until we begin school. Our parents raise us in their religion. Our school teachers tell us we must strive to attain good grades and we must go to college. Important adults in our life teach us we mustn’t do drugs or be influenced by scams.
For the most part, all of us have followed and successfully learned from the lessons presented to us. Our moral compass has led us to make decisions that are not too risky, to make decisions that are safe for our parents and ourselves. We frequently make the right choices, and are better off for it. By learning from example and others’ warnings, most of us have a tolerable relationship with our families, are respected by our peers, and will go off to college next year feeling satisfied with our school careers. We are good young adults, ready to live productive lives, and we have reached this position thanks to the guidance of others, just as Govinda does.
Even though it is easy to wish for first hand experiences over learning from teachers, at this point in our lives most of the lessons we have learned are from teachers. After reading Siddhartha, and thinking about this dilemma, I have come to realize that it is okay to make a risky decision once in a while. As Siddhartha realizes from his life as a businessman, learning from your own mistakes often results in a lesson that resonates louder than any a teacher could share with you.
Krissy Kowalenko
ReplyDeleteOriginal Comment
During Siddhartha’s exploration of the path to spiritual enlightment, he encounters several people who help him along the way. In my opinion, the two most important and influential people to Siddhartha are Gotama, the Illustrious One, and Vasudeva, the ferryman. Gotama plays a major role in Siddhartha’s realization that he needed to experience life for himself rather than through the teachings of others, in order to reach enlightment. Siddhartha comes to this realization when he converses with Gotama and says, “…you have reached the highest goal which so many thousands of Brahmins and Brahmins’ sons are striving to reach. You have done so by your own seeking, in your own way, through knowledge, through enlightment. You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious One, that nobody finds salvation through teachings. To nobody…can you communicate in words and teachings what happened to you in the hour of your enlightment.” (27) Once Siddhartha becomes independent, he encounters the ferryman. I believe the most important things Vasudeva did in aiding Siddhartha to his self-discovery was introducing him to the river. Siddhartha learns to listen to the voices of the river, and in the end, with the help of Vasudeva, Siddhartha realizes all the voices of the river are one. This further means that everything is connected in the universe, and once Siddhartha fully embraces that, he finds spiritual enlightment.
In my life, there have been several people who have helped me discover important realizations about myself, especially my parents. For example, my parents have helped me realize how important it is to do well in school because how you do in high school determines what college you attend and what college you attend helps to determine what you choose to do in life (domino effect). They have put me on the right path but it is ultimately my decision to do what is right in order to stay on this path.
Krissy Kowalenko
ReplyDeleteResponse to Lauren Burkart
I agree with you one hundred percent, and think it is extremely important that people both experience life themselves and learn through others, in order to best reach enlightment. Some guidance is important in life because everyone needs help sometimes, but it is important to have a perfect balance of reliance and independence. My mom always tells me, “I will let you cross the street by yourself, but if I see a car coming around the corner, that you might not see, I will pull you back.” I always used to think that was her excuse for being over protective at times, but now that I look back and reflect upon the times when she “pulled me back”; I truly believe she guided me on a better route. Although, like you said, sometimes you take the advice given to you, and other times you do not because you need to experience some things for yourself in order to make the best decisions. Another important aspect of having the perfect balance is having acceptance. Acceptance is key in two different ways. First, it is important to have an open mind, and accept the fact that others may know more about a certain situation than you do, and that may be the right time to use their guidance in life. The second part of acceptance is accepting failure and success in one’s independent decisions. It is important to realize that when you experience life for yourself that things are not always going to go as hoped or expected to, but you need to accept the outcome and learn from the experience.
Paulina Devlin
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
Response to Amanda L.
I could not agree more with your statement “Like Siddhartha, we should take our own path without denouncing or critiquing the path that others choose.” Particularly concerning religious and spiritual identity, it is important to respect the view of others. It disgusts me when people condemn other religions as wrong or disgraceful, such as the prejudice against Islam in much of America. Religion is alive in the minds of the people who believe it, and as I cannot justify telling someone their opinion is wrong, I cannot understand under what premise people feel they can pronounce their religion as superior to another’s. Many people who are not Buddhist read Siddhartha, and in doing so are exposed to concepts of Buddhism. Though some ideas may not be the same as the reader’s practiced religion, they can still be read and appreciated and considered. In our community, Islamic teachings are looked down upon and scorned when they are part of a different religion just as Siddhartha’s views are part of Buddhism. As Americans, we must view different religious views with as much respect as our own.
Krissy Kowalenko
ReplyDeleteResponse to Cassi
You made an excellent conclusion on the lesson Siddhartha learns in the novel. I agree with you completely that happiness is not based on materialistic things. There are numerous amount of people that believe “a little more” of something will make them content, but that is not the case. People who are materialistic will never be satisfied with what they have because there is always something more out there. Unfortunately, our society has become discontent. The media and the constant growth in technology play a major role in this because there are constant advancements being made and advertisements for newer, bigger, and better things. Now I am not by any means saying that technological advancements are a bad thing, I am just trying to explain how contentment is not possible with the constant growth in technology. In the novel, Siddhartha learns the lesson when he becomes rich from Kamiswami. Although Siddhartha, like many people in our society, believed that riches would bring him happiness, they actually did the exact opposite. His money gave him the ability to gamble, which was a constant up and down rollercoaster, and he ended up being far happy…but rather depressed. Sometimes reaching the point of depression is what is needed in order for us to realize things are out of control and something needs to change. Siddhartha reached that point and the change that was needed was for him to drop his possessions and continue on his journey. As I had stated in one of my previous comments, when experiencing life for yourself, you have to be prepared for failure, and if failure occurs, it is important to accept and learn from it, as Siddhartha did.
Paulina Devlin
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
Response to Joellyn
You mentioned, “when there is a lack of understanding, it often leads to ignorance and even fear.” When I first read this I agreed with you and then began writing a comment using references from Things Fall Apart. After a second read through, I realized that in fact your comment concerns Siddhartha, which lead me to realize that three of our summer reading selections; Siddhartha, Things Fall Apart, and 1984 can be connected in the context of your observation. In Siddhartha, we are exposed to different religious view, which as the prompt points out, is important to prevent ignorance of other cultures. Things Fall Apart warns of the consequences of lack of understanding; the bloodshed between the tribe and missionaries is the result of continual misunderstanding. Finally, 1984 reveals the fear resulting from ignorance that you mentioned; people in Oceania do not dare step out of the line of the Party for fear of being discovered and punished by the thought police. Even though your original comment refers to one summer reading novel, it is applicable to three!
Original Response: Siddhartha found enlightenment through his interaction with other people, but only through the lifestyle example of Vasudeva did he achieve it. After learning from the simple ferryman how to “listen” to the river and find peace and satisfaction through it, Siddhartha realizes his past lifestyles he has tried would’ve never sufficed; he was on either side of the social spectrum. Either he was a frail, starving twig who embraced self-inflicted bodily pain for sacrifice, or a filthy-rich gluttonous man who lived in a palace of material goods and worldly pleasures. Only after living these two fake lives and comparing it to the simple one Vasudeva lives did he achieve enlightenment. Siddhartha learned to take the simple path and as we would say, “go with the flow.” The same applies to us in everyday life as we see people who represent the Samanas and others who represent Kamala and the other courtesans (I’m not necessarily talking about the money/social status issue though; it’s just a metaphor for what activities they do, etc.); both take on too much in their lives and you come to learn that they aren’t satisfied either. Through this you come to find that taking the simple path is easy yet still successful and satisfying. Because of this experience I’ve had myself I believe it’s important for us to understand the world literature of other cultures – even though their everyday ways of life may be different, we tend to have the same experiences. Yes, I’m only 17 and still have so much more of life to live, but I can relate to Siddhartha in littler ways.
ReplyDeleteSymbolism always helps us relate too. The river and the holy Om Siddhartha finds comfort and enlightenment in represent the collection of all things in nature that one can find peace in. The exotic bird in the palace that he has a dream of it dying represents his spiritual life dying and his dissatisfaction still growing; the material goods still don’t add up.
As far as learning life lessons, I believe the best way to find your place in life is through experience, but also taking into consideration what other happy people do. Don’t imitate others over and over again like Siddhartha did; through your own experience and through learning by watching others you should be able to find a comfortable balance in life.
In response to Emily L.
ReplyDeleteI really love your example of a song that talks about experiences and how we all have to go through it rather than just hearing about certain things or learning from someone (especially for all of us music-lovers out there who function better with music playing and relate to it =]) Yes, too much curiousity can be a bad thing, but without it we would never learn and never have experiences. Great connection!
Lindsay Harkins
ReplyDeleteoriginal comment
I think the person who taught Siddhartha the most was Vasudeva. He lead by example the first time he met Siddhartha, by giving him a place to stay for the night and then taking him across the river without payment. He's also the one who taught Siddhartha how to listen to the river and be at peace. Personally, I learn best from my mistakes. If I do something wrong and am rebuked for it, by myself or someone else, it will not happen again. I also learn well from people who listen to me and treat me as an equal. I can't stand condescending grown ups!
In response to Amanda L.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more with you. American culture teaches the wrong thing; that our happiness and experience depends on the worldly pleasures and material goods, and to try to imitate the so-called "happy" and gorgeous celebrities. Instead of consulting Oprah about our problems and other people we have idolized we need to look inside ourselves and change something in there, not look to a celebrity to get us out of a hole. In fact, using these people as mentors will probably dig us into bigger ones.
Lydia Bumann
ReplyDeleteOrigional Comment
You cannot truly learn anything without doing it for yourself. You can watch people all you like, but the only way to understand something is to do it. Siddhartha goes from teacher to teacher to try to learn how to attain enlightenment. He even goes to the Buddha who is the prime example of someone who has truly reached Nirvana, but even that did not help him. Siddhartha even said to the Buddha on page 27, “You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious One, that nobody can you communicate in words what happened to you in the hour of your enlightenment.” The Illustrious One did not learn enlightenment from anybody. He found it himself, and so consequently, he cannot teach it to anyone either. Siddhartha realizes that enlightenment cannot even be described to anyone. No words can do it justice; it is just something you have to experience for yourself. This, I believe, is true with all things. The best path of education is trial and error, not observation. That is the only way Siddhartha learned, by trying different things until he found what he was searching for. And words do often help a lot to describe something, but experiencing it is the only way to fully understand it.
Lydia Bumann
ReplyDeleteResponse to Jollyn
I completely agree with you, Joellyn. It is extremely important to learn about people’s cultures because I too believe that if we were completely in the dark about them, it could lead to fear. Reading books like Siddhartha teaches us that though people have their own ways of living, it gives us no reason to dishonor them or be afraid. Siddhartha took little lessons from everyone he met and noted the things he could take from them and the things he should stay away from. He did not harbor any bad feelings towards the people who were different from him. He could always find at least one positive thing in everyone. That is one of the things I liked so much about this book.
Lydia Bumann
ReplyDeleteResponse to Cassi
I found that to be one of the lessons too, Cassi. Actually I put it down as one of the themes, “money cannot buy happiness”. When Siddhartha is at the height of his wealth and has everything worldly he could ever want, he is actually at the lowest points of his life. He does not find any satisfaction in the gambling, drinking, women, rich food, lavish clothes…He is driven into a deep depression and almost kills himself. He was much happier when he did not have a cent in his pocket or any possessions. And this is what he ultimately comes back to in the end when he goes to live with Vasudeva. They did not live rich lifestyles, they just had a good life living on the river, listening to it and appreciating each other’s company and the world around them. I think this is an important lesson to take from this book because so many people think that if only they had more money they would be happy, but it is not true. The best things in life are free.
Original Comment
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha encounters many people on his way to spiritual enlightenment, and all of these people had a significant impact on him. However, I feel that in the end no one could really teach him about self discovery. This was something that he had to learn on his own. Govinda taught him about friendship and being loyal to those you care about. Buddha was a model of what total self-realization and peace looked like. Kamala taught him how to love. All of these teachers were important guides in Siddhartha’s journey, but to find spiritual enlightenment he had to teach himself. I feel that Vasudeva, the ferryman, had the most significant impact because he did not “teach” Siddhartha. Vasudeva simply allows Siddhartha to share in his lifestyle and companionship. It is through this relationship that Siddhartha finally finds happiness and peace. There part in the book that I found especially interesting, “It also happened that curious people came along, who have been told that two wise men, magicians or holy men lived at the ferry”(89). It’s interesting that Siddhartha finally becomes wise and at peace when he is least looking for it. It wasn’t fasting, meditating, or becoming rich that helped him to find himself. It was simply living a life of solidarity, and enjoying life and friendship.
Response to Amanda L
ReplyDeleteI really like what Amanda said about American culture. Unfortunately it is very true that from a young age we are bombarded with the media telling us what to do and who we should be. Self-acceptance and self-realization is so hard in our culture because we have so many sources trying to “teach” us what to be. Like Siddhartha, when we only follow what others teach us we will never learn to be our own person. This makes it so important to study other cultures. By looking at other societies we realize that though human nature is the same, we all have different ways of living it. This awareness can allow us to be our own, individual person.
Response to Joellyn
ReplyDeleteI agree that reading literature from other cultures and learning about other cultures is very important. It is only through learning about other cultures that we can begin to understand them, and it is only by understanding them that we can respect them. I agree that tolerance is so important in our day and age. Otherwise, look what happens: we go to war, persecute people based on race and religion, and people die. It’s worth it to simply take the time to learn about and understand cultures that may be different from your own.
In response to Hayley:
ReplyDeleteI really liked your concluding sentence, "peace may be unattainable but understanding is in our reach." It seems like the importance of understanding is a reocurring theme throughout the four novels we read this summer, especially in Siddhartha and Things Fall Apart. While very different stories, both novels help us to appreciate different cultures and religions other than our own. Siddhartha shows us how through the influences of many different people and beliefs he is able to obtain and understanding and peace within himself. Things Fall Apart shows us how the lack of understanding and respect between cultures can cause the destruction of unique traditions.
Original Post:
ReplyDeleteI think that it is important for American students to read and understand world literature about other cultures, religions and ways of life because we don’t know how sheltered we really are to the outside world. Places like China are, in a way, blind to the outside world along with us. Their government restricts websites that the population may view such as facebook and YouTube and sites we take for granted in connecting with the world around us. In Russia, the news is only allowed to report on what the government deems “happy” news, and so the country is lost to the terrors of the world as a whole. One of the biggest lessons that Siddartha learns on his way to enlightenment is finding himself and not trying to be someone else. America has become so superficial and phony that the number of nonconformists is dwindling. Everyone wants to fit in and so are afraid to stand out. If people could learn to be like Siddartha and turn away the Buddhas of our society, more people could find their own enlightenment.
In response to Emily Lerner:
ReplyDeleteI like how you bring up examples from other literature about how psychology makes us more inclined to disregard the advisement of our peers. As we grow older, we learn lessons, as every parent teaches their child. With that growth, I think we slowly come to an enlightenment of our own. I think that’s part of the reason why everyone looks up to their elders. No matter who you are, in some sense we revere them because of the wisdom they possess. They know who they are because they’ve learned their lessons from playing that fool through their lives.
In response to Lauren Burkart:
ReplyDeleteI like how you are the first one to accuse Siddartha of hypocrisy. I feel the same way in the fact of just little things that show he doesn’t always do as he preaches. For lack of better words, he almost relies on Vasudeva to discover himself. He feels that no one can really rely on anyone to teach themselves how to be enlightened, and so he journeys, discovering the different emotions of the world, distancing himself from his past. But in the end, Siddartha comes to Vasudeva and finally discovers himself in his words. Through his words he kind of hears his enlightenment calling, and yet he has no regard for Vasudeva as a teacher.
Original Comment:
ReplyDeleteI think that it is best to learn from your own life and the mistakes you make. Siddhartha never found enlightenment through the many teachers that he was taught and led by. Thus, he realizes that he can not teach enlightenment to others either. Sure, you can listen to what other people have gone through and hear their stories, but I believe that you truly learn something once you have experienced yourself.
In response to Ashleigh K.:
ReplyDeleteYou are totally right! Last year I learned that the diversity in Brighton, MI is 99.4% White and .6% "Other." I feel like whenever a student comes to Brighton and is of a different race, many of the students feel like it's really out of the ordinary, which is sort of sad. I believe that it is extremely important to learn about other cultures' traditions, beliefs, and ways of life in general, but especially in towns like Brighton where we see such little diversity.
In response to Connor:
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about America being too superficial and phony. I think alot of people don't even think about finding out who they truly are, as Siddhartha does, or finding happiness within themself. It seems like a lot of people, especially in highschool, just do what they need to please others, even if it means going against their own friends or morals.
In response to Lydia in response to Cassi:
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'm honestly not trying to be shallow, but I think in some cases money can buy you happiness.... atleast for a little while. Obviously, if materialistic items are the only thing in your life, I don't see how you can be happy. But with my friends, family, health, and life, I admit, when I go out and buy a new pair of shoes, I'm a little happier than before. Clearly though, the happiness from that pair of shoes doesn't subside to the love and memories I receive from my friends and family.
Cleyton Cavallaro
ReplyDeleteOriginal Post
I feel that one has to experience life for themselves to gain wisdom. this is because mostly no one pays attention to the warnings that their elders give them. when i was younger my family visited our friends who have some horses, including an electric fence. of course, my parents said don't touch the fence, but being a little kid, i did the opposite! soon after i touched the fence i realized my mistake, but the fact is that it took my own experiences to learn to not touch the fence! this is the case with most people, on most occasions. to truly learn th lesson, you hve t do it for yourself.
Original Post
ReplyDeleteAmerican students are not always exposed to culturally different experiences. Many people are consumed with their own lifestyles and do not always consider the other types of religions out there. Since Buddhism is not widely practiced in America, it is good that students can get a bit more culture by reading this novel. The more students know about other cultures and religions, the less narrow-minded they will be.
It is best to study ways of others and then imitate because then there is less chance of doing something offensive to the culture. If someone just goes and experiences life, they may do the wrong things and be seen the wrong way. However, if you study and learn about the way of life, you may gain respect.
Siddhartha gets by in life by using little resources. He fasts and uses his mind to do everything that he must get done. Learning how to conserve your resources is an important lesson. When times are tough economically, one needs to figure out how to save on consumption.
-Sophia Spagnuolo
Cleyton Cavallaro
ReplyDeleteIn Response To Conner
i feel that you observation about America may be partially true, not all of America is "superficial and phony." of course, many are, but i feel that many are not. on the outside, everyone may wear the same brand of clothes, but when you get to know someone, they are definitely not phony. everyone has their talents, their worries, their personalities and more. while some people might just try and act like everyone else, i feel that many more are the ones who go out and experience life for themselves, just as Siddhartha did.
In response to Connor,
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about how Americans do not always realize how sheltered they are. Americans sometimes assume that everything they hear must be the whole truth at times. But you are right, sometimes the government blocks certain things out.
In response to Katie,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that everyone needs to go through their own experiences to learn something. Even though I believe that it is wiser to study a subject and then do what you need, it is also true that you can learn more by making mistakes.
Cleyton Cavallaro
ReplyDeleteIn Response To Sophia
unlike your comment, I feel that you must go and learn for yourself. you can follow someone, but one day they wont be there and you will have no one to follow anymore. the other choice is to make your own choices, make a few mistakes, and fix them. no one, even in other cultures, will think badly of you for making a mistake. when i went to Mexico this summer, i made many cultural mistakes while talking to the locals, but they always just pass on like they didn't happen. would you think badly of someone if they made one cultural mistake? people are forgiving, especially of small things such as cultural differences.
Original response
ReplyDeleteSiddhartha
I think that the best way to make it through life is by learning and experiencing things for ourselves. People always are there to give their opinions on your decisions or what top you should buy, but in the end you normally always do what YOU want to do. There is really no point in living life if you don't do what you want to do. I don't think that your life is meaningful if you go about it learning and doing everything through other people. Everyone is taught everything by someone else, but in the end you have to make your own decisions to grow. In order to be your own person you have to make choices without the help of other people. At the beginning of the book Siddhartha doesn't think anyone can teach him, and he needs to learn from his own lessons. After the first half, Siddhartha starts actually following and copying his friend Vasudeva. What I took this to mean is that we should not look up at our teachers, but look at them as friends. We should respect them with the respect we give everyone else, and be excited to see them and excited to learn in their presence.
In response to Sophia
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that we can do anything in order to survive. When we are given certain circumstances we can always find a way to overcome them and to survive when we are met with the extremes. I think everyone also should have interaction with different cultures because that is what makes us all unique and different from one another.
Liza Reynolds:)
In response to Sophie Shinsky:
ReplyDeleteI agree with your statement "There really isn't one way of learning that is better than others. Something that works well for one person might not necessarily be the same as what works for someone else." My older sister has different needs, wants, and personality traits as well as a different learning style. We take different classes and will go to different schools, but sometimes my mom as well as others do not realize that different people learn in different ways.
My sister didn't do very well in Algebra I in 8th grade, so my mom had her retake it in 9th grade. I did very well in algebra, but my mom still wanted me to retake the class. After hours of convincing my mom that I could handle geometry, she finally let me sign up for it. Assuming that two people learn the same way is never a good idea. I am very glad that my mom eventually realized that I learn differently than my sister, and what works for her doesn't always work for me. My sister liked to listen to lectures and needed the extra help. I would rather read the lesson on my own and ask for help if I needed it, which is why I liked taking Mathlab. Classes that accommodate different learning styles help everyone succeed.
In response to Cleyton
ReplyDeleteI agree with having to make mistakes in order to learn what is right and what is wrong. I can think of a million times when I have made mistakes in my life but I am so thankful for them now. I could have never learned the things I did from what my parents have told me. I had to experience things for myself in order to realize what I can't do in life. Most of the time your parents tell you something, and you do it anyway. I think that is just the same as them not telling you. You will learn from your actions, and in the long run I don;t know who isn't thankful for their mistakes because they are sometimes life-changing.
Liza Reynolds:)
Original response, artfully handcrafted by Will McPeek.
ReplyDeleteIt's important for American students (especially AP English ones) to learn about other cultures/religions etc. because only knowing about a single worldview, no matter what it may be, is invariably bad news bears. Sometimes a different perspective on life is all one needs to reconsider their respective perspective (ha!) or to better comprehend their own. For example, the vast majority of American students in general probably believe in a strictly Judeo-Christian worldview, where the concept of universal oneness and time's illusory qualities are completely foreign concepts. To introduce them to this doesn't make them believe it, but it sure does give them something to think about, like their reason for being here. That may in turn lead to them doing something to give their life more meaning, which is always something desirable.
Lessons modern-day America can learn from Siddhartha is to simply stop being so materialistic and image-based. We all know what happened to Siddhartha when he became a successful businessman (gambling and drinking), but what may be overlooked is how Govinda just accepted he was a rich businessman going on a pilgrimage after he told him he was. Were this in modern times, Govinda would probably just assume Siddhartha had partied too hard with his rich friends and got lost in the woods, then been on his merry way once Siddhartha woke up.
In response to Jessi Wojtys:
ReplyDeleteSometimes taking the simple path is the right way to go, but I've found that if things don't require a good amount of work, they usually aren't that satisfying. It's like Dumbledore says, "Dark times lie ahead Harry. Soon we must all make the choice between what is right and what is easy."
In response to Katie Haas:
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with you! Siddhartha couldn't find enlightenment in other's teachings, he had to find it himself. I think that was easy to predict from the moment he walked away from Gotama.
Response #1, @Connor Mohrenweiser
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your statement that the number of nonconformists is dwindling. This statement is true because conformity to nonconformity runs rampant enough to be just counted as run-of-the-mill conformity. Contrary to popular belief, if you try to act like a nonconformist, you're still conforming, just to nonconformity. The only person who can be you and teach you to be you IS you, and that's just what Siddhartha found out.
Response #2, @Lydia Bumann
ReplyDeleteI agree with you heartily on this. Enlightenment is just like anything else; one has to try it themselves to be good at it/achieve it. Trying to attain enlightenment by just listening to teaching is like trying to play football after watching a documentary on it, or like trying to understand math without actually trying any of the problems. It's just how the learning process works.
Response to Ashleigh K:
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, Brighton is not a very diverse city, but I feel like the other cities around Brighton aren’t very diverse either. I think you go out to Ann Arbor or Livonia there are many different cultures and religions. But I think that if you go into another country many of them don’t have as much as diversity at America does. I think that we are blessed to live in America with the freedom and diversity that we have. We are at war with the Middle East to create peace and freedom of religion, and here we have it everyday and not even know what it would be like if we didn’t have it, because we were not alive when we didn’t have freedom. So we are lucky to have the freedom that we do and we do need to discover ourselves this Senior year, and discover the different religions there are and cultures that we like.
Original
ReplyDeleteIn the novel, there are many people who have influenced Siddhartha in his spiritual journey, and many people who aid in his self-discovery. I think the person who helped Siddhartha become the man he was in the end is his son. Although his son was mean to him and didn’t treat Siddhartha with respect you saw that in the end Siddhartha realized what his life had been and how he treated his father.
“His face resembled that of another person, whom he had once, as a youth, he had compelled his father to let him go and join the ascetics, how he had taken leave of him, how he had gone and never returned. Had not his father also suffered the same pain that he was now suffering for his son? Had not his father died long ago, alone, without having seen his son again?” (107).
I put this quote because I think Siddartha realized that he did the same thing, and how that the pain he had caused is the same feeling that his father had felt. I think it made Siddhartha wiser because he knew the pain of having a son and not ever seeing him again. This also made Siddarha stronger because he is able to deal with the pain of loosing his lover, Kamala and also his son. Although it may not seem like Siddhartha’s son has made a very big impact on him but I see that he made him stronger and wiser and having the experience of loving a child made Siddhartha able to have the love and the experience.
Response to Anthony Shaw:
ReplyDeleteWe gain knowledge through our age and experiences, but like Siddartha he didn’t get to where he was by just learning things by himself. He had many different teachers, if it was for listening, love or math work. We as a society sometimes think that we have to be totally independent or we are too dependent. I think that to really gain the best knowledge and understanding of life is to have a balance, like Siddartha did. He first had his father and then when he learned all he could from him he went to go and live with the Samanas, and then the Illustrious One and so on. My point is that yes Siddhartha learned much from his age but ultimately I think we need to have teachers in our lives or role models were we can also learn from. You don’t gain knowledge just by experiencing it, its also from the teachers in our lives that can help us.
I am responding to the third question posed. I would have to say that most things in life must be self learned. After getting a job I have cone to this realization more and more so each passing day. No one at work is willing to teach you anything, so you have to teach yourself. I believe learning how to teach yourself is a very valuable skill because you don't always have the best teacher... Anyways, I really like this book and that's my opinion on the mater.
ReplyDeleteResponse #1 @ Will
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel man. It's good to be diverse and whatnot. And I have certainly experienced some bad news bears stuff myself. Siddhartha was quite lucky he didn't fall into any more vices while he was down in the dumps. I believe that the less materialistic the better, because no one needs all that junk anyhow. Good job writing your response by the way.
Response #2 @ Liza
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with what you said. It really struck home. Sometimes you just have to live and learn. You have to take control of your own life and live t, and bot let others live it for you. Otherwise, what's the meaning to life at all? Sometimes the worst experiences can turn into the best learning opportunities. Just like in Siddhartha when he became rich merchants.. Good post Liza.
Stephen Scarlett
ReplyDeleteOriginal Comment
Siddhartha was a unique man and a leader among throngs of followers. People could choose to be a Brahmin, or a Samana, or a follower of Gotama. Siddhartha, though, refused to labeled as anyone of these. He may have spent some time learning from all of these but he realized as he stated that “Nobody finds salvation through teachings.”(P.27) He knew that if he wanted to find his salvation he would have to go beyond being connected to anything. He would have to search out his salvation through living life and learning from it.
In life most people want to be part of something, or connected to something. This is normal. But we may miss out on life lessons if we are only open to one thought process. Siddhartha spent time learning of love, of the ways of a merchant, a gambler, and a ferryman. He learned things from every one but realized that he should not get stuck in one specific way and he moved on. He finally came to the river where he learned from the river. To Siddhartha the river was the ultimate teacher. In his way of moving from one teacher to another he learned more and grew more than if he had just stayed with one teacher.The point of life is to live and learn. If we are stuck and refuse to learn different things we cannot fully live life.
Stephen Scarlett
ReplyDeleteResponse to Will McPeek
Siddhartha #1
First I want to say that your writing was fun to read as well as to the point. I think it is important to learn about other cultures. We can easily just forget about other cultures as we live, especially in Brighton, everyone is relatively the same in that regards. Also I agree that we are very materialistic. We run off what we see on TV, ads, and in the movies. We are constantly barraged with things to buy and so we tend to have just a lot of “stuff”.
Stephen Scarlett
ReplyDeleteResponse to Liza Reynolds
Siddhartha #2
I agree with the fact that we have to experience things for ourselves. People can tell us all they want but it IS us who has to make the decision in the end. I think it does help to have a teacher. But I also think everyone has their own type of teacher. Vasueda was Siddhartha’s teacher because they were going towards the same end.
In Response to Sophie Shinsky:
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that the best way of learning varies from person to person. Even the way that Siddhartha learns through his experiences changes from time to time. In the end he realizes that all of his experiences were able to bring him to enlightenment.
In Response to Joellyn:
ReplyDeleteI think what you said was spot on about the lack of understanding leading to ignorance and fear. I think we as Americans are so used to living in our own little peaceful towns that we forget how crazy the world is all around us and how other people live. And about dwelling on the past? How else can we learn from our mistakes if we don’t ponder upon past doings?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteZach Evans
ReplyDeleteOriginal Comment
I believe that Siddartha is right in believing that the only way to enlightenment is through personal experience. The point of life is too live your own, not someone else’s. Imitation by definition is imperfect because it is an attempt to replicate something that already exists. To me perfection can only be achieved by something truly unique because perfection is an illusion thus the original of anything is the closest to perfection that can exist, since all subsequent attempts will be replications, though on the flip side I believe that teachers are a necessary in the development of something uniquely perfect. Teachers show us what has been done before and they teach us how to take the elements of those creations and turn them into something else. The way Siddartha portrays teachers is a bit one sided (and might just be a translation issue) because I have found that the only true teachers are the ones that provide tools. Those who claim a singular path are not teachers; they are dictators who do not understand why knowledge is valued so highly. Knowledge provides use with the ability to see the variety of choices in life; ideally life should be a maze, one in which the solution can only be found by a commitment to educated randomness (if that makes sense @_@ lol)
Zach Evans
ReplyDeleteIn Response to Connor M.
I believe you are right that America needs to work on diversifying our world view but I sort of feel like playing devil's advocate and I'm going to go with: America is exposed to a great variety of view points and ideas. We are the melting pot of the world and few places have a society built on such diversity. While these influences are not always heavily pronounced they exist in the shadows of our minds. For example "The Lion King" not only exposes to children to elements of African society and tradition it also introduces the same concept which takes Siddartha a life time to learn. The circle of life and the river are both symbolic of the unity which all life shares. In closing I will agree that the majority of Americans are to blind to see the culture that they are exposed to on a daily basis, the upper 20% recognize it and are probably some of the most philosophically diverse people in the world (though throw some math and science at us and we are pretty screwed)
Zach Evans
ReplyDeleteIn response to Amanda L.
I would like to thank you for bringing up the topic of religious freedom because, like you, I believe it to be one of the purest American values. Nothing disgusts me more than when people of different faiths look down on each other because they believe in something else. What ever happened to judging a person based on their merit? Things like kindness, work ethic, responsibility, etc are what a person should be based on. No one should have to feel threatened because of their beliefs nor should anyone try to force their beliefs on another. I would like to believe we could exist in a world where a belief is something comprised of pure joy. Where everyone could voice their opinions without fear of judgment.