Remember that this blog is due before 8:00 am Friday morning, April 4th. Write a quote from Siddhartha and then reflect on what it means in terms of character development, story line, or philosophical ideas.
"He had begun to suspect that his worthy father and his other teachers, the wise Brahmins, had already passed on to him the bulk and best of their wisdom, that they had already poured the sum total of their knowledge into his waiting vessel; and the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still." Page 3 This quote reflects on Siddhartha's great knowledge, and how he clearly has a power greater than others around him. Siddartha is set apart from others because he has the ability to go above and beyond what anyone else before him has done. The character of Siddhartha, his abilities and desire to learn more and acquire knowledge in order to satisfy his desire for information gives us insight to his personality. Siddhartha is clearly unlike anyone before him, and he is someone who has the desire and the ability to shape the future and make things happen.
"you will go into the forest," he said, "and become a samana. If you find bliss in the forest, come back and teach it to me. If you find disillusionment, come back, and we shall again offer sacrifices to the gods together." page 9 This quote shows that his father finally realizes that it is time to let go of his son and let him do what he wants. You can tell that even though his father thinks its time to let him do this, he still doesnt want him to go.
"He wanted to follow Siddhartha, the beloved, the magnificent. And if he ever became a god, if he ever entered the All-Radiant, then Govinda wanted to follow him as his friend, his companion, his servant, his lance bearer, his shadow"(2).
This quote shows the relationship between the two sons of Brahmin, which gives them privileges that others would not have due to their social standing, and how they have been friends for all of their lives, growing up together. Although, I feel that Govinda is too envious of Siddhartha, and this could lead to a falling out as the story progresses.
"What is meditation? What is abandonment of they body? What is fasting? What is the holding of the breath? It is a fight from the Self, it is a temporary escape from the torment of Self. It is a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life" (Pg. 13). This quote reflects on the fact that Siddhartha's character has much knowledge. Siddhartha has so much desire to become a Samana that he is starving his body and getting his body to become accustomed to pain. He realizes once the body goes through this pain it eventually will get used to it and will be normal for him.
"I will no longer study Yoga-Veda, Atharva-Veda, or asceticism, or any other teachings. I will learn from myself, be my own pupil; I will learn from myself the secret of Siddhartha"(32).
The above quote relates to the development of Siddhartha's characters. He states this quote after he has just spoken with the Budda, and he begins to realize that he will not learn anything more from him, or from anyone else. Siddhartha realizes that the only person who can tell him who he actually is is himself. He begins to see the world in a new light, and reflect on what he must do to teach himself. This thought shows how intelligent Siddhartha was and how above his time he was. No other person at that time had these thoughts, they were all in awe of the Budda. I think that it will be interesting to see whether this works out for Siddhartha, or whether he beings to wish that he conformed along with the rest of the other souls seeking nirvana.
I can't really decide on an actual quote. But I am drawn toward this new character because of his willingness to move on. His "thirst" and his desire to be truly satisfied has driven him to move beyond his comfortable settings and take charge of his destiny. I hate the thought of blind faith, of people following a god only because they are told to and never trying to think out their beliefs for themselves. Siddhartha's inner questions about life and love and god cannot be answered through his religion and his teachers alone. Rather than live the simple, peacful life that is given to him, he will leave that behind to find a greater meaning in his life.
"[Siddhartha says]'...But, very well, my friend, I am ready to hear that new teaching, although I believe in my heart that we have already tasted the best fruit of it.'"
I think this has two major implications. The first thing that came to mind was a reference possibly to the Garden of Eden through the use of the fruit metaphor. He uses the fruit to represent knowledge, and in a similar fasion: he wants to find divinity, and in a sense that knowledge is forbidden because it is unfindable.
The other implication reveals how Siddhartha is, in a sense, somewhat egotistical, closed minded, and stubborn. He seems to be headed that way, in any case, because he decides that it's not good enough for him, and that there's nothing more to get out of Buddha's teachings. This continues as he basically counters Buddha's teachings to the "Chosen One" himself.
Siddhartha has yet to develop as a character. He is learning about himself and is attempting to find what he believes is the true meaning of life. Thus far he has learned about the process of life itself. Hermann Hesse writes about a life cycle where "A dead jackal lay on the sandy shore and Siddhartha's soul slipped into its corpse; he became a dead jackal, lay on the shore, selled, stank, decayed....became a skeleton, became dust..." then his soul "returned died, decayed, turned into dust.."(pg 12). This quote is a biblical illusion to being born from dust and dust you shall return. This idea that you are born from nothing and end up the same way after you die.
" The Buddha has robbed me, thought Siddhartha. He has robbed me, yet he has given me something of greater value." (Pg. 29)
This quote is extremely important to the upcoming storyline. This is right after Siddhartha had his conversation with the Buddha. When he realizes that he is looking for a different journey then his friend, it hits him that the problem was never him trying to escape from himself and kill his soul, yet it was that he had lost sight of himself. The conversation that went on between him and the Buddha proved to him that in order to be great he has to be at one with himself. The Buddha had robbed him of what he thought was his life path, but in return, he was granted the gift of knowing that it was himself that he had to fix in order to be make his life's journey. It led up to his "awakening" which sets Siddhartha on his way to finding what his life is supposed to mean.
"The Buddha has robbed me, thought Siddhartha. He has robbed me, yet he has given me something of greater value. He has robbed me of my friend, who believed in me and now who believes in him; he was my shadow and is now Gotama's shadow. But he has given to me Siddhartha, myself"(30).
In this quote Siddhartha is neither bitter nor rejoiceful towards the fact that Buddha has taken away the values/friendship that he had previously. When he recognizes the fact that Buddha has changed him for the better, Siddhartha can really appreciate Buddha's teachings, though he refutes all other teachings. Up until this point I thought that Siddhartha had attained the perfect "inner self" so to speak. But after he recognizes that someone else can teach him something, and show him a path to a better life, he shows himself as changeable and affected.
"You have learned nothing through the teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious one, that nobody finds salvation through teachings." (27)
I think that Siddhartha is at this coming to complete terms with his need to not be taught by another person. His conversation with the Buddha is his separation from his friend Govinda and his beginning of reject of principles he has taught so he may find his own enlightenment the way he feels it must be found. This is the place where he begins his path alone.
"He fasted fourteen days. He fasted twenty-eight days. The flesh disappeared from his legs and cheeks." Page 10
Siddhartha has one single goal by doing this, he wants to become completely empty. To become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure, and sorrow, to let the self die. He wants to experience the peace of an emptied heart, to experience pure thought on his way to nirvana and pureness. When this happens he can at last awaken his innermost being that is no longer self. He believes that this is the secret.
"The Buddha went quietly on his way, lost in thought. His peaceful countenance was neither happy nor sad. He seemed to be smiling gently inwardly. With a secret smile, not unlike that of a healthy child, he walked along, peacefully, quietly. He wore his gown and walked along exactly like the other monks, but his face and his step, his peaceful downward glance, his peaceful downward-hanging hand, and every finger on his hand spoke of peace, spoke of completeness, sought nothing, imitated nothing, reflected a continuous quiet, and unfading light, an invulnerable peace--Page 22 This quote is describing the peacefulness of the Buddha, and Siddhartha's desire to attain this serenity. In this scene Siddhartha follows the Buddha and watches his actions. Siddhartha is not interested in the teachings of the Buddha, but instead is interested in understanding him and why he has acquired such a love for him.
"It often seemed near-the heavenly world-but never had he quite reached it, never had he quenched the final thirst. And among the wise men that he knew and whose teachings he enjoyed, there was not one who had entirely reached it-the heavenly world-not one who had completely quenched the eternal thirst" (5).
Here, Siddhartha laments over the fact that no one has reached or attained the source, the soul, the truth (Satya). He is beyond the teachings of his elders and is now ready to venture off into the world on this quest to find that which he seeks. This philosophical need is resonate in the quest for finding something greater than one can find in his or her own daily life (sidenote: parallel to "Into the Wild").
" At that moment, when the world around him melted away, when he stood alone like a star in the heavens, he was overwhelmed by a feeling of icy despair, but he was more firmly himself than ever. That was the last shudder of his awakening, the last pains of birth. Immediatly he moved on again and began to walk quickly and impatiently, no longer homewards, no longer to his father, no longer looking backwards." (34) This quote shows the importance of finding your own way, learning to aquire knowledge on your own, and becoming fully yourself. I have a feeling that these ideas will continue throughout the book.
"Siddhartha learned a great deal from the Samanas; he learned many ways of losing the Self. He travelled along the path of self-denial through pain, through voluntary suffering and conquering of pain, through hunger, thirst, and fatigue....But although the paths took him away from Self, in the end they always led back to it." (12)
This quote shows Siddhartha's impatience with the Samanas' method to find enlightenment. It seems like Siddhartha is only interested in instant gratification and he does not want to continue with the Samanas' approach because he sees that even the elders have not yet reached Nirvana. Therefore, he decides to move on to another method.
"Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow-to let the Self die. No longer to be Self, to experience the peace of an emptied heart, to experience pure thought-that was his goal." page 11
This quote reflects the goals and desires of Siddhartha and help develop Siddhartha in the eyes of readers. From this we can see that not only is Siddhartha determined, but he also has a strong desire to become pure and rid of everything else. I think knowing what Siddhartha's goals are will help readers understand his actions to come further in the book.
"Siddartha stood still and for a moment an icy chill stole over him. He shivered inwardly like a small animal, like a bird or a hare, when he realized how alone he was." Page 33
This quote is said when Siddartha sets himself free from being a monk of any sort. He had found himself awakened, new, and ready to start a journey of his own. Since he is not attached to anything, even his father, he can keep going and never look back. He is alone in his quest to find himself and the meaning of life. Nothing is more chilling.
"But he, Siddhartha, where did he belong? Whose life would he share? Whose language would he speak? At that moment, when the world around him melted away, when he stood alone like a star in the heavens, he was overwhelmed by a feeling of icy despair, but he was more firmly himself than ever." Page 34
I think this quote is very important in Siddhartha's character development because it is like a new beginning. Siddhartha is one step closer to learning who he is, what he values and what he desires. He is realizing that maybe life won't be as wonderful as he wants but that you might as well make the best of it. This passage has existential ideas because it is about finding your purpose in life. Who will you be? What will your value systems be? This quote is a great way to end part one because it leaves a lot of unanswered questions and much room to answer them.
"It is not for me to judge another life. I must judge for myself. I must choose and reject." (Pg. 28)
This quote reflects the existentialist idea that one must choose his/her own actions. Siddhartha decides to reject The Buddha's teachings because he knows that he will lose himself. Instead he must seek his self and choose his own actions. Siddhartha will be his own judge and he will decide for himself what is right and what is wrong. This is also the part of the story where he begins to have his rebirth. When he realizes that even the greatest teachings are not good enough, he realizes that it is because one cannot let oneself be instructed in what he will do. He finally begins to understand that to find himself he must make decisions for himself. He decides that his journey will be to find himself and who he is rather than destroying or emptying himself to become a vessel for another
"And siddhartha said softly, as if speaking to himself: "What is meditation? What is abandonment of the body? What is fasting? What is the holding of breath? Is it a flight from the Self, is it a temporary escape from the torment of Self. Is is a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life" (Hesse 13).
I think this is a very significant quote to the story. In this moment of questioning, Siddhartha realizes there is more to accomplish, he realizes that what he has been doing and what he thinks is conquering the Self is really just a brief escape, similar to drugs which he later makes a comparison of. I also think this is important because is demonstrates the determined personality of Siddhartha. None of the other Samanas bother questioning this, not even Govinda who wants so badly to follow in Siddharthas footsteps. I think that Siddharthas continual questioning, and almost discontentment is very important to the story and will keep happening.
"Govinda, I believe that amongst all the Samanas, probably not even one will attain Nirvana" (page 14) This quote shows Siddhartha's personality and beliefs. It shows how curious and wanting to find the truth in everything. He challenges everything, but with reason and perspective. After following the Samanas' way of life he has realized that he has not learned anything or gained any knowledge. Siddhartha is telling Govinda that even though the goal is Nirvana or peach within one's self, no one will ever reach that, not even the oldest of the Samanas.
"Were not the Gods forms created like me and you, mortal, transient? Was it therefore good and right, was it a sensible and worthy act to offer sacrifices to the gods?" page 3
This quote reveals Siddartha's inward thoughts and his questions on religion. He is wondering why gods should be worshipped and have sacrifices done in their names when they are really just like the rest of us. Why worship someone who is actually your equal? Not only is his questioning philosphical, but it also reveals more about Siddharthas character. This portrays him to be very intuitive and curious about peoples faith in higher powers.
"Was Atman then not within him? Was not then the source within his own heart? One must find the source within one's own Self, one must posses it." (page 5)
In this quote, Siddhartha is reflecting on his life and what purpose it has served and will serve. He is unsure of how to find himself and understand his life. He realized that he must somehow find himself and will begin a journey and a new life to do so.
Sidhartha shows his feelings to the Buddah, "This is why I am going on my way-not to seek another and better doctrine, for I know there is non, but to leave all doctrines and all teachers and to reach my goal alone-or die" (Hesse 28). Unlike Sidhartha's friend Govinda, Sidhartha is not a follower and knows the importance of personal discovery. As his own teacher and pupil, Sidhartha feels that he can reach nervana, when his fellow Samanas.
"You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious One, that nobody finds salvation through teachings" (27).
This quote represents Siddhartha's philosophy on life and how he is searching for spiritual enlightenment. He says this to Budda because he believes that he cannot tell his story of enlightenment through words. It is something that you have to experience on your own. Siddhartha believes in self discovery and this is shown so far in the book as he tries to reach Nirvana.
"Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die." (Page 11) This reflects the idea that Siddhartha feels in order to gain peace within he must abandon all that he knows so far. He was at one time a wealthy man of noble status and he must get rid of the qualities and follow the "4 noble truths" in order to gain salvation. I think that he feels in order to be completely whole and to have an understanding of himself as an individual, he has to start his life from the begining and begin the discovery process again. Being empty will lead to a life of fulfillment, as Siddhartha discovers what makes him an individual.
"What I have learned so far from the Samanas, I could have learned more quickly and easily in every inn in a prostitute's quarter, amongst the carriers and dice players... [The driver of oxen] drinks a few bowls of rice wine... He then no longer feels his Self, no longer feels the pain of life" (13). Here Siddhartha is saying that he doesn't need the samanas’ teachings to gain salvation from life, when he could just as easily drink alcohol, get detached from feeling and his body and basically have the same feeling that would result from the samanas’ teachings. This reminded me of the existentialist's belief that no matter what path, or life you make (you could be a peasant or a duke), you will end up in the same place (death, or nothingness). Basically you could take different paths to obtain salvation, but there's always the same result: salvation (that is if you obtain it). Molly Riegel
"I have become distrustful of teachings and learning and I have little faith in words that come to us from teachers. But, very well, my friend, I am ready to hear that new teaching, although I believe in my heart that we have already tasted the best fruit of it" (Page 18) This is Siddhartha speaking to Govinda. I think this quote really elaborates Siddhartha's view that he cannot be taught, and there is no learning from any teachers, he must travel on his journey of suffering and continue to teach himself. I think that this is a really important part to remember, because as Siddhartha continues on his path towards nirvana, and his own moment of enlightenment, he is after all teaching himself, and learning from himself.
Gotama told Siddhartha that, "Let me warn you, you who are thirsty for knowledge, against the thicket of opinions and the conflict of words. Opinions mean nothing; they may be beautiful or ugly, clever or foolish, anyone can embrace or reject them. The teaching which you have heard, however, is not my opinion, and its goal is not to explain the world to those who are thirsty for knowledge. Its goal is quite differnt; its goal is salvation from suffering. That is what Gotama teaches, nothing else." (Hesse 27).
This quote reflects on one of the philosophies on Opinion. As it is stated, Opinions mean nothing; but more importantly, it depends on how you can carry on with them. You can choose to listen or not, it will have to start with you. Opinions have no meaning unless you convert them into your life. Opinions will not hurt nor harm you, unless you have allowed them to destroy you, or to help you succeed through learning to understand the differences and or to learn from the mistakes you've made. It is similar to the process of teaching, "you have learned nothing through teachings," only through the knowledge to want him-or herself learn to be experienced--this is the true learning through self-teaching. ~~Mea Pen~~
"You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, o Illustrious One, that nobody finds salvation through teachings." (27).
In this story Siddhartha seems to be characterized by his ease of learning and his disire to be all knowing. Siddhartha is different because he does not want to follow rules, he wants to create them for himself. He does this differently from most people because he takes the time to learn others ways before creating something that he think will fill himself. He is lost in mans pursuit of happiness.
"Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die."
This quote reflects on Siddhartha's story line to find peace without suffering which is depicted by the 4 noble truths. Instead of having Buddha teach him these things he sets off on his own to abandon these types of feelings since it a self satisfying goal. In the end this goal foreshadows the future of what Siddhartha will accomplish in the end of his journey.
Quote: "Siddhartha learned a lot when he was with the Samanas, many ways leading away from the self he learned to go. He went the way of self-denial by means of pain, through voluntarily suffering and overcoming pain, hunger, thirst, tiredness. He went the way of self-denial by means of meditation, through imagining the mind to be void of all conceptions." page 6 This quote explains the type of character that we would be reading about. It explains how he is self determined to do well and wants to work are to achieve his goals. Siddartha seems to be a character who will always be doing something for the betterment of other people. He suffers for other people happines and then shares any happiness with many other people. In this quote whent they talk about him punishing himself to do better was self-denial and undertanding that what he was doing. This book seems very deap about choosing what is right and what is wrong and how to deal with that during your life.
"What is meditation? What is abandonment of they body? What is fasting? What is the holding of the breath? It is a fight from the Self, it is a temporary escape from the torment of Self. It is a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life" (Pg. 13).
I think that this quote is important because you see Siddhartha questioning what he is being taught.HE is realizing the flaw in what is being taught and knows that he must find something else.
"He looked through the small window of he room and saw Siddhartha standing there with his arms folded, unmoving."
This helps with the character development because it shows the read that Siddhartha how hard he is willing to work to get what he wants. It shows us how long he's will to wait to get what he needs. I feel that this is going to come up later in the book and show us how long, he is truly going to wait.
"Siddhartha had one single goal- to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die. No longer to be Self, to experience the peace of an emptied heart, to experience pure thought- that was his goal. When all the Self was conquered and dead, when all passions and desires were silent, then the last must waken, the innermost of Being that is no longer Self-the great secret!" This quotation of Siddarthas inner most thoughts vividly describes his struggle with himself to become enlightened. Also, his thoughts reflect on the four nobles of buddhism and suffering. Furthermore, he describes how he believes that to find true enlightenment he must seek it and experience it himself.
"It is not for me to judge another life. I must judge for myself. I must choose and reject."
This quote reflects the existential thought that one can choose their own path and that everyone needs to find their own answers to life's questions. However it also reflects some of the Buddhist teachings of the eightfold path, to speak right and have right knowledge. This quote is an excellent example of how Hesse's writing combines both Buddhism and Existentialism to look at the world through a very unique lens.
Siddhartha: "He has lived for sixty years and has not reached the nirvana. He'll turn seventy and eighty, and you and me, we will grow just as old and will do our exercises, and will fast, and will meditate. But we will not reach the nirvana, he won't and we won't. Oh Govinda, I believe out of all the Samanas out there, perhaps not a single one, not a single one, will reach the nirvana. We find comfort, we find numbness, we learn feats, to deceive others. But the most important thing, the path of paths, we will not find." This quote interested me becuase in the 4 paths or things that they are trying to find, one of them is the path to Nirvana and the ultimate goal is to reach Nirvana. It is interesting how they say the oldest Samana has not even reached Nirvana and that they probably will never reach it. Sidhartha is reflecting on it and he understands that he will probably never reach it but yet he is still trying to ultimately find it. HE gives up all these things for something that in the end he may not even find. It shows how is character will do anything to reach his goal and will not stop at anything. If he beleives something he will follow it till the end; this is also shown when they heear the Buddha speak and since he doesn't beleive everything that the Buddha is saying he does not go along with him, even though everyone else is.
I can't help but feel that it is not like this, my friend. What I've learned, being among the Samanas, up to this day, this, oh Govinda, I could have learned more quickly and by simpler means. In every tavern of that part of a town where the whorehouses are, my friend, among carters and gamblers I could have learned it."
Siddhartha is saying that what he learned could have been learned anywhere, like what he is learning will not help him. He later states that meditation is not different than being drunk. In both cases you lose yourself. So how is there a difference. Siddhartha questions much of the things that happen and whether they actually will help him succeed in becoming a buddah.
"What is meditation? What is abandonment of the body? What is fasting? What is the holding of breath?" pg. 13 This quote Siddartha is speaking to himself wondering about all of the things that he has been doing over the past little while to himself. He has been taking all of these new learnings from the Samanas and has been applying to his life in trying to be completely selfless. This kind of relates to exsistentialism because he is trying to figure out if there is a purpose in life and what he has to do to fulfill this fact that he as been figuring out.
"It often seemed near--the heavenly world--but never had he quite reached it, never had he quenched the final thirst. And among the wise men that he knew and whos teachings he enjoyed, there was not one who had entirely reached it--the heavenly world--not one who had completely quenched the final thirst." pg.5
This is right at the beginning of the book when Siddhartha is first introduced and it talks about how he feels towards their religion. This relates to existentialism because when he talks about how no one, not even the people that teach the religion have ever fully understood the meaning of life and achieved that higher sense of awareness it is a lot like one of the characteristics of existentialism that existentialists believe in (that the human condition does not have the ability to find out the meaning of life)
"I could have learned more simply. I could have learned it in any tavern of a red-light district, my friend, among the draymen and dicers." Page 16
This quote gives insight to the paths people make to find who they are, and the paths they take to find what they want out of life. In this quote Siddhartha is talking about how long and how much it is taking for him to reach what he is looking for. He says that all of this teaching he is leaning from the Samana's, could just be learned in some other place. It goes along with the idea that maybe no matter the path you take and the decisions you make you will still end up at the same end. It goes along with the pre-destiny. In existentialism every decision makes your future and in this book the idea is that no matter what you will make it to one destiny.
"You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious One, that noboody finds salvation through teachings." pg 27.
The above passage is a very pivital quote in the first part of this novel. It is where Siddhartha explains to Gotama, the budda that he needs to go find the feeling of enlightenment by himself. He cannot learn it from the teachings of Gotama. Siddhartha must go on his own journey, and by his own "seeking,in 'his' own way, thorugh thought, through meditation, through knowledege, through enlightenment," he will reach Nirvana. This also points out an exostentialist point of view. Siddhartha is going on a journey to find out his purpose and prove to himself the teachings of buddha. His choices he makes will reflect his future. It will be very interesting to see how this story plays out and if Siddhartha continues his journey and reaches what he set out for.
"Do not utter such dreadful words, Siddartha," said Govinda. pg 14
This quote describes one of the eight steps of becoming a Buddhist. Siddartha was complaining about how the Samanas would never obtain Nirvana. Yet one of the steps of becoming a Buddhist consists of not saying harmful or hateful words about other people.
"Do not utter such dreadful words, Siddartha," said Govinda. pg 14
This quote describes one of the eight steps of becoming a Buddhist. Siddartha was complaining about how the Samanas would never obtain Nirvana. Yet one of the steps of becoming a Buddhist consists of not saying harmful or hateful words about other people.
45 comments:
"He had begun to suspect that his worthy father and his other teachers, the wise Brahmins, had already passed on to him the bulk and best of their wisdom, that they had already poured the sum total of their knowledge into his waiting vessel; and the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still." Page 3
This quote reflects on Siddhartha's great knowledge, and how he clearly has a power greater than others around him. Siddartha is set apart from others because he has the ability to go above and beyond what anyone else before him has done. The character of Siddhartha, his abilities and desire to learn more and acquire knowledge in order to satisfy his desire for information gives us insight to his personality. Siddhartha is clearly unlike anyone before him, and he is someone who has the desire and the ability to shape the future and make things happen.
"you will go into the forest," he said, "and become a samana. If you find bliss in the forest, come back and teach it to me. If you find disillusionment, come back, and we shall again offer sacrifices to the gods together." page 9
This quote shows that his father finally realizes that it is time to let go of his son and let him do what he wants. You can tell that even though his father thinks its time to let him do this, he still doesnt want him to go.
"He wanted to follow Siddhartha, the beloved, the magnificent. And if he ever became a god, if he ever entered the All-Radiant, then Govinda wanted to follow him as his friend, his companion, his servant, his lance bearer, his shadow"(2).
This quote shows the relationship between the two sons of Brahmin, which gives them privileges that others would not have due to their social standing, and how they have been friends for all of their lives, growing up together. Although, I feel that Govinda is too envious of Siddhartha, and this could lead to a falling out as the story progresses.
"What is meditation? What is abandonment of they body? What is fasting? What is the holding of the breath? It is a fight from the Self, it is a temporary escape from the torment of Self. It is a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life" (Pg. 13).
This quote reflects on the fact that Siddhartha's character has much knowledge. Siddhartha has so much desire to become a Samana that he is starving his body and getting his body to become accustomed to pain. He realizes once the body goes through this pain it eventually will get used to it and will be normal for him.
"I will no longer study Yoga-Veda, Atharva-Veda, or asceticism, or any other teachings. I will learn from myself, be my own pupil; I will learn from myself the secret of Siddhartha"(32).
The above quote relates to the development of Siddhartha's characters. He states this quote after he has just spoken with the Budda, and he begins to realize that he will not learn anything more from him, or from anyone else. Siddhartha realizes that the only person who can tell him who he actually is is himself. He begins to see the world in a new light, and reflect on what he must do to teach himself. This thought shows how intelligent Siddhartha was and how above his time he was. No other person at that time had these thoughts, they were all in awe of the Budda. I think that it will be interesting to see whether this works out for Siddhartha, or whether he beings to wish that he conformed along with the rest of the other souls seeking nirvana.
I can't really decide on an actual quote. But I am drawn toward this new character because of his willingness to move on. His "thirst" and his desire to be truly satisfied has driven him to move beyond his comfortable settings and take charge of his destiny. I hate the thought of blind faith, of people following a god only because they are told to and never trying to think out their beliefs for themselves. Siddhartha's inner questions about life and love and god cannot be answered through his religion and his teachers alone. Rather than live the simple, peacful life that is given to him, he will leave that behind to find a greater meaning in his life.
"[Siddhartha says]'...But, very well, my friend, I am ready to hear that new teaching, although I believe in my heart that we have already tasted the best fruit of it.'"
I think this has two major implications. The first thing that came to mind was a reference possibly to the Garden of Eden through the use of the fruit metaphor. He uses the fruit to represent knowledge, and in a similar fasion: he wants to find divinity, and in a sense that knowledge is forbidden because it is unfindable.
The other implication reveals how Siddhartha is, in a sense, somewhat egotistical, closed minded, and stubborn. He seems to be headed that way, in any case, because he decides that it's not good enough for him, and that there's nothing more to get out of Buddha's teachings. This continues as he basically counters Buddha's teachings to the "Chosen One" himself.
Siddhartha has yet to develop as a character. He is learning about himself and is attempting to find what he believes is the true meaning of life. Thus far he has learned about the process of life itself. Hermann Hesse writes about a life cycle where "A dead jackal lay on the sandy shore and Siddhartha's soul slipped into its corpse; he became a dead jackal, lay on the shore, selled, stank, decayed....became a skeleton, became dust..." then his soul "returned died, decayed, turned into dust.."(pg 12). This quote is a biblical illusion to being born from dust and dust you shall return. This idea that you are born from nothing and end up the same way after you die.
" The Buddha has robbed me, thought Siddhartha. He has robbed me, yet he has given me something of greater value." (Pg. 29)
This quote is extremely important to the upcoming storyline. This is right after Siddhartha had his conversation with the Buddha. When he realizes that he is looking for a different journey then his friend, it hits him that the problem was never him trying to escape from himself and kill his soul, yet it was that he had lost sight of himself. The conversation that went on between him and the Buddha proved to him that in order to be great he has to be at one with himself. The Buddha had robbed him of what he thought was his life path, but in return, he was granted the gift of knowing that it was himself that he had to fix in order to be make his life's journey. It led up to his "awakening" which sets Siddhartha on his way to finding what his life is supposed to mean.
"The Buddha has robbed me, thought Siddhartha. He has robbed me, yet he has given me something of greater value. He has robbed me of my friend, who believed in me and now who believes in him; he was my shadow and is now Gotama's shadow. But he has given to me Siddhartha, myself"(30).
In this quote Siddhartha is neither bitter nor rejoiceful towards the fact that Buddha has taken away the values/friendship that he had previously. When he recognizes the fact that Buddha has changed him for the better, Siddhartha can really appreciate Buddha's teachings, though he refutes all other teachings. Up until this point I thought that Siddhartha had attained the perfect "inner self" so to speak. But after he recognizes that someone else can teach him something, and show him a path to a better life, he shows himself as changeable and affected.
"You have learned nothing through the teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious one, that nobody finds salvation through teachings." (27)
I think that Siddhartha is at this coming to complete terms with his need to not be taught by another person. His conversation with the Buddha is his separation from his friend Govinda and his beginning of reject of principles he has taught so he may find his own enlightenment the way he feels it must be found. This is the place where he begins his path alone.
"He fasted fourteen days. He fasted twenty-eight days. The flesh disappeared from his legs and cheeks."
Page 10
Siddhartha has one single goal by doing this, he wants to become completely empty. To become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure, and sorrow, to let the self die. He wants to experience the peace of an emptied heart, to experience pure thought on his way to nirvana and pureness. When this happens he can at last awaken his innermost being that is no longer self. He believes that this is the secret.
"The Buddha went quietly on his way, lost in thought. His peaceful countenance was neither happy nor sad. He seemed to be smiling gently inwardly. With a secret smile, not unlike that of a healthy child, he walked along, peacefully, quietly. He wore his gown and walked along exactly like the other monks, but his face and his step, his peaceful downward glance, his peaceful downward-hanging hand, and every finger on his hand spoke of peace, spoke of completeness, sought nothing, imitated nothing, reflected a continuous quiet, and unfading light, an invulnerable peace--Page 22
This quote is describing the peacefulness of the Buddha, and Siddhartha's desire to attain this serenity. In this scene Siddhartha follows the Buddha and watches his actions. Siddhartha is not interested in the teachings of the Buddha, but instead is interested in understanding him and why he has acquired such a love for him.
"It often seemed near-the heavenly world-but never had he quite reached it, never had he quenched the final thirst. And among the wise men that he knew and whose teachings he enjoyed, there was not one who had entirely reached it-the heavenly world-not one who had completely quenched the eternal thirst" (5).
Here, Siddhartha laments over the fact that no one has reached or attained the source, the soul, the truth (Satya). He is beyond the teachings of his elders and is now ready to venture off into the world on this quest to find that which he seeks. This philosophical need is resonate in the quest for finding something greater than one can find in his or her own daily life (sidenote: parallel to "Into the Wild").
" At that moment, when the world around him melted away, when he stood alone like a star in the heavens, he was overwhelmed by a feeling of icy despair, but he was more firmly himself than ever. That was the last shudder of his awakening, the last pains of birth. Immediatly he moved on again and began to walk quickly and impatiently, no longer homewards, no longer to his father, no longer looking backwards." (34)
This quote shows the importance of finding your own way, learning to aquire knowledge on your own, and becoming fully yourself. I have a feeling that these ideas will continue throughout the book.
"Siddhartha learned a great deal from the Samanas; he learned many ways of losing the Self. He travelled along the path of self-denial through pain, through voluntary suffering and conquering of pain, through hunger, thirst, and fatigue....But although the paths took him away from Self, in the end they always led back to it." (12)
This quote shows Siddhartha's impatience with the Samanas' method to find enlightenment. It seems like Siddhartha is only interested in instant gratification and he does not want to continue with the Samanas' approach because he sees that even the elders have not yet reached Nirvana. Therefore, he decides to move on to another method.
"Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow-to let the Self die. No longer to be Self, to experience the peace of an emptied heart, to experience pure thought-that was his goal." page 11
This quote reflects the goals and desires of Siddhartha and help develop Siddhartha in the eyes of readers. From this we can see that not only is Siddhartha determined, but he also has a strong desire to become pure and rid of everything else. I think knowing what Siddhartha's goals are will help readers understand his actions to come further in the book.
"Siddartha stood still and for a moment an icy chill stole over him. He shivered inwardly like a small animal, like a bird or a hare, when he realized how alone he was." Page 33
This quote is said when Siddartha sets himself free from being a monk of any sort. He had found himself awakened, new, and ready to start a journey of his own. Since he is not attached to anything, even his father, he can keep going and never look back. He is alone in his quest to find himself and the meaning of life. Nothing is more chilling.
"But he, Siddhartha, where did he belong? Whose life would he share? Whose language would he speak? At that moment, when the world around him melted away, when he stood alone like a star in the heavens, he was overwhelmed by a feeling of icy despair, but he was more firmly himself than ever." Page 34
I think this quote is very important in Siddhartha's character development because it is like a new beginning. Siddhartha is one step closer to learning who he is, what he values and what he desires. He is realizing that maybe life won't be as wonderful as he wants but that you might as well make the best of it. This passage has existential ideas because it is about finding your purpose in life. Who will you be? What will your value systems be? This quote is a great way to end part one because it leaves a lot of unanswered questions and much room to answer them.
"It is not for me to judge another life. I must judge for myself. I must choose and reject." (Pg. 28)
This quote reflects the existentialist idea that one must choose his/her own actions. Siddhartha decides to reject The Buddha's teachings because he knows that he will lose himself. Instead he must seek his self and choose his own actions. Siddhartha will be his own judge and he will decide for himself what is right and what is wrong. This is also the part of the story where he begins to have his rebirth. When he realizes that even the greatest teachings are not good enough, he realizes that it is because one cannot let oneself be instructed in what he will do. He finally begins to understand that to find himself he must make decisions for himself. He decides that his journey will be to find himself and who he is rather than destroying or emptying himself to become a vessel for another
"And siddhartha said softly, as if speaking to himself: "What is meditation? What is abandonment of the body? What is fasting? What is the holding of breath? Is it a flight from the Self, is it a temporary escape from the torment of Self. Is is a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life" (Hesse 13).
I think this is a very significant quote to the story. In this moment of questioning, Siddhartha realizes there is more to accomplish, he realizes that what he has been doing and what he thinks is conquering the Self is really just a brief escape, similar to drugs which he later makes a comparison of. I also think this is important because is demonstrates the determined personality of Siddhartha. None of the other Samanas bother questioning this, not even Govinda who wants so badly to follow in Siddharthas footsteps. I think that Siddharthas continual questioning, and almost discontentment is very important to the story and will keep happening.
"Govinda, I believe that amongst all the Samanas, probably not even one will attain Nirvana" (page 14)
This quote shows Siddhartha's personality and beliefs. It shows how curious and wanting to find the truth in everything. He challenges everything, but with reason and perspective. After following the Samanas' way of life he has realized that he has not learned anything or gained any knowledge. Siddhartha is telling Govinda that even though the goal is Nirvana or peach within one's self, no one will ever reach that, not even the oldest of the Samanas.
"Were not the Gods forms created like me and you, mortal, transient? Was it therefore good and right, was it a sensible and worthy act to offer sacrifices to the gods?" page 3
This quote reveals Siddartha's inward thoughts and his questions on religion. He is wondering why gods should be worshipped and have sacrifices done in their names when they are really just like the rest of us. Why worship someone who is actually your equal? Not only is his questioning philosphical, but it also reveals more about Siddharthas character. This portrays him to be very intuitive and curious about peoples faith in higher powers.
"Was Atman then not within him? Was not then the source within his own heart? One must find the source within one's own Self, one must posses it." (page 5)
In this quote, Siddhartha is reflecting on his life and what purpose it has served and will serve. He is unsure of how to find himself and understand his life. He realized that he must somehow find himself and will begin a journey and a new life to do so.
Sidhartha shows his feelings to the Buddah, "This is why I am going on my way-not to seek another and better doctrine, for I know there is non, but to leave all doctrines and all teachers and to reach my goal alone-or die" (Hesse 28). Unlike Sidhartha's friend Govinda, Sidhartha is not a follower and knows the importance of personal discovery. As his own teacher and pupil, Sidhartha feels that he can reach nervana, when his fellow Samanas.
"You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious One, that nobody finds salvation through teachings" (27).
This quote represents Siddhartha's philosophy on life and how he is searching for spiritual enlightenment. He says this to Budda because he believes that he cannot tell his story of enlightenment through words. It is something that you have to experience on your own. Siddhartha believes in self discovery and this is shown so far in the book as he tries to reach Nirvana.
"Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die." (Page 11)
This reflects the idea that Siddhartha feels in order to gain peace within he must abandon all that he knows so far. He was at one time a wealthy man of noble status and he must get rid of the qualities and follow the "4 noble truths" in order to gain salvation. I think that he feels in order to be completely whole and to have an understanding of himself as an individual, he has to start his life from the begining and begin the discovery process again. Being empty will lead to a life of fulfillment, as Siddhartha discovers what makes him an individual.
"What I have learned so far from the Samanas, I could have learned more quickly and easily in every inn in a prostitute's quarter, amongst the carriers and dice players... [The driver of oxen] drinks a few bowls of rice wine... He then no longer feels his Self, no longer feels the pain of life" (13).
Here Siddhartha is saying that he doesn't need the samanas’ teachings to gain salvation from life, when he could just as easily drink alcohol, get detached from feeling and his body and basically have the same feeling that would result from the samanas’ teachings. This reminded me of the existentialist's belief that no matter what path, or life you make (you could be a peasant or a duke), you will end up in the same place (death, or nothingness). Basically you could take different paths to obtain salvation, but there's always the same result: salvation (that is if you obtain it).
Molly Riegel
"I have become distrustful of teachings and learning and I have little faith in words that come to us from teachers. But, very well, my friend, I am ready to hear that new teaching, although I believe in my heart that we have already tasted the best fruit of it" (Page 18) This is Siddhartha speaking to Govinda. I think this quote really elaborates Siddhartha's view that he cannot be taught, and there is no learning from any teachers, he must travel on his journey of suffering and continue to teach himself. I think that this is a really important part to remember, because as Siddhartha continues on his path towards nirvana, and his own moment of enlightenment, he is after all teaching himself, and learning from himself.
Gotama told Siddhartha that, "Let me warn you, you who are thirsty for knowledge, against the thicket of opinions and the conflict of words. Opinions mean nothing; they may be beautiful or ugly, clever or foolish, anyone can embrace or reject them. The teaching which you have heard, however, is not my opinion, and its goal is not to explain the world to those who are thirsty for knowledge. Its goal is quite differnt; its goal is salvation from suffering. That is what Gotama teaches, nothing else." (Hesse 27).
This quote reflects on one of the philosophies on Opinion. As it is stated, Opinions mean nothing; but more importantly, it depends on how you can carry on with them. You can choose to listen or not, it will have to start with you. Opinions have no meaning unless you convert them into your life. Opinions will not hurt nor harm you, unless you have allowed them to destroy you, or to help you succeed through learning to understand the differences and or to learn from the mistakes you've made. It is similar to the process of teaching, "you have learned nothing through teachings," only through the knowledge to want him-or herself learn to be experienced--this is the true learning through self-teaching.
~~Mea Pen~~
"You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, o Illustrious One, that nobody finds salvation through teachings." (27).
In this story Siddhartha seems to be characterized by his ease of learning and his disire to be all knowing. Siddhartha is different because he does not want to follow rules, he wants to create them for himself. He does this differently from most people because he takes the time to learn others ways before creating something that he think will fill himself. He is lost in mans pursuit of happiness.
"Siddhartha had one single goal-to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die."
This quote reflects on Siddhartha's story line to find peace without suffering which is depicted by the 4 noble truths. Instead of having Buddha teach him these things he sets off on his own to abandon these types of feelings since it a self satisfying goal. In the end this goal foreshadows the future of what Siddhartha will accomplish in the end of his journey.
Quote: "Siddhartha learned a lot when he was with the Samanas, many ways leading away from the self he learned to go. He went the way of self-denial by means of pain, through voluntarily suffering and overcoming pain, hunger, thirst, tiredness. He went the way of self-denial by means of meditation, through imagining the mind to be void of all conceptions." page 6
This quote explains the type of character that we would be reading about. It explains how he is self determined to do well and wants to work are to achieve his goals. Siddartha seems to be a character who will always be doing something for the betterment of other people. He suffers for other people happines and then shares any happiness with many other people. In this quote whent they talk about him punishing himself to do better was self-denial and undertanding that what he was doing. This book seems very deap about choosing what is right and what is wrong and how to deal with that during your life.
"What is meditation? What is abandonment of they body? What is fasting? What is the holding of the breath? It is a fight from the Self, it is a temporary escape from the torment of Self. It is a temporary palliative against the pain and folly of life" (Pg. 13).
I think that this quote is important because you see Siddhartha questioning what he is being taught.HE is realizing the flaw in what is being taught and knows that he must find something else.
"He looked through the small window of he room and saw Siddhartha standing there with his arms folded, unmoving."
This helps with the character development because it shows the read that Siddhartha how hard he is willing to work to get what he wants. It shows us how long he's will to wait to get what he needs. I feel that this is going to come up later in the book and show us how long, he is truly going to wait.
"Siddhartha had one single goal- to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die. No longer to be Self, to experience the peace of an emptied heart, to experience pure thought- that was his goal. When all the Self was conquered and dead, when all passions and desires were silent, then the last must waken, the innermost of Being that is no longer Self-the great secret!" This quotation of Siddarthas inner most thoughts vividly describes his struggle with himself to become enlightened. Also, his thoughts reflect on the four nobles of buddhism and suffering. Furthermore, he describes how he believes that to find true enlightenment he must seek it and experience it himself.
"It is not for me to judge another life. I must judge for myself. I must choose and reject."
This quote reflects the existential thought that one can choose their own path and that everyone needs to find their own answers to life's questions. However it also reflects some of the Buddhist teachings of the eightfold path, to speak right and have right knowledge. This quote is an excellent example of how Hesse's writing combines both Buddhism and Existentialism to look at the world through a very unique lens.
Siddhartha: "He has lived for sixty years and has not reached the nirvana. He'll turn seventy and eighty, and you and me, we will grow just as old and will do our exercises, and will fast, and will meditate. But we will not reach the nirvana, he won't and we won't. Oh Govinda, I believe out of all the Samanas out there, perhaps not a single one, not a single one, will reach the nirvana. We find comfort, we find numbness, we learn feats, to deceive others. But the most important thing, the path of paths, we will not find."
This quote interested me becuase in the 4 paths or things that they are trying to find, one of them is the path to Nirvana and the ultimate goal is to reach Nirvana. It is interesting how they say the oldest Samana has not even reached Nirvana and that they probably will never reach it. Sidhartha is reflecting on it and he understands that he will probably never reach it but yet he is still trying to ultimately find it. HE gives up all these things for something that in the end he may not even find. It shows how is character will do anything to reach his goal and will not stop at anything. If he beleives something he will follow it till the end; this is also shown when they heear the Buddha speak and since he doesn't beleive everything that the Buddha is saying he does not go along with him, even though everyone else is.
I can't help but feel that it is not like this, my friend. What I've learned, being among the Samanas, up to this day, this, oh Govinda, I could have learned more quickly and by simpler means. In every tavern of that part of a town where the whorehouses are, my friend, among carters and gamblers I could have learned it."
Siddhartha is saying that what he learned could have been learned anywhere, like what he is learning will not help him. He later states that meditation is not different than being drunk. In both cases you lose yourself. So how is there a difference. Siddhartha questions much of the things that happen and whether they actually will help him succeed in becoming a buddah.
"What is meditation? What is abandonment of the body? What is fasting? What is the holding of breath?" pg. 13
This quote Siddartha is speaking to himself wondering about all of the things that he has been doing over the past little while to himself. He has been taking all of these new learnings from the Samanas and has been applying to his life in trying to be completely selfless. This kind of relates to exsistentialism because he is trying to figure out if there is a purpose in life and what he has to do to fulfill this fact that he as been figuring out.
"It often seemed near--the heavenly world--but never had he quite reached it, never had he quenched the final thirst. And among the wise men that he knew and whos teachings he enjoyed, there was not one who had entirely reached it--the heavenly world--not one who had completely quenched the final thirst." pg.5
This is right at the beginning of the book when Siddhartha is first introduced and it talks about how he feels towards their religion. This relates to existentialism because when he talks about how no one, not even the people that teach the religion have ever fully understood the meaning of life and achieved that higher sense of awareness it is a lot like one of the characteristics of existentialism that existentialists believe in (that the human condition does not have the ability to find out the meaning of life)
"I could have learned more simply. I could have learned it in any tavern of a red-light district, my friend, among the draymen and dicers."
Page 16
This quote gives insight to the paths people make to find who they are, and the paths they take to find what they want out of life. In this quote Siddhartha is talking about how long and how much it is taking for him to reach what he is looking for. He says that all of this teaching he is leaning from the Samana's, could just be learned in some other place. It goes along with the idea that maybe no matter the path you take and the decisions you make you will still end up at the same end. It goes along with the pre-destiny. In existentialism every decision makes your future and in this book the idea is that no matter what you will make it to one destiny.
"You have learned nothing through teachings, and so I think, O Illustrious One, that noboody finds salvation through teachings." pg 27.
The above passage is a very pivital quote in the first part of this novel. It is where Siddhartha explains to Gotama, the budda that he needs to go find the feeling of enlightenment by himself. He cannot learn it from the teachings of Gotama. Siddhartha must go on his own journey, and by his own "seeking,in 'his' own way, thorugh thought, through meditation, through knowledege, through enlightenment," he will reach Nirvana. This also points out an exostentialist point of view. Siddhartha is going on a journey to find out his purpose and prove to himself the teachings of buddha. His choices he makes will reflect his future. It will be very interesting to see how this story plays out and if Siddhartha continues his journey and reaches what he set out for.
"Do not utter such dreadful words, Siddartha," said Govinda. pg 14
This quote describes one of the eight steps of becoming a Buddhist. Siddartha was complaining about how the Samanas would never obtain Nirvana. Yet one of the steps of becoming a Buddhist consists of not saying harmful or hateful words about other people.
"Do not utter such dreadful words, Siddartha," said Govinda. pg 14
This quote describes one of the eight steps of becoming a Buddhist. Siddartha was complaining about how the Samanas would never obtain Nirvana. Yet one of the steps of becoming a Buddhist consists of not saying harmful or hateful words about other people.
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