From a Samana to a Merchant

In the chapter "Among the People" Siddhartha completes his transformation from an ascetic to a merchant tat lives in the real world. I thought the topic of "Self" is very important in this chapter. Although Siddhartha changes his way of life and his profession, he continues to be the same person, and keeps his "self".

At the beginning, the change is a bit awkward because the people in his old way of life, and people in his new way of life have very different ways of seeing the world. This is shown on page 68: "I am without possessions, said Siddhartha, if this is what you mean. Surely, I am without possessions. But I am so voluntarily, and therefore I am not destitute. But what are you planning to live of, being without possessions? I haven’t thought of this yet, sir. For more than three years, I have been without possessions, and have never thought about of what I should live. So you’ve lived of the possessions of others. Presumable this is how it is. After all, a merchant also lives of what other people own." The merchant fails to understand the ascetic, spiritual way of living. Later on, Siddhartha grows accustomed to the material way of living, and has great success as a merchant.

As Siddhartha becomes a merchant, he does not change his self. He doesn't become greedy nor selfish nor impatient: traits that are highlighted in Kamaswami. He remains patient, humble and careless. At some point, Kamaswami reproaches Siddhartha because he misses a harvest, however, in Siddhartha's eyes, he did not waste the trip. He says he  enjoyed it, and met a lot of new people, so it was worth his while although no profit was made. He also says that Kamaswami should learn to think, and that Siddhartha should be his teacher. I also think Kamaswami should learn to be more calm, and if he did he would be more successful. They both have a lot to learn about eachother. From my point of view (as a materialistic person) I understand why some of the people would be amazed at someone as stressless and as equanimous as Siddhartha. Because he was so open and calm, a lot of people came to him to get advice, or to impress him.

I don't like Siddhartha in the real world. I hope in the next chapters, he will find the real world as empty as he found all of the previous teachings he got, and move on to a different scenery. Here's hoping for abstract Siddharta.

Iron Man vs. Siddhartha

In the chapter "Amongst the People", of Siddhartha by Herman Hesse, Siddhartha reminded me of  Tony Stark. This chapter is all about how Siddhartha changes his life from being a Samana and an ascetic to become a rich merchant who lives amongst the people and enjoys all material pleasures.

In this chapter Siddhartha uses his superpowers, fasting, patience, and meditation, to make the most out of his experience in the real world. This is very relatable to Tony Stark because Tony Stark is one of the only heros who apply their superpowers into their daily lives. Like Siddhartha, Iron Man's best gifts are mental, or intelectual, and they both use them to become rich.

However, there are many differences between these 2. Unlike Siddhartha, Iron Man is impulsive and impatient, and often rude. On the other hand, Siddhartha is calm, patient, and very polite at all times. They are different in objectives as well. Siddhartha seeks illumination and knowledge while Tony Stark seeks money, fame, and often justice.

Siddharthas Vocabulary In Images

Enquire: to seek information, to ask.

"Kamaswami went out and returned with a roll which he handed to his guest and enquired: "Can you read this?" (53)

Servile: being submissive.

"he was never servile to the merchant." (53)

Compel: to force or drive.

"but compelled him to treat him as an equal." (53)

Endeavor: to attempt to do something.

"the rules of which he endeavored to learn well." (53)

Plunge: to dive blindly.

"he was inclined to plunge to the depths of it blindly..." (54)

Equanimity: calmness of mind, composure.

"and surpassed the merchant in calmness and equanimity" (54)

Reproach: to express criticism and disapproval.

"If Kamaswami came to him and told him his troubles or made him reproaches about a transaction..." (57)

Elicit: To bring or draw out.

(this puppy elicits your love)
"many to elicit his sympathy..." (57)

Siddhartha's Transformation

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Awkward Siddhartha

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Siddhartha Becomes Siddhartha

During all of his journey, Siddartha has been trying to break away from his self. Now he has realised that enlightenment was always found within himself. All this time he has been looking for "Atman", or the self, and until now he hadn't thought of looking for the answer within him. This new knowledge comes to him naturally, like when you are looking for a pen that was in your hand the whole time.

After this sudden ray of truth he feels lonely. He then proceeds to break away from his past, and leave his teachings behind. He is newly born in his quest. This new information means a new beginning. Although I agree with his fresh start, I would have interpreted my loneliness as a sign from my spiritual self: an indication that the soul needs love and nourishment.

In this awakening, Siddhartha has a new aura of inspiration. He now gets a sense of direction that he had been lacking. I hope he does find truth and light within himself. I am very curious as to what he will conclude the self is. I just hope he finds satisfaction one day.

Siddhartha's First Conclusion

After years of a spiritual quest Siddhartha has finally said something useful. Apparently, Gotama is the first "enlightened" man Siddhartha has found. Govinda is instantly charmed by Gotama's calm, almost selfless, personality. The Buddha is perfectly calm and peaceful: "every finger of his hand spoke of peace, spoke of completeness, sought nothing, imitated nothing, reflected a continuous quiet, and unfading light, an invulnerable peace." Although Govinda is convinced Buddha's teachings will lead them to enlightment, Siddhartha gets an epiphany, which causes Siddhartha to separate from Govinda.

The combined teachings of the Brahmins, the Samanas and Buddha did not satisfy Siddhartha. This leads Siddhartha to conclude that teachings are completely useless. As he tells the Buddha, enlightenment cannot be taught, it has to be experienced.

This new view on enlightenment reminded me of the Dao. Like the Dao, it cannot be taught through teachings and books, and it cannot be expressed in words. As well, it is found through non-action. Te Dao is mastering your human necessities and becoming completely non-active. Enlightenment is being non-active and selfless until Nirvana arrives naturally. I am happy Siddhartha is one step closer to self fullfilment.

The Inner Self? (10-19)

The second chapter of Siddhartha is very confusing. The topic of "the inner self" is highly controversial. The book expresses that by losing one's self and ones necessities, one becomes part of a whole, and each of its parts. As soon as one becomes physically selfless, one can experience being anything (even inanimate objects). I have a different take on the relationship between one and the whole. I think that one has to be a self to be part of the whole. Each part (or self) plays an essential role in the whole. By finding one's role in the whole, one is fulfilled. Siddhartha successfully becomes selfless, and therefore becomes everything.

However, this is not big enough for Siddhartha. While reading this I wondered what could be bigger than the whole? Apparently what Siddhartha wants is to achieve Nirvana. Is Nirvana breaking away from the cycle of the whole?, or is it becoming the whole permanently, and not just temporarily? Apparently Nirvana is a knowledge that cannot be learned. Why would one want something that one knows one cannot have (like a 5 year old wanting a ferrari)?

Every person has an inner struggle to find something greater than life. A lot of people have found this in religion and God. Every century or so, a person appears who believes that he has that secret knowledge. Some of these people include Jesus, Mohammed, and of course, Buddha. Usually, these people have followers. What is very sad is that no one realizes that we are a tiny insignificant speck in the universe. In our condition of megalomaniacs, we think of our quests for knowledge and wisdom as great and meaningful. Pessimistically, I have concluded that for humans, there is nothing bigger than life.

The Cup Half Empty (1-9)

A lot of people can relate to Siddhartha (from the book Siddhartha). The first chapter of the book depicts him as a people pleaser, who exceeds all expectations. However, Siddhartha fails to find happiness for himself. His undying thirst is typical for a Confucianist like him. Although I would like to be as different from Siddhartha as possible, even the most taoist people have felt unsatisfied at some point in their lives.

Siddhartha meets everyone's expectation's but his own. In page two, the author describes how Siddhartha makes his father proud: "There was happiness in his father's heart because of his son who was intelligent and thirsty for knowledge; he saw him growing up to be a great learned man, a priest, a prince among Brahmins." Later Siddhartha realizes he doesn't want to be a priest, nor a Brahmin. He makes everybody happy around him. However, Siddhartha is not happy because he feels empty inside.

This eternal uneasiness is one of the main flaws of being a Confucianist. At first, he is striving to be the person he is expected to be. Obviously, that was not enough for him, because he was striving to fit society, and in the process he neglects his own happiness. He is too busy looking for knowledge to realize that knowledge is not what he needs to accomplish inner peace. If he stays like that, he will never be satisfied.

At one moment or another everyone has felt like their life has no purpose (at least I know I have). I look into my future and think: "I have three more years of school left. I'll go to college (another four years), and probably get a masters degree (2 years)." Nevertheless, I always wonder if I will be happy then, or if happiness will come later, with a family and kids. When will I feel satisfied? I think this is the problem Siddhartha is facing, he feels his life doesn't have meaning. I think happiness and self-fulfilment is achieved with a mixture of having a purpose in life, and being able to enjoy the small things.

I fear Siddhartha's way of achieving happiness is by self-sacrifice. I hope it is not so. I'm not into self-sacrifice.

Agape and Eros in "Love Poem for Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar"

I think this poem might be addressing both Agape and Eros. I did not find strong proof of any physical attraction between the author and Ted Neeley from Jesus Christ. Although the author did highlight many of Ted's physical traits most of them negative. However she seems to be attracted or aroused by these traits. In some parts it even seems that she thinks these bad traits add personality to the role, which she finds attractive. The Agape love is less subtle.

What the author feels is an undying love and loyalty to the show and mostly to the actor who plays JC. When the author says, "when you cast merchants and money chargers from the temple, I forgot your thinning hair and wrinkled brow, forgot how your story ended: your broken voice crying on the cross," he is saying that despite his old appearance and broken voice, he still enjoys the show passionately. He worships the show.

John Book 19 and 20

Questions:

What do you interpret from Jesus' last words "It is done"?

What blame do you think Pilate really has? Judas? The high priests?

Why do you think Peter's betrayal means?

Conciseness

Exercises:

2. THeir car is gassed up, ready for the long, all-night drive.

3. Sometimes Stan ran with Blanche, who was at the track team at school.

4. Taylor brought some candy back from Europe, which was shaped, and tasted differently than american candy.

5. Government leaders mention the creation of new jobs as an indication of a strong economy; however, they don't realise that many low-wage no benefits jobs have replaced good jobs.