"A Change Is Gonna Come" - Otis Redding
"It's been a long, long time coming but I know a change is gonna come."
"So tired of standing by myself you know that I know that a change is gotta come."
Siddhartha would listen to this song in the beginning of the novel during his transition from life as a flourishing Brahmin worshiper to a Samana, seeking to empty his life of all material things except himself and his path to enlightenment. As exposed to us in the initial description of Siddhartha, everyone found joy in him though he could not find joy in himself. Siddhartha, though surrounded by multitudes of individuals who adored him, sought homage in him, and looked for him to guide them in correct worship, found himself lonely and misguided on his path to enlightenment. Feeling that he was being taught to aspire a goal of enlightenment by other high-priest who hadn't achieved such an aspiration cause him to question the credibility of his path. Because Siddhartha found that he had to question the credibility of his path, he sought change. A change that involved seeking enlightens without the aid of structured teaching and more geared toward the realm of physical and mental experience.
"Can't Give Up Now" - Mary Mary
"There will be mountains that I will have to climb."
"But how can I expect to win, if I never try."
"I just can't give up now. I've come too far from where I've started from. Nobody told me, the road would be easy."
Siddhartha would have listened to this song when he had completely lost his spiritual endeavor to the lust of monetary gain and possession of living life as a merchant under Kamaswami. He felt that he had mutilated the divine voice in his heart and killed the awaken perception he had attained after his interaction with Gotama. Because he felt so inconsolabley tormented by the acknowledgement that he had strayed of his mere perfect path to enlightenment, he sought to end his life. Although Siddhartha was quite close to ending his existence,when the sound Om reverberated in his head, he realized that his life as a merchant was merely a stepping stone to ultimate success. Profoundly acknowledging that his life as a merchant did not define what he was destined to achieve.
"Wait For You" - Elliott Yamin
"I never felt nothing in the world like this before
Now I'm missing you and I'm wishing that you would come back through my door.
Why did you have to go?
You could have let me know
So now I'm all alone."
Siddhartha would have most likely listened to this song in the period of time when he was feeling distraught over his son's inability to reciprocate any form of emotional sentiment for him as well as his abandonment of him. Unable to understand why his son could not possibly treat him with the dignity endowed to any father, Siddhartha found himself pondering how the only being in his life he felt love for, cared for, and placed before himself could disregard his affection in such a cold manner. Though Siddhartha comes to terms with the fact that he cannot force his son to stay with him nor gain emotional attachments to him with the help of Vasudeva, Siddhartha can't help but ponder how strange he felt not having his son by his side.
"True Friend" - Miley Cyrus
"You're a true friend. You're here till the end."
Siddhartha would most likely dedicate this song to his relationship with Govinda. While Govinda had multiple opportunities to abandon Siddhartha's indecisiveness, Govinda became a Samana with him, left the Samanas with him, lived in his shadow, worshipped in his manner, and lived Siddhartha's path. Govinda was there for Siddhartha when he was lost, and Govinda was there to see Siddhartha when he was found (enlightened).
"Beautiful" - Sean Kingston
"You're way too beautiful girl, that's why it'll never work."See it's very define girl, one of a kind. But you mash up my mind.
You have to get declined."
Siddhartha would have listened to this song when he had the conversation with Kamala about her inability to love. Although she was beautiful, and sexual tensions were quite high between them, a relationship of true love would not be able to form between the two because Siddhartha was aware that Kamala could not love when all she knew was the 'sham' love by which her profession was founded upon.
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Monday, October 20, 2014
Siddhartha Abridged Edition
[Siddartha] was a source of joy for everybody, he was a delight for them all but he, Siddhartha, was not a source of joy for himself, he found no delight in himself (4). "Early tomorrow morning, my friend, Siddhartha will go to the Samanas. He will become a Samana (6).” Govinda realized: Now it is beginning, now Siddhartha is taking his own way, now his fate is beginning to sprout, and with his, my own (7).” [Returning home, Siddhartha] entered the chamber, where his father was sitting on a mat of bast [...]” “With your permission, my father. I came to tell you that it is my longing to leave your house tomorrow and go to the ascetics. My desire is to become a Samana. May my father not oppose this (7).” His father realized that even now Siddhartha no longer dwelt with him in his home, that he had already left him (8). “You will," he [finally] spoke, "go into the forest and be a Samana." As he slowly left on stiff legs in the first light of day the still quiet town, a shadow rose near the last hut, who had crouched there, and joined the pilgrim—Govinda (9).
A goal stood before Siddhartha, a single goal: to become empty, empty of thirst, empty of wishing, empty of dreams, empty of joy and sorrow (10). And Siddhartha's soul returned, had died, had decayed, was scattered as dust, had tasted the gloomy intoxication of the cycle, awaited in new thirst like a hunter in the gap, where he could escape from the cycle, where the end of the causes, where an eternity without suffering began (12). At one time, when the two young men had lived among the Samanas for about three years and had shared their exercises, some news, a rumor, a myth reached them after being retold many times: A man had appeared, Gotama by name, the exalted one, the Buddha, he had overcome the suffering of the world in himself and had halted the cycle of rebirths. The myth of the Buddha sounded sweet (15). “Let us eat this fruit and wait for the rest, oh Govinda! But this fruit, which we already now received thanks to the Gotama, consisted in him calling us away from the Samanas! (17).” On this very same day, Siddhartha informed the oldest one of the Samanas of his decision, that he wanted to leave him (17).
[Siddhartha] felt little curiosity for the teachings, he did not believe that they would teach him anything new, but he had, just as Govinda had, heard the contents of this Buddha's teachings again and again, though these reports only represented second- or third-hand information (20). When the Buddha ended his speech, many a pilgrim asked to [be] accepted into the community [and] sought refuge in the teachings. Then Govinda, the shy one, also stepped forward and spoke: "I also take my refuge in the exalted one and his teachings," and he asked to [be] accepted into the community of his disciples and was accepted (22). [Leaving I saw a man, Siddhartha thought, a single man, before whom I would have to lower my glance. I do not want to lower my glance before any other, not before any other (23). No teachings will entice me any more, since this man's teachings have not enticed me (24). I am deprived by the Buddha, thought Siddhartha, I am deprived, and even more he has given to me. He has deprived me of my friend, the one who had believed in me and now believes in him, who had been my shadow and is now Gotama's shadow. But he has given me Siddhartha, myself (24).
When Siddhartha left the grove, where the Buddha, the perfected one, stayed behind, where Govinda stayed behind, he felt that in this grove his past life also stayed behind and parted from him (24). He realized that one thing had left him, as a snake is left by its old skin, that one thing no longer existed in him, which had accompanied him throughout his youth and used to be a part of him: the wish to have teachers and to listen to teachings (25). "There is no thing in this world I know less about than about me, about Siddhartha!" [pondered Siddhartha- eyes closed.] (25). When Siddhartha opened his eyes and looked around, a smile filled his face and a feeling of awakening from long dreams flowed through him from his head down to his toes (25). And it was not long before he walked again, walked quickly like a man who knows what he has got to do (27).
Siddhartha learned something new on every step of his path, for the world was transformed, and his heart was enchanted; his liberated eyes stayed on this side, he saw and became aware of the visible, sought to be at home in this world, did not search for the true essence, did not aim at a world beyond - thus childlike (29). [When night had come, and] he slept in the straw hut of a ferryman by the river, Siddhartha had a dream: Govinda was standing in front of him, dressed in the yellow robe of an ascetic [--] at this, he embraced Govinda, wrapped his arms around him, and as he was pulling him close to his chest and kissed him, it was not Govinda any more, but a woman, and a full breast popped out of the woman's dress, at which Siddhartha lay and drank, sweetly and strongly tasted the milk from this breast (32). When the day began, Siddhartha asked his host, the ferryman, to get him across the river (33). On this day, he reached the large city before the evening, and was happy, for he felt the need to be among people (33). When late in the afternoon, beautiful Kamala approached her grove in her sedan-chair, Siddhartha was standing at the entrance, made a bow and received the courtesan's greeting (35). "...If it doesn't displease you, Kamala, I would like to ask you to be my friend and teacher, for I know nothing yet of that art which you have mastered in the highest degree (35). “Laughing, Kamala exclaimed: "No, my dear, [you do not] satisfy me yet; clothes are what he must have, pretty clothes, and shoes, pretty shoes, and lots of money in his pouch, and gifts for Kamala. Do you know it now, Samana from the forest? Did you mark my words? (36)" With one kiss, Siddhartha bid his farewell. "I wish that it should be this way, my teacher; that my glance shall please you, that always good fortune shall come to me out of your direction! (37).”
Siddhartha went to Kamaswami the merchant, he was directed into a rich house, servants led him between precious carpets into a chamber, where he awaited the master of the house (39). He was not in Kamaswami's house for long, when he already took part in his landlords business (41). The business was good enough to provide him with the money for Kamala, and it earned him much more than he needed (41). Again and again, he came back to beautiful Kamala, learned the art of love, practiced the cult of lust, in which more than in anything else giving and taking becomes one, chatted with her, learned from her, gave her advice, received advice (43). “You are the best lover," she said thoughtfully, "I ever saw. You're stronger than others, more supple, more willing. You've learned my art well, Siddhartha[;] yet, my dear, you've remained a Samana, and yet you do not love me, you love nobody. Isn't it so? (43).” “I am like you. You also do not love—how else could you practise love as a craft? Perhaps, people of our kind can't love. The childlike people can; that's their secret (44).”
For a long time, Siddhartha had lived the life of the world and of lust, though without being a part of it (46). It was still the art of thinking, of waiting, of fasting, which guided his life; still the people of the world, the childlike people, had remained alien to him as he was alien to them (47). With a gloomy mind, Siddhartha went to the pleasure-garden he owned, locked the gate, sat down under a mango-tree, felt death in his heart and horror in his chest, sat and sensed how everything died in him, withered in him, came to an end in him (48). By and by, he gathered his thoughts, and in his mind, he once again went the entire path of his life, starting with the first days he could remember (48). Then, Siddhartha knew that the game was over, that he could not play it any more (49). When [Kamala] received the first news of Siddhartha's disappearance, she went to the window, where she held a rare singing bird captive in a golden cage [,] took the bird out and let it fly (50). “From this day on, she received no more visitors and kept her house locked; but after some time, she became aware that she was pregnant from the last time she was together with Siddhartha (53).
“Siddhartha walked through the forest, was already far from the city, and knew nothing but that one thing, that there was no going back for him, that this life, as he had lived it for many years until now, was over and done away with, and that he had tasted all of it, sucked everything out of it until he was disgusted with it (51). Passionately he wished to know nothing about himself anymore, to have rest, to be dead. Siddhartha reached the large river in the forest, the same river over which a long time ago, when he had still been a young man and came from the town of Gotama, a ferryman had conducted him (53) . “With a distorted face, he stared into the water, saw the reflection of his face and spit at it. Then, out of remote areas of his soul, out of past times of his now weary life, a sound stirred up (54). And in the moment when the sound of "Om" touched Siddhartha's ear, his dormant spirit suddenly woke up and realized the foolishness of his actions (57). In this river, Siddhartha had intended to drown himself, in it the old, tired, desperate Siddhartha had drowned today (58). But the new Siddhartha felt a deep love for this rushing water, and decided for himself, not to leave it very soon (59).
By this river I want to stay, thought Siddhartha, it is the same which I have crossed a long time ago on my way to the childlike people, a friendly ferryman had guided me then, he is the one I want to go to, starting out from his hut, my path had led me at that time into a new life, which had now grown old and is dead—my present path, my present new life, shall also take its start there! (60). “When he reached the ferry, the boat was just ready, and the same ferryman who had once transported the young Samana across the river, stood in the boat, Siddhartha recognized him, he had also aged very much (60). “My name is Siddhartha, and I was a Samana, when you've last seen me." “My name is Vasudeva. You will, so I hope, be my guest today as well and sleep in my hut, and tell me, where you're coming from and why these beautiful clothes are such a nuisance to you (61).” They had reached the middle of the river [...] "The river has taught me to listen, from it you will learn it as well. It knows everything, the river, everything can be learned from it," spoke Vasdueva (63). He learned from it to listen, to pay close attention with a quiet heart, with a waiting, opened soul, without passion, without a wish, without judgement, without an opinion(64). On one of these days, when so many went on a pilgrimage to the dying Buddha, Kamala also went to him, who used to be the most beautiful of the courtesans (64). “Kamala herself, had also become tired, and while the boy was chewing a banana, she crouched down on the ground, closed her eyes a bit, and rested; but suddenly, she uttered a wailing scream, the boy looked at her in fear and saw her face having grown pale from horror; and from under her dress, a small, black snake fled, by which Kamala had been bitten (65). Then [Siddhartha] saw Kamala, whom he instantly recognized, though she lay unconscious in the ferryman's arms“Siddhartha smiled: "Instantly, I recognized you, Kamala, my dear." Kamala pointed to her boy and said: "Did you recognize him as well? He is your son (66).”
For a long time, for long months, Siddhartha waited for his son to understand him, to accept his love, to perhaps reciprocate it (68). Quoth Vasudeva: "Bring him into the city, bring him into his mother's house, there'll still be servants around, give him to them. And when there aren't any around any more, bring him to a teacher, not for the teachings' sake, but so that he shall be among other boys, and among girls, and in the world which is his own. Have you never thought of this? (70).” Siddhartha could not heed his friend's advice, he could not give up the boy (70). He did sense very well that this love, this blind love for his son, was a passion, something very human, that it was Sansara, a murky source, dark waters (71). A day came, when what young Siddhartha had on his mind came bursting forth -- but the next morning, he had disappeared. “I must follow him," said Siddhartha. When Siddhartha had already been walking through the forest for a long time, the thought occurred to him that his search was useless (73).
Siddhartha even doubted in many an hour, whether this knowledge, this thought was to be valued thus highly, whether it might not also perhaps be a childish idea of the thinking people, of the thinking and childlike people (75). It was nothing but a readiness of the soul, an ability, a secret art, to think every moment, while living his life, the thought of oneness, to be able to feel and inhale the oneness (77). “Siddhartha looked into the water, and images appeared to him in the moving water: his father appeared, lonely, mourning for his son; he himself appeared, lonely, he also being tied with the bondage of yearning to his distant son; his son appeared, lonely as well, the boy, greedily rushing along the burning course of his young wishes, each one heading for his goal, each one obsessed by the goal, each one suffering (78). In this hour, Siddhartha stopped fighting his fate, stopped suffering (79). On his face flourished the cheerfulness of a knowledge, which is no longer opposed by any will, which knows perfection, which is in agreement with the flow of events, with the current of life, full of sympathy for the pain of others, full of sympathy for the pleasure of others, devoted to the flow, belonging to the oneness. Om was floating in the air over all the voices of the river (79).
[Govinda] “came to the river and asked the old man to ferry him over... (80) “Quoth Siddhartha: "A long time ago…you once before been at this river and have found a sleeping man by the river, and have sat down with him to guard his sleep. But, oh Govinda, you did not recognize the sleeping man". "Are you Siddhartha?" [Govinda] asked with a timid voice. "I wouldn't have recognized you this time as well!" (82). “I confess that I haven't found it. Tell me…give me something on my way which I can grasp, which I can understand! (82)” "Bend down to me!" he whispered quietly in Govinda's ear. "Very close! [And] kiss my forehead, Govinda! (83)" Govinda no longer saw the face of his friend Siddhartha, instead he saw other faces, many, a long sequence, a flowing river of faces, of hundreds, of thousands, which all came and disappeared, and yet all seemed to be there simultaneously, which all constantly changed and renewed themselves, and which were still all Siddhartha (85). “Deeply, Govinda bowed; tears he knew nothing of, ran down his old face; like a fire burnt the feeling of the most intimate love, the humblest veneration in his heart; deeply he bowed, touching the ground, before him who was sitting motionlessly, whose smile reminded him of everything he had ever loved in his life, what had ever been valuable and holy to him in his life (85).
A goal stood before Siddhartha, a single goal: to become empty, empty of thirst, empty of wishing, empty of dreams, empty of joy and sorrow (10). And Siddhartha's soul returned, had died, had decayed, was scattered as dust, had tasted the gloomy intoxication of the cycle, awaited in new thirst like a hunter in the gap, where he could escape from the cycle, where the end of the causes, where an eternity without suffering began (12). At one time, when the two young men had lived among the Samanas for about three years and had shared their exercises, some news, a rumor, a myth reached them after being retold many times: A man had appeared, Gotama by name, the exalted one, the Buddha, he had overcome the suffering of the world in himself and had halted the cycle of rebirths. The myth of the Buddha sounded sweet (15). “Let us eat this fruit and wait for the rest, oh Govinda! But this fruit, which we already now received thanks to the Gotama, consisted in him calling us away from the Samanas! (17).” On this very same day, Siddhartha informed the oldest one of the Samanas of his decision, that he wanted to leave him (17).
[Siddhartha] felt little curiosity for the teachings, he did not believe that they would teach him anything new, but he had, just as Govinda had, heard the contents of this Buddha's teachings again and again, though these reports only represented second- or third-hand information (20). When the Buddha ended his speech, many a pilgrim asked to [be] accepted into the community [and] sought refuge in the teachings. Then Govinda, the shy one, also stepped forward and spoke: "I also take my refuge in the exalted one and his teachings," and he asked to [be] accepted into the community of his disciples and was accepted (22). [Leaving I saw a man, Siddhartha thought, a single man, before whom I would have to lower my glance. I do not want to lower my glance before any other, not before any other (23). No teachings will entice me any more, since this man's teachings have not enticed me (24). I am deprived by the Buddha, thought Siddhartha, I am deprived, and even more he has given to me. He has deprived me of my friend, the one who had believed in me and now believes in him, who had been my shadow and is now Gotama's shadow. But he has given me Siddhartha, myself (24).
When Siddhartha left the grove, where the Buddha, the perfected one, stayed behind, where Govinda stayed behind, he felt that in this grove his past life also stayed behind and parted from him (24). He realized that one thing had left him, as a snake is left by its old skin, that one thing no longer existed in him, which had accompanied him throughout his youth and used to be a part of him: the wish to have teachers and to listen to teachings (25). "There is no thing in this world I know less about than about me, about Siddhartha!" [pondered Siddhartha- eyes closed.] (25). When Siddhartha opened his eyes and looked around, a smile filled his face and a feeling of awakening from long dreams flowed through him from his head down to his toes (25). And it was not long before he walked again, walked quickly like a man who knows what he has got to do (27).
Siddhartha learned something new on every step of his path, for the world was transformed, and his heart was enchanted; his liberated eyes stayed on this side, he saw and became aware of the visible, sought to be at home in this world, did not search for the true essence, did not aim at a world beyond - thus childlike (29). [When night had come, and] he slept in the straw hut of a ferryman by the river, Siddhartha had a dream: Govinda was standing in front of him, dressed in the yellow robe of an ascetic [--] at this, he embraced Govinda, wrapped his arms around him, and as he was pulling him close to his chest and kissed him, it was not Govinda any more, but a woman, and a full breast popped out of the woman's dress, at which Siddhartha lay and drank, sweetly and strongly tasted the milk from this breast (32). When the day began, Siddhartha asked his host, the ferryman, to get him across the river (33). On this day, he reached the large city before the evening, and was happy, for he felt the need to be among people (33). When late in the afternoon, beautiful Kamala approached her grove in her sedan-chair, Siddhartha was standing at the entrance, made a bow and received the courtesan's greeting (35). "...If it doesn't displease you, Kamala, I would like to ask you to be my friend and teacher, for I know nothing yet of that art which you have mastered in the highest degree (35). “Laughing, Kamala exclaimed: "No, my dear, [you do not] satisfy me yet; clothes are what he must have, pretty clothes, and shoes, pretty shoes, and lots of money in his pouch, and gifts for Kamala. Do you know it now, Samana from the forest? Did you mark my words? (36)" With one kiss, Siddhartha bid his farewell. "I wish that it should be this way, my teacher; that my glance shall please you, that always good fortune shall come to me out of your direction! (37).”
Siddhartha went to Kamaswami the merchant, he was directed into a rich house, servants led him between precious carpets into a chamber, where he awaited the master of the house (39). He was not in Kamaswami's house for long, when he already took part in his landlords business (41). The business was good enough to provide him with the money for Kamala, and it earned him much more than he needed (41). Again and again, he came back to beautiful Kamala, learned the art of love, practiced the cult of lust, in which more than in anything else giving and taking becomes one, chatted with her, learned from her, gave her advice, received advice (43). “You are the best lover," she said thoughtfully, "I ever saw. You're stronger than others, more supple, more willing. You've learned my art well, Siddhartha[;] yet, my dear, you've remained a Samana, and yet you do not love me, you love nobody. Isn't it so? (43).” “I am like you. You also do not love—how else could you practise love as a craft? Perhaps, people of our kind can't love. The childlike people can; that's their secret (44).”
For a long time, Siddhartha had lived the life of the world and of lust, though without being a part of it (46). It was still the art of thinking, of waiting, of fasting, which guided his life; still the people of the world, the childlike people, had remained alien to him as he was alien to them (47). With a gloomy mind, Siddhartha went to the pleasure-garden he owned, locked the gate, sat down under a mango-tree, felt death in his heart and horror in his chest, sat and sensed how everything died in him, withered in him, came to an end in him (48). By and by, he gathered his thoughts, and in his mind, he once again went the entire path of his life, starting with the first days he could remember (48). Then, Siddhartha knew that the game was over, that he could not play it any more (49). When [Kamala] received the first news of Siddhartha's disappearance, she went to the window, where she held a rare singing bird captive in a golden cage [,] took the bird out and let it fly (50). “From this day on, she received no more visitors and kept her house locked; but after some time, she became aware that she was pregnant from the last time she was together with Siddhartha (53).
“Siddhartha walked through the forest, was already far from the city, and knew nothing but that one thing, that there was no going back for him, that this life, as he had lived it for many years until now, was over and done away with, and that he had tasted all of it, sucked everything out of it until he was disgusted with it (51). Passionately he wished to know nothing about himself anymore, to have rest, to be dead. Siddhartha reached the large river in the forest, the same river over which a long time ago, when he had still been a young man and came from the town of Gotama, a ferryman had conducted him (53) . “With a distorted face, he stared into the water, saw the reflection of his face and spit at it. Then, out of remote areas of his soul, out of past times of his now weary life, a sound stirred up (54). And in the moment when the sound of "Om" touched Siddhartha's ear, his dormant spirit suddenly woke up and realized the foolishness of his actions (57). In this river, Siddhartha had intended to drown himself, in it the old, tired, desperate Siddhartha had drowned today (58). But the new Siddhartha felt a deep love for this rushing water, and decided for himself, not to leave it very soon (59).
By this river I want to stay, thought Siddhartha, it is the same which I have crossed a long time ago on my way to the childlike people, a friendly ferryman had guided me then, he is the one I want to go to, starting out from his hut, my path had led me at that time into a new life, which had now grown old and is dead—my present path, my present new life, shall also take its start there! (60). “When he reached the ferry, the boat was just ready, and the same ferryman who had once transported the young Samana across the river, stood in the boat, Siddhartha recognized him, he had also aged very much (60). “My name is Siddhartha, and I was a Samana, when you've last seen me." “My name is Vasudeva. You will, so I hope, be my guest today as well and sleep in my hut, and tell me, where you're coming from and why these beautiful clothes are such a nuisance to you (61).” They had reached the middle of the river [...] "The river has taught me to listen, from it you will learn it as well. It knows everything, the river, everything can be learned from it," spoke Vasdueva (63). He learned from it to listen, to pay close attention with a quiet heart, with a waiting, opened soul, without passion, without a wish, without judgement, without an opinion(64). On one of these days, when so many went on a pilgrimage to the dying Buddha, Kamala also went to him, who used to be the most beautiful of the courtesans (64). “Kamala herself, had also become tired, and while the boy was chewing a banana, she crouched down on the ground, closed her eyes a bit, and rested; but suddenly, she uttered a wailing scream, the boy looked at her in fear and saw her face having grown pale from horror; and from under her dress, a small, black snake fled, by which Kamala had been bitten (65). Then [Siddhartha] saw Kamala, whom he instantly recognized, though she lay unconscious in the ferryman's arms“Siddhartha smiled: "Instantly, I recognized you, Kamala, my dear." Kamala pointed to her boy and said: "Did you recognize him as well? He is your son (66).”
For a long time, for long months, Siddhartha waited for his son to understand him, to accept his love, to perhaps reciprocate it (68). Quoth Vasudeva: "Bring him into the city, bring him into his mother's house, there'll still be servants around, give him to them. And when there aren't any around any more, bring him to a teacher, not for the teachings' sake, but so that he shall be among other boys, and among girls, and in the world which is his own. Have you never thought of this? (70).” Siddhartha could not heed his friend's advice, he could not give up the boy (70). He did sense very well that this love, this blind love for his son, was a passion, something very human, that it was Sansara, a murky source, dark waters (71). A day came, when what young Siddhartha had on his mind came bursting forth -- but the next morning, he had disappeared. “I must follow him," said Siddhartha. When Siddhartha had already been walking through the forest for a long time, the thought occurred to him that his search was useless (73).
Siddhartha even doubted in many an hour, whether this knowledge, this thought was to be valued thus highly, whether it might not also perhaps be a childish idea of the thinking people, of the thinking and childlike people (75). It was nothing but a readiness of the soul, an ability, a secret art, to think every moment, while living his life, the thought of oneness, to be able to feel and inhale the oneness (77). “Siddhartha looked into the water, and images appeared to him in the moving water: his father appeared, lonely, mourning for his son; he himself appeared, lonely, he also being tied with the bondage of yearning to his distant son; his son appeared, lonely as well, the boy, greedily rushing along the burning course of his young wishes, each one heading for his goal, each one obsessed by the goal, each one suffering (78). In this hour, Siddhartha stopped fighting his fate, stopped suffering (79). On his face flourished the cheerfulness of a knowledge, which is no longer opposed by any will, which knows perfection, which is in agreement with the flow of events, with the current of life, full of sympathy for the pain of others, full of sympathy for the pleasure of others, devoted to the flow, belonging to the oneness. Om was floating in the air over all the voices of the river (79).
[Govinda] “came to the river and asked the old man to ferry him over... (80) “Quoth Siddhartha: "A long time ago…you once before been at this river and have found a sleeping man by the river, and have sat down with him to guard his sleep. But, oh Govinda, you did not recognize the sleeping man". "Are you Siddhartha?" [Govinda] asked with a timid voice. "I wouldn't have recognized you this time as well!" (82). “I confess that I haven't found it. Tell me…give me something on my way which I can grasp, which I can understand! (82)” "Bend down to me!" he whispered quietly in Govinda's ear. "Very close! [And] kiss my forehead, Govinda! (83)" Govinda no longer saw the face of his friend Siddhartha, instead he saw other faces, many, a long sequence, a flowing river of faces, of hundreds, of thousands, which all came and disappeared, and yet all seemed to be there simultaneously, which all constantly changed and renewed themselves, and which were still all Siddhartha (85). “Deeply, Govinda bowed; tears he knew nothing of, ran down his old face; like a fire burnt the feeling of the most intimate love, the humblest veneration in his heart; deeply he bowed, touching the ground, before him who was sitting motionlessly, whose smile reminded him of everything he had ever loved in his life, what had ever been valuable and holy to him in his life (85).
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Jordon Jones, Period 0, Film Adaptation
Siddhartha, a Brahmin, belonging to the first of the four Hindu castes, was considered to be, but not necessarily, a priest who served the spiritual needs of the Buddhist community. Siddhartha was highly literate and educated - attributes exclusively, though not always, unique to Brahmins. In addition, Brahmins were often divided from other individuals on the basis of their more revered light complexions. Because of these reasons, Dev Patel, renowned for his portrayal of an Indian Muslim boy in "Slumdog Millionaire", adequately if not exceptionally befits the caricature of Siddhartha because his culture, adaptivity, charisma and character would allow him to prolifically act as Siddhartha.
Kamala:
Nina Davauluri's captivating beauty fits the seductress aspect of her character's significance. As can be inferred from Kamala's profession that she was not able to read, one can conclude that she was not a courtesan of the Brahmin caste. Because the Indian culture categorizes individuals on a basis of skin color, we can acknowledge that she was probably of a darker skin color; making this individual quite befitting to the caricature of Kamala.
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Govinda:
Indian-American actor, Kal Penn, would exquisitely satisfy the role of Govinda due to his multitudes of diverse roles in a great plethora of movies. Because Govinda is quite adaptable to all trials of attaining enlightenment in the novel, Penn's very adaptable and diverse nature would adequately if
not more than adequately suffice to befit the character of Govinda. In addition, Kal's light skinned color satisfies the stipulations that categorize Govinda as a Brahmin. In more roles than not, Kal is depicted as a friend; because friendship is such a significant theme of the relationship existing between Siddhartha and Govinda, Kal's character would be very much able to capture the character of Govinda.
Siddhartha's Son:
Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, an intermediate skin color between his parents, Siddhartha and Kamala,
exemplarily befits the character of young Siddhartha. Being an intermediate skin color would allow the film to have an underlying cultural allusion. Ayush is known for his desires to roam the world around him, most notably in "Slumdog Millionaire." Because Siddhartha's son was quite attached to
exploring the material world around him, Khedekar would fit the role perfectly.
Vasudeva:
Morgan Freeman should play the role of Vasudueva because in all of his movies, or rather more movies than not, Morgan Freeman has served as the conveyor of multitudes of universal themes and inspirations in his profound film performances. In all of his roles, Morgan surfaced as an individual
who could effectively address, relate, and connect to the occurrences that audiences generally don't have the courage to personally address and would much rather address on a wider scale. Morgan
Freeman's already accustomed nature to providing such inspiration would significantly inspire Siddhartha to learn the ways of the river and in turn, lead him to his enlightenment. A little inspiration can transform the most colossal dilemmas.
Kamaswami:
Leonardo DiCaprio should play the role of Kamaswami because when it comes to him in more movies than not, there are no games in business. Because Kamaswami was very animate about how good business should be carried out, Leonardo DiCaprio's severity which characterizes most of his business roles are very befitting to the stipulations needed to play Kamaswami.
Buddha:
Roshan Seth should have the role of the Buddha in the film because in more performances than not, Seth is depicted as an intense, yet remarkably gentile character. The Buddha is an intense and captivating entity, but his intensity is remarkable over-shadowed by the humility, and gentility of which he is associated with.
In contemplating where I'd re-locate the story in order to appeal to the younger generations, I'd have
to choose New York. While New York is commonly associated with the city, many parts of New York are dedicated to preserving and nurturing natural habitats while simultaneously expanding its city boundaries. Such an environment would stay true to and nurture all aspects of Siddhartha's journey - his interactions with the forest, his growth and development in the city with Kamaswami and Kamala, as well as the end of his path with Vasudeva by the river. Central Park and the mountains of upstate New York could appeal to the forest part of Siddhartha's journey, the Hudson River could foster the interactions between Vasudeva and Siddhartha, and Manhattan, where many paeople solicit, could serve the merchantile aspect of Siddhartha's journey. Because New York provides each aspect of Siddhartha's journey in pure clarity, New York would maintain the basic nature of the book as well as appeal to the younger generation.
In order to appeal to the younger generation of viewers, I would change the distractions conflicting Siddhartha's ability to attain enlightenment. First, in Siddhartha's first encounter with a woman, I would have made those two characters go a little farther than they did, and make the woman have a baby - more like a baby Siddhartha never knows about because he leaves and goes on to meet Kamala - never to think about that woman again. When Kamala and Siddhartha are in the prime of their relationship and just conceived, the previous woman would surface and announce that she is having a baby! Wouldn't that be juicy? Fornication is definitely one of the most redundant mistakes, especially when the consequences - child, are permanent. Second, instead of Kamaswami's business being the greatest distraction to Siddhartha on his path to Nirvana, I would make that event something more relevant to young viewers' lives of today. Instead of being a merchant, I would make Kamaswami's business a bling ring - a process of stealing in order to make profits. These two changes would evidently allow make it harder for Siddhartha to attain enlightenment, he would still attain enlightenment. Such an acknowledgment that attainment of enlightenment could be achieved no matter the circumstances, would certainly inspire the younger generations to aspire the unattainable despite the circumstances; realizing that no way of life is greater than the one you want to obtain, would make this novel a true modern day guide for the modern man's journey.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Jordon Jones, Period 0
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Kovac, Tony. Lightbulb of Man Trapped Thinking. Digital image. MH Marketing Sales Management. 7 Oct. 2014.
Depicted in this photograph is a man trapped inside a lightbulb. Though vague on the surface, this photograph, similar to Siddhartha's journey, symbolically expresses the notion that Siddhartha's journey to enlightenment was one taken initially in the light of someone else's experiences and teachings and more often than not his recurrent dilemmas between structured and self-experiential ways of attaining enlightenment. This recurrent theme- a sense of being trapped in the light of others' experiences - becomes the prevailing source of Siddhartha's complications on the journey. While Siddhartha never completely forgets his objectives for embarking on his journey, he is tangled by the desire to have a woman, to find the balance between experiential and structured teaching, and to combat all the distractions he faces on the journey. Though characterized by a formation of structure in its own respect, Siddhartha's journey refers to his innate desire to experience enlightenment by utilizing his own experience in the visible world rather than obtain further teachings from those who have never even obtained enlightenment.
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