ARRRGGGHH!!! The frustration mounts, pencils fly around the room and no dogs get treats when this happens to me!! I am, unequivocally, blocked.
SO, it shall be a fairly easy blog this week, since the one about love is not ready to move from the far recesses of my brain to my fingers. Some absence of firing synapses, I suppose, but for some reason I can't make my ideas connect in a way that makes sense to me. I suck. Sorry.
So, for this week, now that we are knee-deep in one of the most philosophical books in a high-school curriculum, I would like to know, in all honesty, what you are getting out of reading Siddhartha. You don't have to love it (though I kind of hope you do a little), but tell me something that it makes you think about in connection with your own life.
You don't have to give it glowing reviews, but try to keep it positive because even if you are miserable reading it, something good may come of even that.
I am not going to give you a word count, but I am counting on you not to slack. Don't let me down.
65 comments:
I love pulling good quotes out of books and Siddhartha is one of the perfect books for my quote-searching issue. My favorite lines so far have definitely been the leaves and stars metaphors - something about that really catches my attention. Even though Siddhartha isn't the typical type of book I'd pick up at Borders because it doesn't have to do with a summer love story or anything, it's been bearable so far. I've kept up with the reading and that's actually saying a lot if you know me and my slacker tendencies with school-related reading. I'm not grouping myself with the people that are all "OMGZZZ I <3 SIDDHARTHA", because it's not my absolute favorite book I've ever read, but I do like it, and really that's saying a lot because I never seem to enjoy required reading in school. So kudos to Bunje for picking out a decent book :). Another thing I like about it so far is that it's one of those pretty basic reads, but it's SO much deeper than what's on the surface. I'm not losing myself in big words and I haven't found myself having to re-read each line about a thousand times in hopes of understanding what the author's trying to say. I don't think that I neccessarily connect with Siddhartha as a person, but the book has made me realize there are SO many things out there we feel as if we need, but in the longrun they're useless. We're so materialistic and it sort of bothers me. Props to Siddhartha for being able to walk around in a loincloth.
What do I REALLLLLLLY want out of life? What do I realllllllllly hope to do when I ‘grow up’? I bet I’m not alone when I say I ask myself these questions over and over and mean come on; we’ve had to answer these questions in countless blog responses. But this little book has really got me thinking. When I imagine me in 30 years, I picture living in a beautiful, bright, happy house, with a big back yard, a loving, ‘perfect’ husband, adorable, cute, ‘perfect’ children, and being very ‘well-off’ while having my dream job (whatever that may be). I picture being content with my surroundings-my big, homey house, my lovely, quaint neighborhood, myself. I picture me cooking big, delicious meals-even though I have yet to master grilled cheese. I picture walking my dog down a shaded, flowery, back road, waving to neighbors. It’s a beautiful picture over all. In fact, it’s downright amazing. But what does this picture have to do with this book? Everything.
It is making me take a step back from the things that are supposedly important to me right now- grades, SATs, scholarships, homework, studying, texting, making sure my weekends are fun, wasting money on junk food- basically everything that’s big in my life right now. I’ve been realizing that these things don’t matter. So what if I don’t get into my dream college that I will spend thousands upon thousands of dollars on. Who cares where I go- I will still get an education and find my own way to make my picturesque dream future a reality. But the problem is that it isn’t so what and it isn’t who cares because bottom line, I care- a lot.
Siddhartha realizes materialistic things do not matter in the long run- or even the short run. You and your self matters. Your existence in this world matters. I know that before I die I WILL make some difference-maybe big, maybe small, but in this world I will have an impact and whatever my yearly salary may be and however many acres of property I will own will not matter in the end. And they should not matter to me from the beginning. But from the start, on to the middle, and sadly through the end, I have a bad feeling that money, materialistic pleasures, my status in society, and what others think of me, will all be the big factors that will shape my future. I do not want to put the paintbrushes that decide my future into the hands of such things. I do not want my life to be built on the foundation of what should not, and essentially does not matter to me, but how do I change that? No matter how much I am against these factors deciding my life, I am doing nothing about it but feeding into what should be important to me. I stress so much about school, but I KNOW that when I am old and I look back on high school I will only remember the fun memories, the friends, the spirit days-everything that doesn’t seem to play any role in shaping my successful future-but it’s ironic because those are the only things that truly seem to shape me. From middle school to high school I have actually become ‘Leslie.’ I am happy with who I am and it is not because of grades, SAT scores, or the college that accepts me. It’s the fun, it’s the impacts, it’s the changes, and it the memories I have created in high school that have made me me.
Siddhartha has helped me realize that it is okay to let go of what should be essential in surviving in this world and that all you really need is yourself. So will I graduate high school and say goodbye to holding positions, say good bye to trying to always be better, say goodbye to stressing my self out about projects and deadlines? Probably not. But when the time comes for me to pick between the ‘important stuff’ and the actual important stuff, I think I will be able to follow my own path and make the right decisions.
Okay, so I have to admit that when we first starting reading it, I was angry. I thought it was stupid, I didn't get it, and to me, it seemed completely pointless to read. Oddly enough, the more I read, the more I became interested in it. I found myself reading our daily assignment today and I was actually paying attention and understanding what was going on. I even started to question my own values and what I take for granted. The book now makes me think and I'm opening up more to it instead of shoving it aside and completely ignoring what it has to say. I'm learning from it, which to me is very surprising since the first moment I picked up the book, I wanted to throw it across the room. It's a pretty decent book, more sexual than I would think ;), but still decent.
I can't say that it's my favorite though. Certain things in this book make me uncomfortable and I feel weird reading it. I know that this is not meant to shove Buddhism in our faces and I'm not exactly the most perfect Catholic girl, but to read something that I have never learned about and that is completely new to me seems to be very questionable in my head. I don't know why and I'm opening up the more I read, but I also question so much about this religion itself. I try and take the story away from the religious-ness and just view it as a story and from there, I can say that it is decent. I'm sort of getting hooked, but my religious views block me from getting the full effect of it.
Lets first start with what I think of the book. At first I started reading it and I thought it was boring. But as I got deeper into it, the book became more interesting. It seems to be getting better and better and I keep making more and more connections. The book also seems to be opening new thoughts in my mind about different things. I also think it is true about what you said Bunje; that everyone may get their own reactions and thoughts on the book.
Now lets move on to my connection with the book. I just got done reading up to page 117 and I also have to agree with you Bunje that the ferryman part seems to be the most interesting. In the pages from 75 to 115 it seems to me that Siddhartha is so alive when he finally realizes the way he wants to go. He hears the river and believes the river is itself everywhere it flows and doesn’t become anything but itself. And this just made me connect that there is no need to stress about anything, but what you are at the time and believe and see everything as it really is. It is just really hard to put this into words, for some reason I just can’t connect the words into what I am really thinking. Everything I am trying to say doesn’t seem like it is coming out right. But all I have to say is connections are coming to my mind as I read this book and I am realizing things that may have always been there before.
Commenting on Emrow:
Row said that she doesn’t have to reread lines over and over to understand what is going on. I agree with her because to me it seems as I keep reading I keep connecting more to what I just read and connecting the purpose of each line to the next.
I agree with Emrow, I don’t exactly LOVE the book, but I do like it to some extent. In my opionion I think that the book really teaches me something about the life styles in India. The book wasn’t exactly what I had in mind but it was sort of interesting, especially the chapter with Kamala in it, Whoo! Now that was a shocker. And I do have to agree with Leslie in one of our in class discussion that it seems as though the samanas are only living to die, they don’t need anything else but enough food to keep their bodies functioning and that could be only 5 grains of rice! The book makes me think about the things I have everyday that I might take advantage of, I have a loving family, plenty of food, shelter, and all these “nonsense” items that I must have. I have to say that the book is pretty interesting and can be a really good class discussion type of thing. And I also agree with Emrow and Danny that the book is easy to understand, you don’t have to re-read over and over to get the full context of it.
Haha I thought leslie was going to cry again..
Anyway, Siddhartha confuses me. I really like the book actually, but his philosophy stirs abstract thoughts in my head I often tend to block out. Basically, the whole idea of finding nirvana and bliss in life. Some believe you have to get rid of all worldly possessions and live amongst the wilderness and nature. But Siddhartha takes his own path. When he has thoughts of committing suicide and falls into a deep sleep, finally awakening to meet his old friend, he feels reborn. And when Govinda asks what he is doing, no longer a Samana, wearing rich man's clothes, Siddhartha says he is no longer a rich man, but has instead taken his own path. This is sort of how I veiw myself. I'm not following any particular path, just my own, and I have still yet to find out where that leads.
It's easy to compare his experiences to smaller occurences. It seems as though every time Siddhartha realizes the path he is taking is not the correct one, he leaves it and treads a new path. This is almost like a relationship; you try it out for a while and if you do not find love, or "enlightenment", onward you move.
"Don't let me down." Those are some daunting words for the last sentence of our blog question, Bunj. I'm pretty familiar with those words, and they always make me fluttery and nervous, whether they're uttering from the lips of my parents, a coach, a friend, or anyone whose opinion I value for that matter. I know everyone is wondering why I'm dragging this on and on, but I'll bring it all togther full-circle, don't worry. Not only do I hear the "don't let me down" echo from people that are close to me, but most frequently from myself. I'm my own worst enemy and beat myself up the most for things that I realize I shouldn't (or should) have done. I've never gotten grounded in my life because both my parents know that my conscience is the biggest kick in the butt for me.
Reading Siddhartha has made me realize that his character is similiar to mine. Siddhartha was affraid of failure and letting himself down on his journey to Self. When he was finally willing to accept the journey's rocks and bumps he was able to attain Enlightenment. The fear of failure was like a roadblock for him because it was a distraction.
I'm not gonna lie...I didn't think I would, but I like the book. It's so crazy seeing how the book means so many different things to different people and that's the beauty of it. Just like I feel the connection with the character, everyone else probably does too on some level because the book can be interpreted in so many ways. I really like the freedom of being able to interpret the book the way that I want to.
There's nothing wrong with a deep book once in awhile, as long as you're willing to do some philosophical thinking about life and question everything that you think should be concrete.
After reading Emily’s blog, not only because she was the first person to post, I completely agree with everything she said. I have actually kept up with the readings and for Emily that might be an accomplishment for me that is a miracle. Siddhartha is not my favorite book but it is written well. If might not agree with everything in the book especially when Kamala came into the picture but since the author wrote the book well I have been able to continue to read it. I have realized especially after today and going outside that I am pretty observant. Whenever I walk down the hallways by myself I just look around and allow my mind to search for new things. Even when I walk down to track or soccer practice I look around at the earth and the school and observe its beauty. When I was a little younger before I could drive and my mom would bring me to and from soccer practice I would just look around at the beauty of the landscape and all the development we have on this earth. At night it is the best to look around because you can just look up at the sky and look at all the stars that twinkle every night.
Although this book is not my favorite and do not agree with everything in it, I would have to say I do like the book. I feel like I am writing on of Cervi’s book reviews now where I have to say whether I liked the book or not. I have connected slightly with Siddhartha but he lost me when he might his lover.
I agree with my Emmy bear. It isn't the book I would pick up to read, even though there is sex in it. Just kidding. Dave can't believe that I just wrote that. It is a good book though. It makes me think, which I love but hate at the same time. When I read, I want it to be brainless. But thinking is nice too. The book isn't exactly what I thought it would be at first. It started off kind of slow and I didn't want to keep reading. It wasn't like The Secret Life of Bees, which I couldn't put down. It's starting to pick up the pace but I was kind of sad that Kamala had to die. Stupid snake. And like Rachel said, it's making me observe more. When I was walking my dog, I looked at the trees. They're pretty. It's making me appreciate nature more and it also made me realize that I would never want to drown myself in a river because that's a dumb way to kill yourself. Okay, apparently I'm rambling according to my lovely (NOT) boyfriend who's reading over my shoulder. BYE YOU GUYS!!!!!
I have never been the person to sit down and adventure into a book that I do not know anything about. The books that appeal to me are books that jump right into the action. The ones that have an opening line like, "They're coming!" Kelly thought to herself. Siddhartha took a while to get interesting. I'm starting to gain an interest in it and our discussions are ones that really get me to think. Today when we were outside, I got to witness bees working diligently. I appreciated it rather than just passing by and not taking notice. I like how Siddhartha goes about himself. Experiencing the wilderness attracts me. I do not relate to James or "JayDub" when he says that he is following his own path. If followed my own path, I believe things would be a lot different in my future. Currently I am looking to become a Dentist. I think it'd be nice to live out in the Rockies and have my own little house with my own dog and just live out there far from normal society. I know I am off topic so ill end now.
Meg, was that Dave? haha
Alright, so while hearing people today and yesterday talk about the topic of this blog, I knew I would be going into it prepared to defend myself. I, unlike almost every other person in AP lang, do not like this book. I am so sorry, Bunje but I am not a fan. Now I know that I usually am a summer reader and pick up those beach-read, lovey-dovey, you can read it in a few hours type of “brainless” reads as Megan puts it. As an English teacher, I’m sure it’s hard to understand that I kind of like reading just to read not to think, but I usually do.
Anyway, Siddhartha. This book reminds me of Walden (again, not my favorite) in that it is about self. It’s about being alone and achieving your goals in life by yourself and for yourself. I honestly am having trouble pinpointing why I dislike this book so much but I’m sure I do. Again like Meg said, it isn’t like The Secret Life of Bees. It isn’t a book that you can’t put down. It’s something you really have to delve into and be encompassed by to get the full effect. But I don’t know if I am. Unlike everyone else, I had to re-read a bunch of paragraphs every so often because it just wasn’t sticking. I don’t get it, but that’s the truth. It’s just not something I’m that engulfed by.
However, before Bunje starts committing suicide because I made her feel bad for not liking the book she read 60 times, there is an upside. Even though I may not like the actual book and the plot line of having a spiritual quest and finding yourself by, as Em puts it “only wearing a loincloth”, there is an underlying concept that I do like. It’s the idea of new surroundings. I really think this is a weird idea that I’m not quite sure how to grasp yet. I think that this can happen without following Siddhartha’s plan – it’s a little extreme for me. It’s funny how many things we see every day and don’t actually use or make notice of. For instance, I am at work at the dance studio right now and decided to take a quick look around. I just noticed a tambourine, an Easter basket, a snowman picture frame, and fire extinguisher on the wall, most of which I never saw before because they aren’t what I pay attention to, but mostly the fire extinguisher. I really don’t ever remember seeing that haha. Anyway, I am really paying attention more to things I never saw before. It’s weird when you try to see new things how many there actually are. I don’t think that without Siddhartha I would have been able to understand the idea of new surroundings.
Haha, this is actually pretty ironic. Erin and I were talking about Siddhartha the other day and what it’s about. We actually have nicknamed it “The Buddha Book”. I was reading it on the beach on Monday and when I came across the part where Siddhartha met Kamala and the “learning” experience that happened between them, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Erin forced me to read it to her because I was finding it so humorous. I really don’t know why I was laughing because it was his first time encountering with a woman and that’s really not funny, but just the way he reacted made me get that nervous laugh for him. That’s the part that shocked me the most. Today when we were outside, I noticed things that I didn’t notice before and it made me realize how much I really pay attention to what’s around me. Like how could I’ve never noticed a big, rusty fire hydrant sitting in the middle of a big slab of grass? I was so surprised to how oblivious I was.
I do like this book, even if it seems a little boring at times. I just read Joanna’s blog and I could see how she relates to Siddhartha. I like how Siddhartha thinks, even if it seems a little odd. I like how he wants to find his Self, to not be like any other or part of any group. I wouldn’t think to just pick up this book and read it, but it’s kinda growing on me now that we’ve talked about it. Today’s class sums it up.
that second megan was actually dave. sorry...he's a little slow.
good ole Sidhartha.
this book is truly captivating. its metaphors and meaningful quotes are amazing ways to start a class discussion. at first i thought this was going to be a book that i wasnt going to like and i was going to have to cram in at the end of the school year. but i dont know why i thought this. i've always liked the books you choose for us to read.
what do i want in life?
i dont know what i want yet. i have a plan but don't intend to follow it the whole way their. after reading a majority of Sidhartha, i realized what i've been doing already. i'm living the life of a leaf. as i fall into the destination i swoop and loop. i dont have a definate path down. i know i am going down. but with a gust of wind i may go back up or swoop and loop faster. who knows when it will end. i will never know the end or the destination but i will end up somewhere, when it's time. it will happen when it happens. this is what i am getting out of the book. an eye opener
As I read Siddhartha i feel a strong bond develop with nature. Walking a trail leading to the depths of the Mays Landing wilderness some how brings me closer to myself. Biking down one of the many dirt roads at the end of my street sets a rythem that clears my head and makes me truly happy. It's like I turn into a wallflower and see the simplicity
in the world that goes unnoticed every day and it opens my eyes to the secrets of an elated life. I doubted Siddhartha's bond with nature but then after I took the time to be in my little section of nature, it changed my ideals.
As Siddhartha fell into the world that he desperately tried to avoid and then came out of it knowing that what he did wasn't going to help him achieve nirvana, he went back to his roots (kind of) to try to get his life back on track. That whole situation made me angry because he fell of his path, but then I realized that that is what happens to most people and usually they stay in the false comfort because it's easier then continuing to search for true happiness or whatever they want to achieve. It's like what the poster in 204 says, "no matter how
far down the wrong path you are, you can always turn back" or something like that.
Sadly, I think, because Siddhartha teaches us that it is "ok" to make mistakes and because this book deals with nature teaching people about themselves, is why I love this book so much. I kind of feel like I should love it for other deeper meanings but those two reasons are the biggest out of my many.
Emrow said it perfectly. This book is SO much deeper then what is written on the pages. That's why I feel like I should have a deeper reason to liking this book so much. This book is like the guide to life, basically. Everything that is said in this book helps with 99% of scenarios that someone can encounter. Again, like what Emrow said, Kudos Bunj!
Ok, so at first I was overjoyed about reading again. There is something about reading books in school and discssing them but I LOVE IT <3 Secret Life of Bees was a great book and defiantly had high expectations about Siddhartha. When i first started reading this book i was frustrated because it is not something i like to read about. I dont like talking about religion and i especially dont like to read about it. So at first this book was not one of my favorites. As i read though the book more and more it got some what better because i began not to read it techually but more so read between the lines. I began applying Siddhartha's life to my own. What is my journey? What was i put on earth to find? These questions though leave me in a fog. I honestly dont know why i am here. All i know is that i am Devon Schenker and i am going to be the best that i can be and try and live up to the expextations the people around me put on me. I am in this life to be me and only me. I will not be pressured to do make a decision i do not feel comfortable in making. In fact i have taken and learned these qualities from my parents as i have grown up. So maybe we are some what put on the earth to live through our parents and as we grow older we branch off to become something better than them. Not in the sense of better better but in a sense of becoming our own and finding our own path. My path though im still on and still have quite a bit of time before i even begin to figure out somethings. Though as i think about it now, i have been walking on my path for 17 years now with out even thinking about it. My path has paved its own curves and straightedges and i hve merely followed along. So far my life is turning out all for the good and i am quite all right and with how its been so far. This blog will defiantly cause me to look at my path more in depth as i create it.
I agree with Christine. This book may not be my favorite but it has spiritual depth that entrigues the mind and causes the brain to spark an interest and quest for a successful future. YAY for successful futures!!!!
Siddhartha has definitely gotten me thinking in abstract ways that I am not known for. I’m known to be very factual, and realistic. After reading more of the book, my mind is left tumultuous and chaotic, swimming with ideas of love, happiness, and peace. Where are they found? How can we get there? Do we have to perform certain rituals and sacrifices to find them? Siddhartha feels that we can all find happiness and peace in our Selves. We all have the capacity to love freely, experience true happiness, and feel at peace. But we let “transitory” things get in the way.
For Siddhartha, the transitory things that prevent him from finding true happiness are clothes, and food, and possessions. The realistic part of me tells me that I can’t live without those things. But I understand what he means by transitory things getting in the way.
*Disclaimer* I’m not trying to preach, I’m just explaining where I find happiness.
As many of you know, I am Christian. I used to think that I was the happiest person alive because I had a strong relationship with God and Jesus. I knew that no matter what I did, He would always be there, and I would never be alone. I trusted Him to help me make decisions, and if something didn’t happen the way I wanted it to, I knew He had a different plan. Nothing could ruin my relationship with God or bring me away from the happiness I had found. Or so I thought.
This year, a lot had changed. I became a lot busier with school. I broke up with the guy I had been with for two years. I made a lot of new friends, some that aren’t my friends anymore, and I changed as a person. But with those changes, and interferences, I let my relationship go, as well as my happiness. I let frivolous things such as boys and homework and passing acquaintances take over my mind and get in the way of Jesus.
It wasn’t until recently that I even realized that I wasn’t happy. It all hit me when my mom sent me a link to a video on YouTube. (Which was scary as it was thinking about my mom on YouTube) The video was of a skit done with the song Everything by Lifehouse in the background. The skit depicts a girl in a relationship with a man (Jesus). But as the song goes one she lets things such as boys, drugs, depression, friends, and other transitory things get in the way so the man can’t reach her. When she reaches the point where she’s about to end her life, she catches a glimpse of her old friend through the crowd of people who has separated them. She then drops the gun and pushes her way through the other people as the man tries to pull her back into his arms. And slowing but surely, she gets to him. I am that girl now. I have lost my friendship, but I want it back (I never reached the point of suicide, don’t worry). But I am her. I am Siddhartha on his way to happiness after his life with Kamaswami, and Kamala, and his riches. Hopefully soon, I will find that happiness again.
Here’s the website for the video I was talking about:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA
ahhh bunje i am so sorry, my computer is destroyed i need a new harddrive, i am on my cell phone, i like the book a lot but i cant really say too much right since it wqoud take about a year to do it on this stupid phone, i will get the entire thing to you because i shall will use the comuter in music comp. sorryy
When I heard that we were reading this book I was a little excited because 1. I am always up for a good read and 2. you always pick good books.
But I will admit. When i first started reading I wasn't too impressed. I am however glad to say that it is really growing on me. I am starting to really like it and I agree with emily. We are way too materialistic. We really go through everyday thinking "oh I need this" or "oh I need that" when in reality many people in the world live without things like cell phones everyday. When Siddhartha first went out on his journey it somewhat reminded me of Walden because he was trying to find peace with nature. Something I really like about the book are the quotes. When reading I find so many great quotes that are really deep and meaningful and they really get me thinking. So yet again Bunj, good pick.
Reading this book for the fist time last year in our English class, I was quite skeptical for the simple fact the title of the book was named something I could hardly pronounce and the cover of the book kind of dry. Its ashame because I am the type of person to judge a book by its cover (literally).We started to read the book and I started to give in. It wasn't what I though it would be and it turned out much better. The book is filled with quotes that anyone can relate to, no matter what point or position they are in, in their lives. Many of us at this point live by quotes and this is a good book that can give us a better outlook on life situations.
Though I wasn’t excited right off the bat to read Siddhartha, I am beginning to like it. It’s weird how much I connect with Siddhartha. I get mad at him and excited when he does the right thing; it’s funny. Sometimes I feel like he goes on forever talking about one thing, but other time it is so beautiful. I think it depends on the mood I am in. The author is very insightful and I really enjoy reading about how he views nature, and how he really looks at things, rather then just walking around and not noticing what passes him. I do not really understand his lifestyle as of right now, but I think I will understand better when it is done.
I like JDub's analogy of a relationship. I never thought about it that way but it's true. Try it out for a little while, and if it doesn't work, leave it all behind and start fresh. Maybe it's time for me to...
I would say that Siddhartha isn’t really the type of book I would read on my spare time…or at all to be completely honest….or any book to be brutally honest. It could be that I just don’t like to read, but this book just doesn’t interest me. I think because of the whole idea that I’m “suppose” learn something from the book or find an insightful idea in. For example, when I read the book I look for meaningful excerpts to apply to my life and I find meaningful ones, but none really pop out in my mind as something inspiring or something I want to remember. Had I just picked up the book out of sheer randomness and a newfound appreciation for literature I probably would have seen it a little differently. The more I read about Siddhartha and all the characters in the book I get a little confused because it’s not like some of the things in the book are things I’ve never read/seen before, but I guess it’s things that I’d heard about but never really thought about. The whole idea of Kamala the “respected prostitute” is a little paradoxical to me.
The one concept that I do like in this book is the whole idea that Siddhartha goes through so many stages in his life and how through ever chapter of the book there is always somewhat of a nostalgic tone I guess that relates his passed to his present. The one thing I don like however is that through all the stages of his life I don’t really understand if it’s developing his character, or getting closer to letting go of his “Self.” He chooses to take path of enlightenment, but there are so many other distractions and all it seems like Siddhartha is just unresponsive to all of it. He describes it as just learning, but I don’t understand how you can go through so many stages of your life call it learning and seemingly be unaffected by it. I guess I just have to read further…
Well considering almost everyone who posted before me either does not like Siddhartha or didn’t like it in the beginning and now sort of likes it, I am going to break the trend and say that I do truly like this book. I feel like Siddhartha is the type of book that I will enjoy it more and more each new time that I read it. That is why I even bought the book the other day when I was at Borders. I like this book because anyone and everyone can relate to it, despite the fact it is different and new apart from anything else we have ever read in a school environment. Erin said because of her religious views she found the book to be “funky”, but that is the very reason why I like the book. I love learning about different religions, places, people, and culture, which is obvious by my devotion towards watching the History Channel. (Dork, I know. Don’t judge me).
Yesterday when we were outside, like Rebecca, I also noticed the hideous fire hydrant in the middle of the grass. I had walked that path dozens of times and never knew this fire hydrant was there. I am a little pathetic, I know. Reading this book has made me notice other less tangible things in my life. Subtle nuances in my personality that I probably could change to make my life a little easier. I am going to stop worrying (or at least try to) about getting to where I need to go and start focusing more on getting there. I need to stop thinking about the destination and start thinking about the journey. Even little things like walking to class can be focused more on the walk rather then the class itself.
A little side note, I love Kamala. She is my hero, despite the fact she dies. =(
I love Siddharta. I haven't read any of the previous comments yet (okay, no, I read Jo's) because I didn't want to sully my unsoiled view of the book with more of the downers I've heard from others. On second thought, though, it doesn't really matter. I could read all the comments against the book and I'll still know, for myself, that I love it.
I'm a lot like Siddhartha. I know at first glance that's a grandiose comparison to make, but, truly, I see myself when I see him. He often gets frustrated, as I do, because of his a rapacious need for knowledge, to know, to learn, to grow, to become, to feel. I've been looking for a book like this, because the principle of self-learning, learning from yourself, accepting yourself as the ultimate teacher, is what I feel is going to get me through. What, exactly? I'm not sure of the extent of it, yet, but definitely high school. Siddhartha wants to live big. He instantly bonds with Kamala because they are both such extravagant individuals - multifaceted, quick-witted, enchanting, but disenchanted with their own states of being; thirsty, insatiable, seekers. That's one of the things I've always battled with in my own life. I'm a seeker. When I'm dissatisfied with something, I go looking for something else. It brings the greatest joy and the greatest sorrow. It kills me, but it lets me live. I can emphasize with all the stages of Siddhartha's quest - the euphoric highs, the devastating lows, the relentless urge to just go, the maddening press to stay, the furious energy, the discontentment, the qualms, the risks, the victories. Anyway. I'm metaphoring myself into a whirlwind here. So, in conclusion:
Thank you, Ms. Bunje, for having us read Siddhartha. I needed it.
Well since I have already read and finished perks I am not to keen about Siddhartha. I think because the problems that Charlie faces are more modern whereas Siddhartha is placed in older times. When I compare the two I realize that they are really about the same thing. Two boys trying to figure out where they want to be and who they really are. I loved perks but like Em Row said Siddhartha is bearable. One think I really enjoy about Siddhartha is the quotes woven through the book. They are sometimes things that I can apply to my own life. However the quotes and the context of them can be very hard to understand and I miss the point. When this happens I lose focus and my thoughts tend to wander which is not a good thing at all. In a way I look up to Siddhartha. Not the whole suicide part of course but how he is out to find happiness and goes about it his very own way. He is not a rule follower but rather a chance taker. This is displayed when he leaves his fathers house and instead of becoming a high priest like it is expected of him to do he decides to leave and do things his own way on his own terms. Overall I feel like Siddhartha is an interesting book. Not great. Not horrible. But interesting.
Even though I don't really find pleasure in reading; and the story to me is kind of wack, I can still connect with Siddartha. The way he is trying to find himself is a good connection with me. I have not completely found myself, but what 17-year-old really does? Even when it comes to religion, I get a little confused. I completely believe in God, but when it comes to the whole "end of the world thing". When I watch the discovery channel, I soft-of believe some of the stuff they say. Then, when I think of church, when people say "the end of the world is coming soon", I get scared and think of how. Anyway, Siddartha and his entire journey is inspiring. I get from it that you should strive for what you want. Don't just follow others because they believe it's right. Do you think it's right. That's how I think I'm going to start to look at life. Siddartha is "ok", but honestly, I don't think it's the best book, or as good as some say. I wouldn't want to read it again... =(
Even though I don't really find pleasure in reading; and the story to me is kind of wack, I can still connect with Siddartha. The way he is trying to find himself is a good connection with me. I have not completely found myself, but what 17-year-old really does? Even when it comes to religion, I get a little confused. I completely believe in God, but when it comes to the whole "end of the world thing". When I watch the discovery channel, I soft-of believe some of the stuff they say. Then, when I think of church, when people say "the end of the world is coming soon", I get scared and think of how. Anyway, Siddartha and his entire journey is inspiring. I get from it that you should strive for what you want. Don't just follow others because they believe it's right. Do you think it's right. That's how I think I'm going to start to look at life. Siddartha is "ok", but honestly, I don't think it's the best book, or as good as some say. I wouldn't want to read it again... =(
As I'm reading Siddhartha I can't help but go back to the summer when we were reading Walden, like Christine mentioned. Unlike Christine though, I very much enjoyed parts of this book, though I must admit it was hard to get into. I enjoy the thought provoking aspect of this book. S Emily R mentioned, this is a much easier read though which allows us to connect with it easier. I guess my favorite part of this book is the way it makes me look at my life and the way I live it, dissecting each decision I make and what my motive was behind that decision. I would love to try and live a life with less desires and wants, yet I know it would be a really hard task. I also think it's important for us to try and find ourselves; that's what growing up is all about and that is the transition we are all currently in. This book has helped me to think about who I am and what I want out of life as well as made me notice and digest more of the world around me. Just to slow down and take in life's scenery is something I never noticed the importance of before reading this book. Just like the saying, "Always take time to stop and smell the roses", that is what Siddhartha has done for me.
Siddhartha is a pretty decent book. I haven't fallen asleep reading it which is a good sign. But for some reason, i don't know why i haven't. It's not like it is action packed or anything. I guess it's because some of the things siddhartha has to say are pretty cool. They make me think. But as far as relating it to my life, I'm not sure that it has influenced me yet. well, actually, it has a little i suppose. I'm trying to become more patient and less dependent on things like siddhartha was in the beginning. There is no way i could be a samana though. That's crazy, no offense. But anyway, this book isn't really as bad as i thought it would be. I went into the book thinking it was going to boring and put me to sleep but it isn't and hasn't. Surprisingly, i can understand what is going on and I'm not just reading words. I think this is enough to type since i don't really have anything more to say.
Kind of like Amber, when she said she lets things on the Discovery Channel scare her, I tend to let outside ideas enter my imagination, even though I have full faith in God and what he has planned for me after death. But I have a really hard time imagining not seeing, not feeling, not talking. I sometimes have thoughts about reincarnation. But that doesn't mean I'm less of a person or Christian. Just like Amber I'm sure is an amazing person.
Well first off, I feel exactly the way Joanna did about the “don’t let me down” comment. Ack! Now I’m sitting here thinking What if I don’t type enough? Can I squeeze more out of my answer? I hate that nervous feeling. The kind when I know I’m trying my best and I’m putting a lot of effort into something and it just doesn’t end up satisfactory. Sometimes I let my mom down, sometimes I let Mr.T down, and sometimes I may even let Bunje down too (I’m guessing). And then I go around beating myself up for it.
I think that Siddhartha had a lot of expectations in the beginning of the book; however, the more I’ve read, he’s come into his own even after searching for so long. That’s what I like about him and the book. It’s relatable because we all have to try new, varied things in life to try to understand it better- or at least our place in it. When we first got the book, I was like Oh, Siddhartha? The Buddha guy, right? My only reference to him and Buddhism before was the smidgen I actually remember from Daubey’s class. For some reason, I always pictured him bald and fat with one of those monk robes on, and he would be sitting underneath a tree. Just thinking about life and stuff. And I was pretty sure that he was like the most perfect man in history or whatever. I was totally surprised (in a good way) when I read the book that he’s a pretty normal guy who’s completely curious and constantly thinking outside of the box; when Govinda sought for guidance through Gotama, Siddhartha questioned if there was anything beyond his teachings. He didn’t settle for just that.
So anyway, what do I get out of Siddhartha? I’ve learned that there’s more to life than what’s going on right now. Like Leslie said, all of this high-school drama and SAT junk isn’t going to matter in the long run. We’re trained to think that it does, though. I’m not gonna lie, but it’s hard to shed that mentality because I’m always frightened of failure and being less-than-satisfactory. But changing my path every once in awhile just to get a full understanding is alright. My SAT scores don’t really matter, because whatever happens, I’m going to get educated in something I love and one day, I’ll try to do something with it. Something that makes a difference in a small way. And maybe my projected goals won’t work out at all, and that’s okay too. I’ll just go and be Siddhartha. I can know that I’m not perfect and there’s something bigger than myself out there, and life is about experiencing everything as it comes along. I’m definitely enjoying this book a lot because it compels me to think harder than I ever have before, so it’s challenging and makes me learn new things with every page. :)
Oh, and another thing. Siddhartha has seemed to struggle with superiority, much like us AP kids. He has turned his nose up at many a person because his experiences have qualified him to feel better than "normal people". We do too, in a way. I think it's horrible, in fact, but true. It's that whole AP bubble concept; we feel better because our ranks, scores, and grades are higher, as are our hopes and dreams. Bull. I've realized that being happy is having positive thoughts about anyone that I come across. I'm not going to condone someone that I think is less important or not as smart as me. I'm not going to judge like some people that I know. Ah, good to get that out also.
I think that Siddhartha is a good book. My only problem with it is at the begininng. At the beginning of the book it's a little dry. That turns me off of a book even if it's a good one because if i can't get into the book than there's nothing really keeping me there to read it and that is what kills me on some of the books that i read. It especially happened with Walden but i really like that book. There are many thing that are in siddhartha that i can see through my own eyes and relate to and even use in my own life. One main concept of the book that i like is when siddhartha relates himself to a stone being thrown into a lake and how it sink directly to the bottom
I agree with nick when he says that there's no way he could be a samana. I think i might be able to but it would be very hard.
Although I may not spend the majority of my life thinking, fasting, and waiting, that is not to say that this book has no connection with my life. Actually, I found it particularly interesting that Siddhartha’s life path seemed to have gone backwards—that at first he was very wise and then as time progressed, became more like a child. I often wonder if I will have the very same fate. As you all probably know, I’m a pretty good kid. I don’t drink or smoke and I’m not very materialistic either because I know that lifestyle is not worth it. For the most part, I think my head is screwed on straight. But how long will this last? Siddhartha experienced the same thing. He ended up slipping into this very lifestyle, but I wouldn’t say that was a bad thing. I sort of think that sometimes we need to experience it all just to know which way is right and to know from experience that something isn’t worth it. I found a passage from the book that makes my point a little clearer:
It is a good thing to experience everything oneself, he thought. As a child I learned that pleasures of the world and riches were not good. I have known it for a long time, but I have only just experienced it. Now I know it not only with my intellect, but with my eyes, with my heart, with my stomach. It is a good thing that I know this.
Now I’m not saying I’m going to turn into little miss party girl, but it’s this certainty that I lack. I want to know that I’m doing the right thing with every part of my body, not only my brain.
And to comment on other people's blogs, I like Zander's leaf metaphor and how Emily M drew a onnection from her life situation to Siddhartha's.
From Siddhartha, I understand the world and my life around be so much better than before. AS far as I have gotten, it seems as if the world has shed a new light on me, and that things that once made no sense, have a major impact in my life. Things that I once let go, are still being let go, but I understand why and realize that someday my decision in every event in my life will amount to a destiny greater than I could ever imagine. This is the first book, honestly, I have wanted to read more, wanted to think more about it, wanted to understand it more, wanted to reread it.
Sometimes I do things for no reason, as it may seem. And when people ask me why I did a certain thing, I could not explain to them the logistics. While reading Siddhartha, I have come to realize that my decisions, not having reasons are ok, because they make sense. It may be hard to explain, but I think this book is amazing. I could read a line, find something interesting about it, and talk about it for hours. Ponder at it for hours. Stare at it for hours. Marvel at it for hours. Just the other day I was mowing the lawn while listening to my ipod, when one of my favorite songs came on. I listened to it, and could only link it to Siddhartha. Every line they sang, it flowed as if it belonged in the pages of the sacred piece to Self.
Like Brill, I can see myself, or at least myself trying to be/attain to be Siddhartha. I can feel what he wants, I can understand why he left the Illustrious One, I can learn from him. I try to wrap my mind around what he embodies and how he goes about things. And when I am done wrapping, I unwrap, and look at him in a different way, for then I can truly understand the meaning of a passage, quote, or action.
Well, I must first say that I have read most of Siddhartha while I was walking in the woods. Everyone that reads this should give it a try, as it does change the feeling of the book completely. For me, I hate reading. I hate reading utterly and completely. The only time I do get pleasure out of reading is when the author creates vivid and exciting images and story lines in my head. Unfortunately, sorry Ms. Bunje, this book doesn’t quite do that. When I read it though, mixed with the soft, soothing noises that were all around me, it did help to relax me a bit after I just had a bad day and a fight with my girlfriend, although it wasn’t even a fight, more like “I’m depressed so I’m going to make you depressed.” Yeah, guys, you know all about that stuff.
Anyway, this book was soothing, and I guess that is quite an accomplishment. The only thing that irks me, though, is that this boy Siddhartha has high expectations of everyone around him. I have found that this is one of the major causes of anger, as one cannot control the actions of others, so therefore cannot expect others to live up to one’s standards. Siddhartha looks down upon other people, which is not a sign of being on the path to nirvana. Sure the Self is important, but Others are more important (I capitalized because it is used in the same type of reference). The author made this young man too naïve in this beginning, as frowning upon others should not be upheld like this man is. He talks about the happiness the others experience and says it’s an illusion. Why, though? He isn’t happy with himself, and that’s something that bothers me if this man is so purposefully following a path to enlightenment.
Until I got to the chapter about the river and its meaning in life, I didn't like Siddhartha at all. I didn't finish Siddhartha yet. I can't say I hate the book. I can't say I love the book. I can, however, say I dislike a vast majority of the beginning of the book. Govinda, Kamala and Kamaswami are the reason for disliking the book.
Govinda was searching for enlightenment in all the wrong places: Siddhartha and teachers. He was too submissive. He didn't go out of his way to get what he wanted (enlightenment). He searched for teachers to teach him the right thing. He searched for it everywhere but within himself. Govinda, for me, represents the underachiever. Underachievement is failure to me. I hate failure. (Keep in mind I have not finished the book, and I do not know if Govinda finds enlightenment or not.)
Kamala annoyed me because she corrupted Siddhartha. I do not feel as though Siddhartha needed to learn the "art of love" to find enlightenment. Meeting Kamala only restrained Siddhartha from what he wanted most, much like Govinda. I understand for the sake of the story it was important to have this part in there, but Kamala selling her "love" to Siddhartha inhibited his ability to achieve enlightenment.
And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, Kamaswami showed Siddhartha how to integrate himself seamlessly into a society in which he obviously hated from the beginning. Siddhartha became a part of the material world, which led to unhappiness and prevented him from reaching full enlightenment.
I love Siddhartha himself. I love how he can become completely content in the world around him. I love how he knows exactly what makes him happy and he is willing to leave everything, drop it all, and follow what his heart tells him to do. Because, Siddhartha realizes this enlightenment is happiness. And happiness is doing what his heart tells him to do. He doesn't like being a rich merchant, he would much rather sleep in the woods with nothing on, haven't bathed in days.
I think all of us are like Siddhartha. We want happiness. We want enlightenment. And I think that's why I have hope in still liking this book. I want Siddhartha to reach enlightenment.
I agree with like, everyone. You of all people, Bunje, would know. Courtney and Leslie have it down. Enlightenment is not 2400 on the SATs.
I think for the most part the book is pretty good. Like EmRow, I love pulling quotes out of books and I too also loved the leaves and stars metaphor. From reading the book I have defintely learned to just step back and breathe everything in. I like how simple he makes everything, yet at the same time so deep that you would think it would have to be complicated. Reading the book, I found that I would really like to be that passionate about something. Siddhartha is so passionate about trying to reach Nirvana and being at peace with everything. I'm not trying to go out and live in the forest for three years, but it would be nice to find something I love so much that I would want to absorb most of my life in it. I like the ideas of the book, but maybe not so much the way its going. I'm not sure, I know a lot of people who are crazy about this book. I guess I will be able to say so with better judgement once I'm done reading it completely.
My feelings toward Siddhartha are, much like Mikey's, ambivalent, although not for the same reasons. In order to understand my view of Siddhartha it is necessary to understand my view of literature itself, literature in its primary purpose should not seek to entertain and amuse the reader, but should instead evoke intelligent thoughts by reminding readers of the human condition. And I feel that Siddhartha more than adequately captures a quest for understanding of our place in the universe and through that moves the reader to consider his own place in the universe. Unfortunately as a novel it has failed to entertain me, I'm not sure what it is but something keeps me from relating to the characters of Govinda, Kamala,Kamaswami, and to a lesser extent Siddharta himself.
This is my second time reading Siddhartha, and I can honestly say that I have gotten a lot out of it both times. I'm not going to lie, I wouldn't consider it one of my favorite books, but I think that all together it is interesting, unique, and has a lot to offer. I agree with everything that Jo said about being your worst enemy when it comes to fearing failure along the journey of life. I can relate to this a lot, mostly because I find myself to be hesitant in almost every situation or decision that life throws my way. I guess it has a lot to do with letting my parents down, as was Siddhartha's case as well. They are willing to give their lives for me but expect nothing but the greatest success in return. I don't want them to feel as if they wasted their time or that I don't appreciate their unconditional love and support they have provided me throughout my whole life. Sometimes, though, it's hard to accept lifes challenges without freaking out. What I like most about Siddhartha is that he is able to stand up to the rough times in life and keep his focus. I admire his will to connect with nature, and realize more and more as I read the importance of seeing the beauty in the simple things that life has given me. The book has taught me to be content with the present and learn to ignore the petty aspects of life, even though they may be tempting.
This is my second time reading Siddhartha, and I can honestly say that I have gotten a lot out of it both times. I'm not going to lie, I wouldn't consider it one of my favorite books, but I think that all together it is interesting, unique, and has a lot to offer. I agree with everything that Jo said about being your worst enemy when it comes to fearing failure along the journey of life. I can relate to this a lot, mostly because I find myself to be hesitant in almost every situation or decision that life throws my way. I guess it has a lot to do with letting my parents down, as was Siddhartha's case as well. They are willing to give their lives for me but expect nothing but the greatest success in return. I don't want them to feel as if they wasted their time or that I don't appreciate their unconditional love and support they have provided me throughout my whole life. Sometimes, though, it's hard to accept lifes challenges without freaking out. What I like most about Siddhartha is that he is able to stand up to the rough times in life and keep his focus. I admire his will to connect with nature, and realize more and more as I read the importance of seeing the beauty in the simple things that life has given me. The book has taught me to be content with the present and learn to ignore the petty aspects of life, even though they may be tempting.
I found a connection with the main character Siddhartha in the book. His lifestyle seems to fit and mix with mine. Even though I am a Catholic and stay at home and he follows Buddhist and travels to find meaning in his life, I feel we are the same. His journey for his meaning in life is so aimless and without propose just wanting to try everything to understand. This compares to me because I feel that you need to give everything a chance before you can say you do not like it or that you can not do it. The most interesting part for me was with Kamala who opened his world to many things and showed him love and want. He wants to be with her, but she can not do that because of her job and this is true in life today (not saying all girls are hookers), but you sometimes can not have the girl you want or that has caught your attention because of something that is holding you back. The difference is that Siddhartha handles it better than most guys who this happens to because I felt like he kind of moved on with his journey. Siddhartha did not really even become sad when the love of life and I know that when someone in my life dies that is close to me I would handle it more like Little Siddhartha who took it harshly and almost died because of not taking care of himself. For these reasons I kind of admire Siddhartha because he takes everything in stride and just keeps going on his journey in life, no matter what happens which is something I would like to do, but could probably never accomplish. I really like this book, but I have figured out I probably would have never read it if it was not for being assigned it.
So honestly while I do like the style of this book, I feel like I’ve definitely had to rush through it a lot more than I would have liked. While typically, I take my time when reading for enjoyment and meaning, I instead ended up having to cram it in with my current mad rush to improve several different grades mixed in with the drama banquet, Borders Night, and the impending terror of the tryouts for the summer production of Godspell.
Quite honestly I ended up wolfing down this book while I would have much rather savored every bite. Still there are some themes that definitely resonate with me.
As regarding the whole “Paying attention to the world around you” thing I saw a couple people say has never been too much of an issue for me. I’ve always been very inquisitive about minute details.
What I would probably recognize with more is much like Emily Brill was saying, the sort of quest for meaning that Siddhartha seems to be on throughout the book. I often find myself on that same sort of quest for a purpose in life, for understanding, for a place. I’m searching for that both figuratively and literally I would suppose to the ends of the Earth, to try and figure things out. Hmm, As I write this I realize how well the song I’m listening fits into what I’m writing. It is from the Broadway Musical Pippin, and I’m considering doing it for my audition piece for Godspell. I’m just gonna leave this with some of the lyrics from it.
“Everything has its season
Everything has its time
Show me a reason and I'll soon show you a rhyme
Cats fit on the windowsill
Children fit in the snow
Why do I feel I don't fit in anywhere I go?
Rivers belong where they can ramble
Eagles belong where they can fly
I've got to be where my spirit can run free
Got to find my corner of the sky”
I really have enjoyed reading “Siddhartha”, both this year and last. Actually, I think I have gotten more out of it this time. My favorite thing about it is probably all the metaphors comparing human life to nature. I like to see the world that way, and it’s interesting and enlightening to read different ways to look at my surroundings. I’d like to focus more on a specific quote from the book though.
“Opinions mean nothing; they may be beautiful or ugly, clever or foolish, anyone can embrace or reject them.”
The first time I read this quote, last year, it stopped me in my tracks. I’m sure there are a million other lines in this book that should be recognized, but this particular one got me thinking about my life.
Opinions can only be as much as you make of them. Growing up, all through grade school and so on, I took opinions to heart. I can still replay perfectly in my memory all the opinions people had about me and loved to share. And every single one of them soared right from their mouths like daggers and stabbed me in the heart. I’ve realized though, I can’t blame these people for the insecurities I’ve let myself suffer from for years. Everyone has opinions; you can’t stop people from thinking what they want. What I should’ve seen these words as, rather than facts, were "ugly", "foolish" opinions that deserved nothing but rejection. Opinions really do mean nothing, but that’s not going to stop people from having them. We have to learn how to hear people out and listen to their ideas, without allowing their ideas to influence our own. We have to learn from each other, not become each other.
Emily C. – I totally get what you’re saying and believe it whole heartedly. Growing up I learned all the things that were wrong to do, and the things I should never experience. But, like I’ve said in a previous blog, I’m the type of person who needs to touch the stove I’ve already been warned is hot just so I can know for myself the damage it could do. I’ve done some stupid crap in these past few years, and going into all of it I knew it was wrong. However, through participating in these stupid, stupid, stupid “activities” I’ve discovered more of who I really am and who I really want to be, or more so, who I DON’T want to be. So, I won’t say I regret it all, but I will say I’ve grown from it and moved on to bigger and better things...like cocaine. =) JUST KIDDING! Bahahaha
P.S. Your blockage is contagious. I wanted to break my fingers off. I didn’t explain anything how I wanted to...I couldn’t get it to make any sense.
P.P.S Here’s another quote that I love.
“The reason why I do not know anything about myself, the reason why Siddhartha has remained alien and unknown to myself is due to one thing, to one single thing—I was afraid of myself, I was fleeing from myself.”
I am not going to lie looking at the cover and the title of Siddartha it would probably not be a book I would pick up at Borders or the Mays Landing library but in this situation the old saying don’t judge a book by it’s cover completely holds up. After getting through the introduction and all the background information for Siddatha’s quest I found the book very interesting. I am constantly marking a deep or thought provoking quote in my book which I always end up going back to read later. I feel like Siddartha has an interminable amount of lessons and morals all waiting for the right reader to discover them. Personally I am learning to look at life and everything that happens in it. I always try to seem optimistic about everything that happens in my life but I hardly ever really feel “okay” and smiley about the things that hurt. Siddartha is really just helping me in trying to better myself.
I slightly agree with Jon H. about feeling rushed through it but I do not think it takes away the meaning and value of what you get out of it as much as he makes it seem. I am sure if we read it slower and nit picked through everything we would not find that much more than we do just reading the book as it’s assigned, bur if you wait to last minute then the value may be greatly compromised.
=)
PS congrats Bunje on your win with field day =D
Siddhartha is one heck of a crazy book. In a good way, though. I'm not saying it's the greatest book my pretty blue eyes have ever graced, but hey- it's not Walden.
Mr. Herman Hesse can definitrly make you think. In fact, sometimes when I'm reading Siddhartha I have to stop and re-tell myself that someone actually wrote this book- like, one day Mr. Hesse just woke up and had this crazy idea in his head and got it on paper. It's almost impossible to believe that one person was able to write such a book with such detail and ability to foment the thought process all by himself.
I can connect with Siddhartha...somewhat. I don't see myself hiring a prostitute to learn about the art of love making or dreaming that my best friend turned into a woman and I drank his breast milk...BUT I do agree with his wild love of nature. When he "wakes up" and starts to see the world "like a child" for the first time, I can totally relate. I love seeing the world- I mean, truly seeing the world. The green from the grass and the blue sky mingle perfectly together on a beautiful day. The water in lake Lenape dances along the bank in such a glistening, wonderful way I wish I could just jump in and dance with it sometimes (how funny would that be!). And of course, no two horses are the same. When I look at each horse, I see their own individual personalities: Cymoon, the wizened mother; CoCo, the diva; Crystal, the spawn of Satan; Bold, the leather-jacket-wearing bad boy, Owen, the playful toddler.
I wish I had the ability to stroll around as Siddhartha does and view each piece of nature myself, but unfortunately, that cannot be so right now. So, I'll just take each moment I can right now to make sure I can see the world "as a child does".
After reading Siddhartha (yeah, I finished it the first day you gave it to us) I have learned a few things. I read Tao-Te-Ching, the book filled with "basic principle of the earth" but Siddhartha went a little further. Both contained great sayings and stressed similar meanings but Siddhartha takes these
"proverbs" and put them in real life situation. The thing that really stuck was the stressing of fasting, thinking, and waiting; being the three things one needs. If you really think about it, it is true in its entirety. Also, I enjoyed the part about the Self and how gambling and everything was just a minor escape from the Self, and that life was pain and bitter. This is also true, life is all pain, and the world is bitter. You only see these things when you hit rock bottom, like the Samanas, I think it is important for people to hit rock bottom (as long as the recover of course) because it is the only place the truth lays. I enjoyed the book, that's why i finished it so fast, good call on picking this book.
It isn't too often that i love reading a book, or even slightly enjoy reading a book period, however there are a few that make the cut and this is absolutely one of them. It is a book with all kinds of hidden meanings, lessons, and experiences that can applied to even today's society. Siddhartha is a brilliant person who musters up thoughts that are totally bizarre, however when you think about it deeply i suppose some of his ideas do make sense in some way or another. An great example would be when he became enlightened as a ferryman and stated that time does not exist. For me this was a ridiculous thought to comprehend because it seems impossible to be true. However, his theory that if we can control our wants and and make ourselves suffer voluntarily we can accomplish anything. But having self control and pushing yourself to the limit almost anything can be accomplished and i totally agree with this theory as harsh as it sounds.
Siddhartha is such a strong and determined individual, he is basically an idol of mine. He could accomplish so much if he out his mind to it because he was charismatic, intellectual, strong, and had an immense amount of will-power. For me, it is not too often i try my hardest for something, unless it is something i love with a passion. When i get in that situation where i want to be the best i know i can, because i have the capability to push myself to the limit. I wish i could do what Siddhartha did every single day, fast and eat only what he had too, or become a confident, almost unemotional in someways, type of person who could do anything and succeed incredibly.
Along with Nicks feelings, i don't think that there is any way i could become a Samana, but if i was capable i would love to teach myself the ways of ultimate self control. however, i think there is one aspect of my life that i can somewhat relate to Siddhartha's lifestyle and this is that he was able to care about only the important things. I believe i do a decent job at keeping the mindless, useless, silly things out of my head. This way of thinking, in my case may not be flawless, because i am sure there are still some incredibly idiotic ideas that drift through my mind but i still think that i do a way better job than a majority of the people that roam around America today. Still, i agree with Siddhartha that we all become enlightened in different ways through experience and i hope that this will somehow, someday occur to me in one way or another.
Wow, this is late, sorry. Building a catapult till 12 last night wasn't a good idea.
Honestly, I didn't like the book. I know everyone disagrees with me, for the most part, except for chirstine. I didn't like the book because it was too deep and philosohpical for me to get into a reading grove. And the diction was... different - it bothers me. There's way more philosophical teachings than an actual story line and that is what's bothering me.
However, I'm slowly enjoying this book and getting something out of it. After finishing "The Ferryman" chapter, I made a connection, to my own life. When Siddhartha was talking about his son to the ferryman, he explained his problem of what to do with him. He said he wants to keep his son on the boat with him to protect him from all the miseries and obstacles he went through. On the other hand, he knows his son needs to be where he grew up, with a life he knows and fail and learn from every experience in life.
After reading that, it reminded me of my situation with my mom. I'm an only child and therefore my mom feels the need to protect me and shelter me till she can't anymore, which is college. She can't mess up with me and have a second chance. My mom wasn't exactly the golden child growing up. She didn't get caught up in drugs or alcohol, at least that's what she tells me. But, I have a gut feeling that she in her later years of high school and college my mom did some things that entirely acceptable. Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that my mom doesn't want me to have to option of being put into situation where I could mess up, like Siddartha and his son. But, like the Ferryman said learning from experiences is the ultimate source of education... or something like that and I completely agree.
Although I did read this book last year, I feel like I’m getting something totally different out of it this year. Last year, my reaction to this book was very “wow this is deep stuff,” but I didn’t really dive into it the way I should have. This year this book is correlating very closely with my life. I feel as if the journey Siddhartha is going through is the same journey that I am going through. Both of us are trying to find ourselves and reach something more. So really Siddhartha is helping me along my journey as I can relate with Siddhartha.
I have to agree with Jon H. I feel like we are flying through this book too fast for me to really sit back and appreciate and ponder what is being said.
I am finally home. Tuesday was filled. Wednesday was full. And tonight is finally empty. I took a shower and I am actually clean and it feels amazing because I just got a jungle of a yard that got me muddied with grass. Every time I thought about what I was doing today, I tried to think what Siddhartha would say. I think he would laugh because I’m just being a normal person playing the game of life.
But I have very mixed feeling towards this book. I truly do like it; it is written well and keeps my attention. But I’m not completely enjoying reading this. Maybe I am naïve in my thinking, but I disagree with Siddhartha on several topics. But I also agree with just as many. I honestly think that I would 100% enjoy this book and like it better if I wasn’t going through one of my fantasy phases. I honestly would love to just go on a crazy adventure and go to some distant land (like Bunje). But instead have mythical beasts and dragons and magic and pokemon by my side, instead of real life. When you (as in Bunje) said that even though you read this a trillion times you got something different out of it every time, I knew this first time I read it would not be the best time. So maybe in college I’ll read it again and have a better experience, but not now.
I loved the part when Siddhartha just stayed in the town although he didn’t get any business. Although Kamaswami rebuked him, he knew his trip was not in vain. If he left, it would all have been in vain. Life is about relationships and learning from them. Business may be necessary if you are living in a commercial-driven society, but it is never the true reason for anything in life – well it never should be. And anyway, just as Siddhartha’s heart was not in business, I can never see mine in it either. I can’t even see mine in school really. It means a lot to me just because it is the path that I’m traveling, but I feel like there is definitely a better path. There has to be something more in life, something more exciting, and I don’t think I’m supposed to know what it is now. Unlike Siddhartha, I think that it will show itself to you in due time, you don’t have to find it. I don’t understand Enlightenment completely, but I think it’s pointless to strive for an unreachable goal.
I never meant to write this much but look at it now. And here’s my Christian part, I guess. Although Buddhism isn’t a religion, it is a means to find happiness. Bunje described a religion as something that tries to describe how life got here and where we go, but Buddhism shows what we should do here. Although it does not “bond,” as the Latin root ‘religio’ suggests a religion should do, to any divine figure, it somewhat makes yourself the divine head in your life; you have found a purpose in and of yourself. I strived in sixth and seventh and some of eighth grade to find some meaning to life outside of a god, but is there really one? If we are to live for some 70 or so years and accomplish every spectacular deed possible but just die and turn to dust, what good will it be in 500 years? Will it really matter? I fervently believe that God put me here on this earth for this time and this place to do something specifically made for me, even if it is to do the lowest of all jobs and never receive any recognition. What I find this book is saying is that we have a place on earth but it just falls into an improvisation. I can’t help to think that every life falls into a master plan that ties perfectly together.
I guess I’m done and I just watched a video Nick sent me on volleyball, so I’m definitely done. So goodnight, sorry I was so late on Thursday but this week was crazy.
I am honestly going to say that Siddhartha is one of the best books I have ever read. I already read it, so I knew what was coming when I heard we were going to read it after the AP test. I got really excited, because the first time I read the book I was amazed that a book could take such a hold on me as Siddhartha did. I know many people aren't enjoying the book very much, either because it's different from anything they're ever read or because it's a book that makes us think and that's the last thing we want to do after AP madness. But since I read the book before not for school, I know its potential and I know that every one of us can get something out of it.
I like Siddhartha because it's different from any other book I've ever read. It's not about sappy teenage summer love, a girl trying to save her sister from cancer or people dying and going to heaven for an hour before coming back to life. Siddhartha is thought-provoking and insightful in story form, and a book like that is extremely hard to come by. This is a book that has really made me think about how I live my life and why respond to certain situations. Like Siddhartha, we’re all trying to find ourselves and where we really belong. Some people have already found it, others may never find it. But everyone deserves to find their own special place in this world where they feel most comfortable in their own skin.
Like Meghan, I made a connection to my mom after reading “The Ferryman.” I know my parents want to protect me from everything and keep me safe and protected for the rest of my life, but sometimes they take it a little too far. But when I think about getting mad at them for being too controlling, I try to put myself in their shoes and think about their overwhelming desire for me to be safe and under their wing for as long as they can make that possible. It helps me to understand that they just love me and want the best for me, and it helps me deal with them better than I would have if I just reacted without thinking.
In regards to "Siddhartha," I agree with what multiple people have said about the book thus far. At first, I couldn't really get into the book, like Blake/Mister said, because it was pretty dry and had to do with Buddhism, a subject I cannot say I am very familiar with. So, multiple times throughout the first couple of chapters I would read without reading - you know, when you're thinking about something else but still reading the words. Yeah, so I had to go back and reread a few times.
However, once I did begin to process the words, I began to think that, like Amber said, we are all trying to find ourselves, much like Siddhartha. From studying Buddhism to becoming an ascetic, Siddhartha struggles to find what his calling is. And then Mike Henry's comment about getting a 2400 on the SAT reminded me of a story that one of our physics substitutes told us earlier in the week.
She was taking the SAT at Mainland (I think) but she was from another school. During the test, some girl gets up, throws the test to the ground and shouts, "I am a failure. I can't do this test. I will never succeed at anything." That girl was number one in her class. Apparently, she thought that she needed a perfect score in order to get into the school that she wanted. But what she didn't realize is that there's so much more to life than tests and getting into great colleges. Those things are not needed in order to become a "successful" person or to find out who you really are.
So, yeah, that's what I got out of a book that I started out thoroughly disliking.
P.S. - Field Day was rigged! First, the juniors one all of the major events: tug o' war, chubby bunny, and the coin drive. And there's no way that our poster was the third best. The sophomore poster was a joke and the senior poster was too plain. You said it yourself, Bunje. We are the best class. We're the Funniest, most Athletic, most Good looking, and Smartest. In case you can't tell, I'm pretty irate not only that we lost but that the freshpersons won. RIGGED!
Hmm. I'm actually surprised how many people have really liked the book so far. I almost felt guilty for enjoying it some before because almost everyone I talked to was complaining about. It's not to say they lied in their blog, I think it's just late May and everyone is tired of everything. I don't love the book, but I don't hate it either. I guess I don't dislike it either. I guess I enjoy reading the book, especially the beginning, but I'm not so sure I like it. I think it's only how miserable Siddhartha feels, and how hopeless I feel his situation seems to be for a good part of the book. I guess it's his mindset and way of thinking that I can't completely relate to. Yet, at the same time, I've been relating Siddhartha to my life subconsciously a lot. you know, I guess I just think is Siddhartha is sort of crazy, and it's hard to understand everything because as I think Emily C. said, he's doing everything backwards. But I think that's why i like Siddhartha, too. I haven't experienced all of those "bad" things that you're always told to avoid, like Emily. But like Monica said and Emily sort of hinted at, I've always wondered what they were like. I always wanted to know what about it lured so many people in and then held them captive, and what makes it so bad. You can never fully understand why not to touch the stove until you get burned. And there's always something about being told you can't that makes you instantly want it. But reading Siddhartha, in some way, has confirmed that it's best to avoid those traps if you can. Siddhartha's "sickness" of greed and being a part of the world was not fulfilling or enlightening; it was only the painful rejection of that and return to his stricter moral values that he found enlightenment again. So, in the end, Siddhartha has made me think a lot and I'm glad to have read it even though I probably would never have had it not been for this class.
Like everyone almost I must say I was hesitant at first with this book, and just like that it sucked me in. I really like Siddhartha he’s clever and curious and I like his mind set. Actually I like a lot of the character Govinda being my favorite then Kamala of course! The concept that speaks to me the most is the one related to defeating yourself. A lot of this book I find hard to relate to since I can’t go walking out in the forest befriending ferrymen and listening to rivers. So how can we defeat ourselves and find nirvana in our modernized world? This also is why the concept of defeating the Self meshes so well with me because I can apply that to my life now. I sometimes feel like we stand in the way of ourselves and it’s so true. As soon as Sid lost his self he found peace. Another concept I really like is living without fear, just like a child. Children are so innocent and live life with such free will. This book always makes references to children. Children are fearless. We can all look back at our childhood and I know I was willing to try everything fear was non existent. Live life without fear, it will only lead to a path of true happiness. I have already tried this concept and so far so good, especially since I’m being showered with Chinese, Mickey Dees, Sushi, Ritas, and Coldstone because of it! One other thing is, I also wish I could live in the moment especially with running and other things in my life. I’m always looking into the future never really existing in the moment. After I conquer living without fear existing in the moment is next on my list. Bunje I hope this is acceptable not a lot left in me tonight.
And I just want to say that I'm an idiot for spelling "won" "one" in the P.S. part of my blog.
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