Amongst the people

Change

In this chapter called “Amongst the People” Siddhartha goes to visit Kamaswami the merchant. When they meet Siddhartha had the chance to show all his capabilities and thoughts. “Can you reed this? Siddhartha looked at the roll, on which a sales agreement was written, and began to read the contents. Excellent said Kamaswami.” After this couple of tests Siddhartha was working with the merchant. In no time he had a different way of life, a house and lots of money. Kamaswami really enjoyed working with Siddhartha he really admired him but he thought that something was wrong with him. Kamaswami told one of this friends, “ he is still not a real merchant and will never be. Even though he is lucky with some business he seems to be playing with it. He doesn’t get excited when a transaction is prosperous or when it fails.”

In the chapter we can see that he keeps talking with kamala and they start to be lovers. We can also see that she totally changed her perspective of the Samana and she started to like him even more. At the end of the chapter Siddhartha told kamala that they where similar and superior to everyone else because they knew how to be alone.

Although I think that what Siddhartha said is true I believe that kamala is not as how he is saying ad even though she really likes him she prefers money an wealth.

In the chapter we see that Siddhartha changes a lot his appearance and his way of life but I still think that spiritually he is still the Samana we can se this when he is talking to Kamala and she answers: “you are talking about him again, again you have Samana thoughts.” I don't think that suddenly he started having Samana thoughts again but I think he never change through out the chapter he kept talking like the  “old” Siddhartha.

Vocabulary:

Sanctuary (pg. 58)

Vain (pg. 56): excessively proud of or concerned about one's own appearance, qualities, achievements, etc.;conceited: a vain dandy. 

Hastiness (pg. 56): moving fast

Follies (pg. 56): being foolish 

Heroes

Heroes

Even though Siddhartha is constantly changing during this part of the book I still think his life inclination is more to the side of the spiritual life. This helped me decide who was going to be the person I was going to compare him to.

Throughout the book we have seen a lot of important characteristics in the great Siddhartha. This has associated his personality with others by having big similarities and some differences.

I think that the most indicated person to compare to Siddhartha is the Dalai Lama. This two personalities share important factors.

Siddhartha and the Dalai Lama are really similar in many ways. The most important factor is that both of their philosophies are similar. Their primary thing is to live the simplest you can, and to live a life without complications. One example from a normal day situation could be if you have a car and it is constantly bringing problems and affecting you in a negative way, the best thing to do according to them is to get rid of it. They try to find happiness in the little things.

Another aspect they share is that they both where self oriented. In other words Siddhartha started that Quest because he wanted to and the Dalai Lama even though it is kind of his job he makes the decisions of that to do and when to do it. In the book we can see how Siddhartha is always trying to find peace or happiness for him and doesn’t go showing others the way.  In a funny way the Dalai Lama being a spiritual leader does something similar. He never tells people what to do; he just goes around spreading an idea and leaving an impact on humanity. He leaves the decisions for the weak.

(The ultimate way to solve human problem is with non-violence)

(Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.)

(Most of our problems are related to the mind, so we have to work to reduce our destructive emotions.)

There are also some differences between this to characters. The main one I think is that in this stage of the book Siddhartha has been changing a lot. This includes the short relationship Siddhartha had with a woman. The Dalai Lama has never changed in such a dramatic way he has just adapted and until now he has tried to continue traditions. 

WOMEN

The Second One

In the second part of this book we see a big change in Siddhartha.In the chapter called Kamala, the Samana finally arrives to a new town. When he got there the people where really friendly and happy. Since the start of the chapter we see a difference. When Siddhartha went to talk to a woman she kind of  “offered herself.” Even though in the book we saw how much he wanted to fall for the girl he got the Samana that was inside of him and he decided to say no. This was an introduction to what was going to happen later because the whole chapter is dedicated to women. When he is walking around the town he saw the most beautiful woman he had ever encountered  her name was Kamala. Just looking at her for a couple of seconds made him change dramatically he cut his hair and changed his hole philosophy and life. The next day he got the opportunity to talk to the fine woman. Here we can see the intensions and the personality of this person. At the beginning I would say she is probably the most materialistic person that can exist and she is not ashamed of it, but later the last time Siddhartha goes to visit her we can see that she actually feels something for him even though she doesn’t want to accept it. “Kamala listened to him. She loved his voice, she loved the look in his eyes.”  In this visit we also see how she goes through the trouble and helps Siddhartha get a job. By the way they tell it, it is not because she is a good person, she actually wants to be with him.

 There is one interesting thing to look at in this chapter. First of all what is the problem with men. Really just one look, is that all it takes to fall. Then we ask ourselves why females think they are in a sense stronger than us. Everything for a physical attraction they didn’t even talk and he was already cutting his hair. I guess it is ok because it is a book but still it is the dumbest thing he has done until now. At the end they start to be friends so I think he accomplished his goal. I think that in the next chapter he is going to get bored of the town and he is going to go back to live as a Samana and Kamala is going to suffer a lot because she has feelings for him. 

Video Blog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yHJXunvWbs

The 3^rd one

In this chapter Siddhartha and his best friend Govinda go looking for the perfect one the: “Buddha”.  When they get to the town and the nice lady points them in the right direction they spend a whole lot of time with him. They both admire him and think he is the most correct person there is Pg 27 (I did not doubt you for one moment). When Govinda paid allegiances as reader I also expected Siddhartha to do it. After all he had been satisfies with the Buddha’s teachings and stories.  This was an important part of the book because it is when the two friends finally separate. I have had that felling to many times. When I play golf I meat new friends from al over the world some of them I consider my best friends. I am sure it is a lot easier know a day thanks to all the technology and all that I can keep in touch, but back in those day it was a bye for ever or wasn’t it? I am almost sure that Govinda is going to eventually appear in the story again and make a big impact.

Later when Siddhartha is talking with the illustrious one and he tells him the reasons he is not staying I got much more confused. He really admires him and has no problem with him. Why is he leaving? 

The Journey Began 

In the second chapter of Siddhartha everything happens kind of Fast. It explains the little time he stays with the Samanas.

With them he practices respiration: “ Siddhartha sat upright and learned to save his breath, to manage with little breathing, to hold his breath. He learned, while breathing in, to lessen his heartbeats, until there were few and hardly any more”(Pg 11). This connects in a strange way with me because lately in important golf tournaments I have started to work with breathing exercises to calm down. It is an old technique but its still effective and we continue using it today.

After some time we can see how the boy starts to get bored with the Samanas and he wants more knowledge. In the text we see how he only wants useful things when he tells his friend “I have no desire to walk on water, let the old Samanas satisfy themselves with such arts.” He later goes searching for grater knowledge.

Later in the text when they talk about a homeless sage or the Buddha it actually connects with Jesus. It keeps saying how he lived in the forests, and how he is perfect, and how he goes from town to town and everyone adores him and follows him. I am sure that next chapter is going to be all about him and I will finally know who he really is.   

In the first chapter of Siddhartha they explain little bit about each character. Siddhartha is the main and he is a brilliant and interesting little boy. He makes his parents and friends (Govinda) happy, but he has not reached full happiness. He feels that everything his relatives know they have already thought him, he wants to know more. One day a group of Samanas came through town and he took the decision that he wanted to go with them. After his father said no he had to show him how strongly he wanted this so he stayed standing up all day. In the morning his father had to let him go because he didn’t belong with them anymore.    

Personally now a day I don't know someone so thirsty to knowledge that they have to go away in such a rush. Maybe it is because of all the distractions we have now a day, we never have time for classical activities like this. The boy, we can tell is really determined to his decisions this actually connects to my life right now because I want to go live in an academy in the U.S. but I have not been able to show my determination. If I tried to stay awake standing still all day after everyone is asleep I would give up because I don't have the same mind and conviction Siddhartha had.  

At the end of the chapter we saw how his friend Govinda came out of the blue does this mean he is going to accompany the boy throughout his QUEST?