Siddhartha: The Last Beginning Feraco Search for Human Potential 21 September 2010

Who is Siddhartha?  [He] had begun to feel the seeds of discontent within him. He had begun to feel that the love of his father, mother, and friends would not always make him happy, give him peace, satisfy and suffice him. He had begun to suspect that his worthy father and other teachers had already passed on to him the bulk and best of their wisdom, that they had already poured the sum total of their knowledge into his waiting vessel; and the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still...Nobody showed the way, nobody knew it - neither his father, nor the teachers and wise men, nor the holy songs. They knew a tremendous number of things, but was it worthwhile, knowing all these things if they did not know the one important thing, the only important thing?

Starter Questions, Part I  What is the most impressive quality that human beings possess? Our capacity for reason? Our inventiveness? Our curiosity? Our ability to love? Our ambition? Our artistic skills? Our ability to feel at all? Something else?  What are humanity’s greatest weaknesses? Are your answers to #s 1 & 2 related?  What is most impressive about you?  Do your answers to #s 1 & 3 match? (What do you think this means?)  What do you feel is your greatest weakness?  Do your answers to #s 2 & 5 match? (What do you think this means?)  How can we, as people, improve our weaknesses? How can you (on an individual basis) improve your weaknesses? Are you doing this on an everyday basis? If not…well, why aren’t you?  Which qualities define friendship? Compatibility? Trust? Kindness? What do you find yourself examining while meeting someone for the first time, forming a first impression? In other words, which values do you value in others?

Starter Questions, Part II  “Yesterday I told you I knew how to think, to wait, and to fast, but you did not consider these useful. But you will see that they are very useful, Kamala…” (49).  Do you have an overlooked talent or trait that is key to your success? Do you underestimate others? Do others underestimate you?  “From the moment I made that resolution I also knew I would execute it…” (50).  Do you possess determination and perspective, as Siddhartha apparently does? What are some goals you have achieved in similar fashion?  “That seems to be the way of things. Everyone takes, everyone gives. Life is like that” (52).  Do you feel this statement is accurate? Convince me – one way or the other – with examples from the text and from your life.  How do these questions relate to your personal statements?  By dedicating ourselves entirely to an ideal, to the pursuit of one special thing, can we unlock the potential within ourselves to become something greater?  Can we transcend who we are? Can we exceed our own expectations? Can we transcend who we want to be?

The Noble Eightfold Path  As you saw, the Noble Eightfold Path provides followers with a behavioral outline  Right View – Understand the Four Noble Truths  Right Aspiration – Care about all living things  Right Speech – Speak truthfully, kindly, respectfully, and properly (obscenity not allowed)  Right Bodily Action – Follow the Five (or Ten) Moral Precepts (Buddhist moral codes)  Right Livelihood – Your work shouldn’t harm anything that lives  Right Endeavor/Effort – Concentrate on meditation, control your negative thoughts  Right Mindfulness – Give full attention to whatever you are doing, and give your best effort at all times (something I encourage you to do in class!)  Right Concentration – The mental discipline necessary for reaching enlightenment

The Man Who Sold the World  Nirvana: The apex of human existence  Represents the elimination of desire  In turn, nirvana also brings serenity, wisdom, and compassion  Because desire is eliminated, suffering is eliminated  Without suffering, the samsara cycle is broken

Spin You Right ‘Round  The samsara cycle represents birth and rebirth, the cycle of existence  You enter, leave, and re-enter the material world, which contains suffering  Hence, your existence here will be defined by suffering  Remember: Nirvana breaks the cycle!  Siddhartha Gautama, upon reaching nirvana, claimed he had broken his Samsara cycle

Don’t Be Fooled…  Maya vs. Satyam  Maya: “The principle of ‘appearance,’ and the illusory nature of the universe; what we see around us is unreal, but Maya displays it as real.”  Think of the Matrix  Satyam: “The real; that which abides and exists beyond Maya.”  Think of life outside the Matrix  You wish to see beyond the veil  Acceptance of the veil means accepting your own blindness to the way things work  This, in turn, prevents you from walking the path – which means you will continue suffering

Everything You Do…  Understand the concept of karma  We receive what we earn, for good or for ill – and it lasts!  Once again, nirvana breaks the cycle  “Everything you do/Comes back to you/Whatever it may be…/What you do as an angel/Or what you do as a devil/The favor returns itself somehow.” 311, “Paradise”

The Man by the River  Bodhisattva: One who has achieved enlightenment  However, rather than attain nirvana, bodhisattvas remain here  Dedicate themselves to the welfare of other living things  People pray to them for help  This is Vasudeva’s role, as well as Gotama’s

The Word of Words  Those of you who have finished already realize the supreme importance of Om on the text  The “word of words” can be defined in any number of ways  One useful way to think of Om is to understand that it represents unity, the “one-ness” of all things  This is why the Noble Eightfold Path places such high value on all living things – not just humans  Siddhartha is able to “pronounce it silently”  A true understanding of Om indicates enlightenment

Take Control of Life’s Wiimote  Control your circumstances through understanding and dedication  If you focus on understanding yourself, you will be more aware of the consequences your actions cause  Less likely to hurt others, or any living thing  Everything is connected, right?  If you try to do your best every day, your dedication will eventually pay off  Obviously, it’s tough to try your best every day; that’s why we asked the questions at the beginning, and on the blog  In “Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?”, for example, the point was to make you think about the following:  How much control do you feel you have over your own happiness? Do you consciously try to do things that satisfy you? Do you get too distracted or overworked to focus on such matters?

Final Beginning Thoughts  These things that we’ve talked about – development, happiness, thoughtfulness, fear, loss, desire, connection, consequence, control, and transcendence – have everything to do with everything we do  Regardless of whether you’re writing an essay for a prospective college or enjoying a day with your friends, these things underpin our existence  To read Siddhartha is to look into a very particular sort of mirror, much like Catcher, Mockingbird, or Gatsby  Everyone sees something different…and you’ll see something different if you ever read this again  It’s a special book, the kind that stays in your blood, and I hope you take something special away from it!