JustinMScrapbook4

Justin Moran's Scrapbook
=With the Samanas=

The Assignment
To get a feeling for how the Samanas, Indian ascetics that are found in the novel __Siddhartha__, try to reach enlightenment we gave up something we enjoy for a week. I chose to give up Doritos, because it's technically not something I need. Technically.

Getting Started
The first few days giving up Doritos was easiest because it was the weekend, but as I got into the school week, the sacrifice got harder. Eating Doritos was always the first thing I did when I got home from football practice to satisfy my hunger. Although there were many other choices that were more healthy, I still always went for the Doritos bag. The Doritos gave a satisfaction that I could not get with any other food.

Beginning of Week
==The beginning of my week of "suffering" it was rather easy. It was the weekend and so I didn't worry so much about Doritos because I didn't have practice. I also have more options for snacks on the weekend and don't just choose the always quickly available Doritos. Siddhartha's goal was this: " As instructed by the samana elder, Siddhartha practiced denial of self;"(8) which we were trying to replicate through giving up one thing.==

Mid-Week
==During the middle of the week my task became much more difficult. All I wanted to do was get rid of my want to eat Doritos just like in the book when "One goal was Siddhartha's and only one: to become empty, empty of thirst, empty of dreams, empty of joy and sorrow"(7). Although when I got got home from practice dinner would be ready with 15-20 minutes, I still wanted to eat Doritos and satisfy my hunger more quickly. Eating right before dinner always irked my mom anyway because she thought I wouldn't eat dinner, except I always did. Due to this sacrifice, my mom was very happy that I was not eating before dinner.==

By the End
==By the end of the week it was still difficult to deny myself Doritos, but the end was near. I found the resolve to resist Doritos since I was so close to the end. Also I don't see myself as a quitter, so I would have been rather unhappy not finishing what I started. In the end, I was glad I finished because it was a challenge and I was able to complete the challenge. However I felt similar to Siddhartha in that "he stole out of his ego and into a thousand unfamiliar forms of creation; he was an animal, he was a carcass, he was a stone, he was wood, he was water; and each time, upon awakening he found himself again."(8) That was how I felt every time I tried to not eat Doritos. No matter how much I tried, the desire to eat them kept coming back.== =The Awakening=

The Quote:
==Siddartha reached awakening after he spent his time with the Buddha and realized that he needed to focus more on himself and learn about himself. When Siddartha awakened, " He pondered deeply, like diving into deep water. He let himself sink down to the bottom of the sensation."(20) Next he said, " the sky and the river flowed, the forest and mountains were all in their places"(8). The reason there is water at the top is because Siddartha felt like he was diving into deep water and he sank down to the bottom. That made me feel like below the surface of the water was the world (forest, river, mountains, sky). Since he sank down to the bottom the water that made me feel like he was standing on the surface of Earth but with water still above him.== =Kamala=

===About Kamala: Kamala is a very wealthy and established member of society and has gained her wealth through teaching others about love. She is an attractive woman and is also much smarter and more clever than originally perceived. "You observed well, you saw everything. " (29). You can find Kamala in the pleasure grove.===

===Looking: She is looking for men that are wealthy and can definitely offer something very substantial. "He must have clothes, handsome clothes, and shoes good looking shoes, and a lot of money in his purse, and gifts for Kamala."(30) in return for her teachings. She also prefers that men dress to reflect the wealth that they possess. If possible, she prefers clever and smart men as well.===

===In order to woo Kamala, a man must be very persistent in his efforts. He must be wealthy, dress nicely and be able to provide the things Kamala wants. Also the man should be a fast learner and clever if he doesn't want Kamala to become bored with him very quickly. Lastly, he should be polite and respectful of Kamala's authority while still maintaining some authority himself and have self confidence. "I do not want you to become his servant; you are to become his equal" (33). Although that quote was about Siddartha meeting Kamaswami, I think that the concept applies to Kamala too, and how she wants Siddartha to eventually become her equal.===

=Samsara=



==There are several aspects of my daily routine that distract me from the meaning of life. The first of which is school because I am not focusing on what real makes me happy. However, it is possible that school is helping me on my path to enlightenment by teaching me many things. Although school is not the most enjoyable part of my day, it is very important. I do realize its importance, but it technically distracts me from the meaning of life. Siddhartha felt as if " The years sped by; cushioned by prosperity, Siddhartha barely felt their passing"(40). At times I also feel as if I don't even notice the years passing. Secondly, sports distracts me from the meaning of life even though I do feel truly happy on the sports field with all my friends playing sports and I also enjoy the competition. I feel that the meaning of life is very obscure and I think it is something that can be interpreted differently by everyone. For that reason I'm not very confident that anything is ever distracting from the real meaning of life.==

=The River=

 River of Dreams By Billy Joel

something so undefined
===Analysis: In the book, Siddartha is searching for knowledge and enlightenment. He knows what he wants, he just doesn't really know how to get it or what it looks like, but he does know that the river will help him find what he is looking for. Throughout the book Siddartha is also looking for part of himself, something to make him whole. In this song, Billy Joel talks about how some part of him is missing or has been stolen. He doesn't know what it is and therefore it is undefined, but like Siddartha, he also knows that the river will help him find it. The song very much reflects Siddartha due to the fact that they are both searching for something and it's a secret, but the river will uncover that secret.===

http://www.youtube.com/embed/xUyAwVFdhIE

===Analysis: In this song, the singer says that in the city he was a sinner. In the book, Siddhartha also became a sinner and did a lot of things that he himself did not really approve of. This caused him to lose himself in the process. When Siddartha does get rid of his fancy clothes, it is as if he is finally getting rid of his connection to who he was and is finally starting over. That is also how the singer feels when he says that he gets baptized in the river and is letting go of the past and becoming a new person. Also throughout the entire book, Siddartha chose his own way to be on his own instead of following others and trying to stay with them.===

 If the River Can Bend by Elton John

==Analysis: Siddhartha knew that there was something about that river that enticed him but he didn't know what. Elton John also knew that there was something about the river that was special. Siddhartha felt like the river would lead him to enlightenment and Elton John also knew that it would teach him something. This quote comes at a time in the book when Siddhartha is about to begin a new chapter of his life. Similarly, Elton John says that "it's a new morning". Lastly, Siddhartha knows in his heart that he needs to follow and learn from the river and in the song it also talks about how clearly the person's spirit is somehow connected to the river.==

=OM=

==In Siddhartha, Govinda acts as a foil for the main character Siddhartha. Siddhartha and Govinda possess similarities and differences throughout the book that have very specific purposes. Govinda also reappears at certain points in the story and these happen to be at very symbolic and important times. Lastly, the relationship between the two characters really solidifies how Siddhartha could create a new religion and become a leader in that religion.== ==Siddhartha and Govinda have similarities and differences throughout the book. First, Siddhartha does not believe in any one doctrine and thinks that everyone will find enlightenment in their own way and through their own experiences. For example, Siddhartha says, “From now on no doctrine will entice me, since this person’s has not enticed me”(20). On the other hand, Govinda prefers to have a more structured path to enlightenment and chooses to become a disciple of Gotama. A similarity between the two is that they both are very steadfast in achieving their goal which is to become enlightened. Although they take different paths, with Govinda giving up worldly pleasures and following Gotama, Siddhartha chooses his own way and sometimes strays from his path but always managing to find his way back. With Govinda never straying from the doctrine of Gotama and with Siddhartha continuing to press forward through his own thinking, this shows how committed they are to becoming enlightened.== ==Govinda appears in the book at specific times for specific reasons. Whenever Govinda reappears, Siddhartha is going through a transformation in his life and is taking a new step toward enlightenment. Whenever Govinda reappears in the book, Siddhartha feels as if, “He had died; a new Siddhartha had awakened from sleep”(54). When Siddhartha leaves Govinda for the first time, he leaves to begin his journey on his own and try to find his own way. When Govinda reappears, Siddhartha has decided to leave the worldly treasures behind in order to try to become whole and achieve om. The next and final time Govinda appears is at the end of the book after Siddhartha has again become a new person and has been enlightened. This is the greatest transformation in Siddhartha’s life because he becomes a teacher instead of being a student and tries to help and teach Govinda to find enlightenment.== ==The relationship between Siddhartha and Govinda is very important. Even after they became samanas, Govinda and the other ascetics had always been somewhat following Siddhartha’s lead. Govinda at one point says, “the old samanas have admired you often. Someday you will be a saint, O Siddhartha.”(9) This shows that everyone knew Siddhartha was special and had the ability to become a teacher and it all began with Govinda. Once enlightened, Siddhartha again taught Govinda while taking Govinda across the river. This made it concrete that Govinda was also there to show Siddhartha the effect he had on others and his ability to teach.== ==Govinda was very important to the story of Siddhartha. Without Govinda, a lot less would be known about Siddhartha and there would have been less of an understanding of Siddhartha. Govinda’s appearances were very symbolic and also helped the character development of Siddhartha. Govinda acting as a foil greatly impoved the story of Siddhartha.==