SierraDSB

This is the place where I will write about the journey I follow to self-realization. My goal is to gain wisdom and takes steps towards enlightening myself. I will be following the journey of Siddhartha, the title character of Herman Hesse's //Siddhartha//, as a model for my own journey. The steps I have taken follow.

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 watching t.v., because it's technically not something I **need**. Technically.

Beginning of the Week
The first few days of giving up watching tv was kind of challenging. I guess it made challenging becasue, whenever I came home after school, I would sit down, do my homework, and watch tv. To me, "None of it was worth the trouble of a glance, it was all a lie, it all stank, it all stank of lies, it all gave the illusion of meanings and happiness and beauty and it was all acknowledged decay." (Pg.7)Coming home and not being able to watch tv and just relax while I do my homework was just challenging. It was also very tempting not to just turn the tv on and start to find something to watch.

Middle of the Week
Going days without tv was actully okay. Instead of just doing my homework and watching tv, I was able to get stuff done around the house and just have time to myself. Everyday though, I still wanted to turn on the tv. I thought about all the shows that I was missing and what was going on through the televized world. I always though about how I was doing with not watching tv and how I will overcome not to come to my breaking point of watching tv. "What do you think? Have we made any progress? Have we reached any goals?" (Pg.9).

[[image:http://livingsublog.syr.edu/files/2013/01/be_you_wallpaper__grey_by_lileviljess-d3gs5ts.jpg width="240" height="192" align="left"]] End of the Week
It happened. I finally gave up. I had to turn on and watch the tv. Honestly, it wasn't my doing but, it is almost Halloween and all the good movies are coming on. Ecspically me and my moms favorite movie, "Hocus Pocus". I know I could've said no. Honestly, I missed tv and wanted to watch the movie with my mom. I almost went a whole week without watching tv and would have been fine. I guess by choosing to give up something you don't think you really need, you do need. Even if it's the smallest thing in your life like watching tv. You need to do it. One, just to switch up your routine everyday. Second, just be able to do something for yourself and not worry about everything and anybody else. Just relax and focus on you. Even Siddhartha in his book asks, "Are we gaining knowledge? Are we approaching salvation?" (Pg.17). You can't gain knowloedge by yourself all the time. You need to learn from other people and sometimes tv to. You never know how something so small can have a big impact on you and your life. I think I could try and do this again but, then again, it would be very tempting not to watch tv. I learned I can overcome things but, you just have to be willing to try and overcome them and ignore the things tempting and you telling you to do the opposite of what you need to do or what you want to do.

Awakening //Analysis:// I drew this scene this way because, this is how Siddhartha saw the world. The eye is like a symbolic archetype to show and represent how Siddhartha viewed the world. Then, the colors, blue, and green also represent symbolic archetypes. Blue represents the waters and skies. While green represents the trees and grass.

=Kamala=

===About me (looks): I have a very fair, very soft, very clever face. I also have bright red lips. My eyebrows are well tended and painted in the form high arcs. Many people find me beautiful and are willing to change their personality for me. "I am still a samana," he said to himself, " still an ascetic and medicant. I cannot remain this way, this way, this way I shall be unable to enter the grove" (29).===

===Hobbies/Profession(actions): I practice the art of love. I spend my time teaching men what I am an expert at. A man came to me asking me for my assitance. He said to me, " And, if it does not displease you, Kamala, I would like to ask you to be my friend and instructress, for I still know nothing of the art in which you are an expert" (30). In order for a man to please me, he has to meet all my requirements, no matter how hard it is to accomplish them.===

===Looking for: I am looking for a man with nice clothes and shoes and tons of money. If a man asks me if he satisfys me, I will laugh and say, "No, my good man, he still does not satisfy me! He must have clothes, handsome clothes, and shoes, good-looking shoes, and a lot of money in his purse, and gifts for me" (30).===

ANALYSIS:
===My daily routine has a positive impact on my life. I wake up everday at 7:15 and take a shower. After, I get out the shower I get dressed, brush my teeth and do my hair. After I'm done doing all that, It's about time for me to go to school. I leave my house around 8:30 and get to school at 8:40...8:45. Then, I go to school til 9:00-3:45. Then I get home around 4:30 and walk my dog, eat, and do my homework. Then, watch tv and go to bed.===

Lyrics:
You told me you loved me Why did you leave me, all alone Now you tell me you need me When you call me, on the phone Girl I refuse, you must have me confused With some other guy Your bridges were burned, and now it's your turn To cry, cry me a river Cry me a river

Quote:
"And at the moment that the sound om touched Siddhartha's ears, his intellect, which had fallen asleep, suddenly awakened and realized the folly of what he was doing" (47). ===Analysis: When I heard we had to do a song based on water, the song, "Cry Me A River" by Justin Timberlake popped into my head. Because, in this song, he is trying to find out why this girl he thought he loved left him alone. He's also basically saying he is done crying and trying to find out why this girl left him. This reminded me of when Siddhartha walks through the woods trying to find answers to why something is happening. Then, comes to the river for the first time and sees the river where he's going to find all of his answers.===

Lyrics:
Baptized in the river (On my own!) I wanna be delivered I confess I'm a sinner I've seen a vision of my life And I wanna be delivered!

Quote:
"He ardently wished to know nothing more about himself, to enjoy repose, to be dead... and sleep without any more awakening" (46). ===Analysis: I chose this song by Good Charlotte because, they admit they do sinful things. They also wonder why they don't move on to the next thing in their life. As for Siddhartha, he also says to himself, "Why should he go any further, where, and for what purpose?" (88). They (Good Charlotte) see a vision in their life and want to go to it. Alone.===

Lyrics:
You know a dream is like a river Ever changin' as it flows And a dreamer's just a vessel That must follow where it goes Trying to learn from what's behind you And never knowing what's in store Makes each day a constant battle Just to stay between the shores...and I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry Like a bird upon the wind These waters are my sky I'll never reach my destination If I never try So I will sail my vessel 'Til the river runs dry

Quote:
"He saw: this water flowed and flowed, it kept on flowing, and yet it was always there; it was always and at all times the same and yet new every moment" (54). === Analysis: I chose this song, by Garth Brooks because, one I love country and needed a country song in my top 3 choices. Second in this song, Brooks tells us we can't reach our destination, if we never try. By this, the river symbolizes a pathway for him to follow until he reaches his destination. Same for Siddhartha. He uses the river to wonder where he is going to go and for what? ===

=Om=

The Big Ideas / Literary Analysis
=Works Cited= Hesse, Herman. //Siddhartha//. New York: Bantam, 1971.