ShoshanaHSB

= 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 my cat, because I spend so much time with her and love her unconditionally.

Getting Started
When I first decided to give up my cat I started and i knew it would be hard for me because I spend so much time with her. I imagined my time without my cat how the book describes self-denial, "he traveled along the path of self-denial through pain, through voluntary suffering and conquering of pain, through hunger, thirst, and fatigue" (15). My journey through self-denial was very painful, it was hard for me to just walk by her and not be able to say anything to her which hurt me deep inside. Every night she sleeps with me and every day she does homework with me. Whenever I see her I stop everything im doing to be with her. I knew it was going to be a tough week because I just love her so much and hate being apart from her, I love her like a mom loves there new born! The first time I had to ignore her was hard and I started crying I had to get my mom to take her out of the room. I felt so bad because she always sits with me while I do homework but I had to push her away.



Mid-Week
Mid-Week I was still tempted to pick her up and play with her but I had to restrain. It wasnt as hard as the beginning of the week was but still tough, because of school and getting home late I didnt see her as much as I normally would, which defienitly made it easier. I can really relate when Siddhartha says "the world tasted bitter. Life was pain" (Hesse 14). Without having my cat to cuddle and talk to my time at home was lonely and sad. I had to find other cats to give my affection to, Mid way through the week I began to grow a bond with my sisters cat the I HATED before this week. =**By The End**= After my week of rudely ignoring my cat, the pain was finally over and I could love my cat as much as I wanted but not only did I love my cat I also loved my sisters cat and now they both sleep with me in bed!! I did gain much knowledge from this week learning not only can I love my cat but I can also show love to my sisters cat without having less love for my cat, "are we gaining knowledge? Are we approaching salvation?" (17). Though the journey was tough I pushed through and didn't give in! Im glad what I took out of this experience it made me grateful of what I have and I don't have to favor something or someone more then something else I can like them equally.

Awakening
This is how I interpret what Siddhartha saw when he woke up. In the picture I drew, I tried to make it as peaceful as possible by using a lot of "yellows", "greens, and "blues". When he woken up he saw the "sky and river, woods and mountains," as I ilistrated in the picture. I feel like this scene describes peacefulness and life progressing.

=**Kamala**=

[[image:UmraoJaanAishwarya.jpg]]

 * Location:** I live in Pleasure Groves


 * E****yes:** I have "Dark eyes" (51).


 * Hair:** I have "Black hair" (51).


 * About Me:** I have a very luxurious life. I'm a very confident and beautiful "bright fair face, and...clever arched eyes" (51).

**Hobbies/ Profession:**
My profession is Courtesan, in simpler terms I am a prostitute. Many men come to me "to learn about love" (55). I am very good at what I do, men have learned many things from me that they wouldn't have learned from anyone else.
 * Looking For: **I am looking for a man who knows how to treat a girl right, he must surprise me with gifts. He must be a well put together man, "clothes, shoes, [and] money" (55). I will not let them into my Pleasure Grove unless he meets ALL my standards.


 * Samsara** 1. I wake up and lay in my bed, pondering on if I should get ready for school. 2. I get ready and do my make up (Occasionally do my make up, if I am not lazy). 3.I sit in the kitchen and eat breakfast till everyone is ready to go. (I am grumpy in the mornings, so don't talk to me). 4.My brother drives me to school! We bond a lot in the car. 5. In class all I do is think in Spanish and insult people in my head. 6.When I get home I lay on the ground until my cat finds me, then we watch TV together until I fall asleep,I tend not to do homework. [[image:shoshana comic.jpg]]

**Quote from the text:**
===="Never had he found the voice and appearance of flowing water so beautiful. It seemed to him as if the river had something special to tell him, something which he did not know, something which still awaited him" (100).====

**Analysis:**
Siddhartha believed that the river was all knowing so he learned from the river. Everything that Siddhartha learned in life was from the river. Siddhartha believes that the river will help him find wisdom and guide him, just like Emeli wants to guide us and help us as she says through out her song. media type="custom" key="24654272" align="left" "We must be swift as the coursing river, With all the force of the great typhoon  With all the strength of the raging fire  Mysterious as the dark side of the moon"
 * Song: I'll Make a Man out of You" by Disney **
 * Lyrics: **

"Love this river, stay by it, learn from it," (Hesse 101) Siddhartha believes that he will " learn from it," (Hesse 101) also that it is perfect. In the song "I'll Make a Man out of You" they describe the river as Mysterious, dark, strength, forceful and swift. Both Siddhartha and Disney agree and describe the river as perfection in all different ways. media type="custom" key="24654156" align="left"
 * Quote from the text: **
 * Analysis: **

"Sink in the river The lessons I learned"
 * "Counting Stars" by One Republic **
 * Lyrics: **

"He looked down and was completely filled with the desire to let himself go and be submerged in the water. A chilly emptiness in the water reflected the terrible emptiness in his soul" (88) **Analysis:** In the book Siddhartha wanted to die, and drown himself in the river because he was so empty. In the song "Counting Stars" wanted to sink in the river because of lessons they have learned, just like Siddhartha wanted to drown. Siddhartha believed that his life was meaningless and he did not have a purpose to stay on earth.
 * Quote from text: **