YasmineScrabook7

=Yas Washington's Self-Realization Scrapbook= =With the Semanas= =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 McDonalds, because it's technically not something I **need**. Technically.

=The Beginning= As the years pass, I believe we get so sucked into doing certain thing, they just become routine. McDonald's is such a part of my routine, that I hadn't realized it before I was forced to go without it. "The years passed by. Enveloped by comfortable circumstances, Siddhartha hardly noticed their passing. He had become rich. He had long possessed a house of his own and his own servants, and a garden at the outskirts of town, by the river. People liked him; they came to him if they wanted money or advice" (75).

When Ms. Riddle first told us about the "With the Semanas" project I had thought long and hard. What could I possibly deprive myself of? Finally McDonald's popped into my head. It was that or coffee I believe I would be quite impossible to live with if I'd chosen that. Ultimately, I chose McDonald's because I thought I was the easier way out.

In the beginning, I had a lot of faith and confidence in myself. But as the days dragged on I found myself thinking stuff like, "I could surely go for some McDonald's right now." So instead of going to McDonald's I turned to other fast food restaurants like Burger King and Wendy's.

=**The Middle**= That Friday, I had went downtown with some friends. Everyone got hungry and decided to go to McDonald's, because we're young and broke and McDonald's is like the cheapest place to eat at down there. I just sat there and watched them eat McDonald's while I moped. I felt quite like Siddhartha at that moment, "The world tasted bitter. Life was pain." (14). But I sucked it up and did not cave in.

=**The End**= Towards the end I did not have as much will power. It was the morning of the PSATs and persuaded my mom to take me and some friends to McDonald's. I had happily ordered 2 hash browns and a coffee. It tasted so good, I felt like I was in heaven. Surprisingly, this had been on the last day of my week long challenge. I hadn't realized what I'd done until I has thrown the bag in the trash.

I believe that I learned a lot from the experience But, at the end of the day, "I have no desire to walk on water." Living without McDonald's is just something I'd rather not do.

Awakening

=**Kamala**= **Name:** Kamala
 * Location:** The Pleasure Grove
 * Eyes:** Dark Brown
 * About me:**I am young, and full of life and love. I come from money, but without my family's funds I'd would still do quite well for myself. I believe that I deserve a man who can take care of me and support my lifestyle of lavish living. I think that I am quite the catch and very desirable at that.
 * Hair:** Chocolate Brown with Caramel Streaks
 * Hobbies/ Profession:** I am a "well known courtesan"(52), which is like a prostitute but with a wealthier clientele, so perhaps a call girl. Many young men, usually Brahmins, want my services. These days I often spend time with Siddhartha teaching him about love and guidance. The rest of my time is spent grove lying in my "sedan chair" (42) relaxing.
 * Looking For:** I am looking for a rich man who can take care of me and shower me with gifts. "He must have clothes, fine clothes, and shoes, fine shoes, and plenty of money in his pocket and presents for me" (54).

=**Samsara**=

My Daily Life
1. Wake up, pick out clothes for the day 2. Brush teeth, wash face, shower 3. Pack backpack 4. Go to school for 7 gruesome hours 5. Do homework 6. Go to sleep


 * Quote from Siddhartha:** "Are we gaining knowledge? Are we approaching salvation? Or are we perhaps going in circles-we who thought to escape from the cycle?" (17)
 * Analysis:** Everyday I wake up, roll over and check my phone's notifications. Then I go to my closet and pick out my outfit for the day. After that I take a 30 minute shower, unless I'm running behind then it's 10 minutes. I pack my backpack, check my calender for the day then grab my coffee off the counter. Usually I walk the 6 minute walk to Albemarle. Then I attend school for 7 hours. After that I go home, stare at my homework, then eventually do it. I go to bed around 12AM, but if I'm really behind on homework I'll go to sleep at 2AM. This quote for me goes very well with my daily routine. I often wonder if I'm really living and experiencing life or if i'm just going through all the steps and running through my life.

=The River=

media type="youtube" key="DksSPZTZES0" height="315" width="560" align="left"** Song: ** Cry Me A River (Baby go on and just) Cry me a river-er (Go on and just) Cry me a river (Cause I've already cried) Cry me a river-er, yea yea (Ain't gonna cry no more, yea-yea) "Siddhartha had wanted to drown himself in this river; the old, tired, despairing Siddhartha was today drowned in it. The new Siddhartha felt a deep love for this flowing water and decided that he would not leave it again so quickly." (100) Siddhartha had been moping around because he'd been looking for something that he couldn't find. He couldn't find it because it was something that lay within him. He'd almost been feeling sorry for himself, he's lost himself. Then he found what he'd been wanting for so badly, enlightenment he felt like a new person. He found peace and happiness.
 * Lyrics: ** Cry me a river
 * Quote from the text: **
 * Analysis: **

media type="youtube" key="vGD8aQ2GKr0" height="315" width="420" align="right" Take me to the river, drop me in the water, water.
 * Song:** Take Me to the River
 * L****yrics:**Take me to the river, drop me in the water
 * Quote from the text:** "He looked down and was completely filled with a desire to let himself go and be submerged in the water." (88)
 * Analysis:** On Siddhartha's journey to find himself he went through a short stage of... depression or rather a feeling of hopelessness. He thought about drowning himself in the river several times before he felt peace and salvation within the river.

media type="youtube" key="XuPl26uL3Os" height="315" width="420" align="left"**Song:** Ain't No Mountain High Enough There ain't no mountain high enough Ain't no valley low enough Ain't no river wide enough To keep me from getting to you "Tomorrow morning, my friend, Siddhartha is going to join the Samanas. He is going to become a Samana" (9). These lyrics (taken out of context) basically mean that nothing, no person, place, or thing can keep them away from what they are trying to get to. So, when talking about Siddhartha, he will do anything to find Enlightenment He goes through very extreme measures throughout his journey, like when he went and joined the Semanas. Which was the first thing he did, in an attempt to find enlightenment.
 * Lyrics:**
 * Quote from the text:**
 * Analysis:**