MomoSSB

= Ms. Riddle's Self-Realization Digital Scrapbook =

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
In an attempt to live as the Samanas, Indian ascetics that are found in the novel // Siddhartha //, I gave up something I seemingly couldn't live without for a week. I chose to give upmusic, because it's really not something that I need, even though it has become a central part of my life.

The Beginning
My first few days of living music free were excruciating. Mostly because I listen to music everyday, on the bus to school, between classes, and on the bus home. It was strange not having my morning punk, and as a result, life seemed almost dull. The songs had an effect of energizing me, preparing me for the long day ahead.

Halfway Through
By the middle of my music free week life definitely seemed more of a chore. Without the sound of music, I was severely unmotivated to do even the most everyday things. Without music, the first part of Gotama's doctrine seemed to make sense: "Life meant suffering, the world was full of sorrow, but deliverance from sorrow had been found: he who followed the Buddha's path found deliverance." It seemed almost too good to be true, too simple to be the true path to a sorrow-less life. But if Siddhartha did without eating, I could at least try without music.

The End
Near the end of the week, life was getting better. I began to think to myself that my music was a trap. I realized that I became so used to living with music, I became unable to live without it. It made sense now, the way life seemed colorless without the aid of music. But this week was my awakening, much like Siddhartha was when he realized meaning and essence, were, in themselves, meaning and essence.

Analysis
I chose to draw my scene the way I did because I tries to draw the natural, simple beauty that surrounds us everyday. Even though in the book Hesse doesn't describe the Sun, I chose to draw it because of its symbolic meaning. In my view, the Sun rising over the mountains is a metaphor for Siddhartha's awakening to the world. I drew the mountains brown and green because the book describes the scenery as such.

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**Hair**: My hair is dark as a raven's and as soft as silk.
 * L** **ocation**: A poor village in India.
 * E** **yes**: My eyes are beautiful as the Sun itself.

About Me:
I am sweet and loving. I am caring and helpful. Siddhartha himself gazes upon my features as a fish would the ocean. People say I am the most beautiful woman under the Sun. I cannot argue,"I have a bright, fair face" with a "bright red mouth like a freshly cut fig."(51)

Hobbies/Profession:
I am the undoubtedly one of the best courtesans in all of India, and men

= Samsara: =

Daily Life
1. Wake up. 2. Get dressed. 3. Eat breakfast. 4. Go to school. 5. Try to stay awake. 6. Go home. 7. Eat dinner. 8. Go to bed.

Comic:
= =

Analysis:
My life is pretty redundant. I wake up and spend about five minutes trying to actually get up.

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