domingo, 28 de abril de 2013

Visual Vocabulary for Siddhartha, I

1.) HeronA large fish-eating bird with long legs, a long S-

shaped neck, and a long pointed bill.




2. JackalA slender, long-legged wild dog.



3. EnlightenmentThe attainment of spiritual knowledge or 

insight, (in Buddhism) that which frees a person from the 

cycle of rebirth.



4. Onerous: Involving a burdensome amount of effort and 

difficulty.

(carrying rocks)


5. Palliative: A remedy, medicine.






6. Nirvana: Liberation of the soul from the effects of karma 

and from bodily existence; state of peace.





7. Rebirth: The process of being reincarnated or born again.


8. Ascetic: Severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons. (ex. starvation)





domingo, 14 de abril de 2013

Similar Minds and Independence

I am like Siddhartha in the way that I go for what I want. He does not want to be a Bhramin like his father, and he will not let himself be pressured into becoming one. Siddhartha does not agree with how the learned men attempt to reach enlightenment, so against his father's beliefs he decides to become a Samana.
My father is always truing to pressure me to want to have a career in architecture, but I am more into things that have, well, less math and more... Art! I practice guitar and write songs hoping I could have a career in music, I paint and decorate maybe hoping to have a career in art.
Like Siddhartha, I am never really satisfied. He is rich and wise and learned, but he still is not... complete. I'm a very ambitious person who is seldom quite satisfied. 

In my opinion, enlightenment to Siddhartha would be to finally be satisfied, to be... full. Not full of empty wisdom, but most perhaps (just guessing here) purpose. To know that he can be more than a Bhramin's son and that he can be whoever he wants, not have to follow what he was born into.
Many people fell like they are forced into doing something when they have to follow their parents footsteps or are expected to be something since the second they can say "Mama" or "Papa" or "Towel"- whatever their first word might've been. Most of those people wind up developing an interest in something else, and some pursue it. What our buddy Siddhartha is going through might be just that, wanting to freely be who he wants. Wanting to find enlightenment in a way he sees fit.
Don't worry Siddy, we all want our independence.

Will Siddhartha 'lose' everything he has to become a Samana? the comforts and advantages of being the son of a wealthy and wise man? What IS enlightenment to this thirsty boy?

martes, 9 de abril de 2013

Teachers & Students

I can connect my own life to Siddhartha because he learns from his father and the other Brahmins, while I learn from my father too and from many, many different teachers. 
I can also relate to him because he is a natural leader and so am I. People look up to him, specially his friend Govinda, and listen to him. He most probably has "the voice", like me. What I mean by "the voice", would be the natural ability to lead others. I'm probably not the only one who says something, or orders people and... they just listen. There's always those people who bark orders and are ignored or resented, but with this "voice" is like a tool to lead people effectively. Just say it and they'll listen
 Siddhartha is also supposed to be a fast learner, who knows about everything. I am a fast learner, and even though I do not know too much about many different things, I do have a broad knowledge, a little about everything. The Caste system was still on at that type and I can connect that to nowadays because there's still inequality in life, there is a big gap between rich and poor.