Siddhartha Part One Quiz
During his time with the Samanas, Siddhartha learns the first noble truth, that existence or living causes pain. In his introduction into the Samana culture, Siddhartha begins to realize that, “Life was pain” (11). This was a part of the core beliefs of the Samanas, and according to the religion, in order not to suffer, you must let go of the Self. The Self embodies all of your earthly feelings and desires, and your life, so when you let go of the Self, you are letting go of life and all of the pain that it brings. This shows just how much of the Samana religion’s basis can be found in the first of the four noble truths. Later in his Samana practices, as he learned how to let go of the Self, he realized even more how …show more content…
He realizes that, “No other teachings will attract me, since this man’s teachings have not done so” (29). This realization shows how his desire for teachings ends, and he begins to focus on finding himself. He realizes that what he really finds essential cannot be found through teachings, and that even the most perfect teachings could not teach him what he really wanted to find. When he ended the desire for the best teachings, he was free of the suffering, and he was able to see the world in it’s full beauty. The Illustrious One exemplifies someone who has ended his suffering. Siddhartha points out the flaw in his teachings, and the Buddha asks, “Do you think, O Samana from afar, that it would be better for all these to relinquish the teachings and to return to the life of the world and desires?” (28). Since the Buddha has travelled the path to enlightenment already, he knows how to avoid desire. The question makes Siddhartha reflect on his actions, and it helps him realize that he must find his own way, because if he followed Gotama’s teachings it would just be his Self transformed into his teachings. Gotama knows that if he stops his teachings, he would go back to the suffering, so he continues to teach others, a desireless profession. Siddhartha begins to gain a sense of direction when he realizes that his desire for knowledge chains him back from finding the …show more content…
Gotama helps Siddhartha come to see things in a new light towards the end of their conversation. He realizes, “It is not for me to judge another life. I must judge for myself. I must choose and reject.” This realization falls in line with right speech and mental attitude, two parts of the Eightfold path. Right speech and right mental attitude restrict you from negative thought and emotions like anger as well as speaking ill of someone else, some things that might happen when judging another life. Focusing on himself also plays a key role in other parts of the Eightfold path. He begins to think more about this and eventually decides, “I will learn from myself the secret of Siddhartha” (32). Inner focus and reflective thought are key components in certain parts of the Eightfold path, especially right mindfulness. Although he learned about how to get away from the Self with the Samanas, he always kept coming back. He now that he realizes that in order to achieve enlightenment, he must do it through learning more about the Self, and embracing what he learns rather that trying to eliminate it. During his talk with Gotama and the time he spent reflecting on it afterwards, Siddhartha came to several realizations. The new methods that he learned and realizations he came to were all key components of one of the
During his time with the Samanas, Siddhartha learns the first noble truth, that existence or living causes pain. In his introduction into the Samana culture, Siddhartha begins to realize that, “Life was pain” (11). This was a part of the core beliefs of the Samanas, and according to the religion, in order not to suffer, you must let go of the Self. The Self embodies all of your earthly feelings and desires, and your life, so when you let go of the Self, you are letting go of life and all of the pain that it brings. This shows just how much of the Samana religion’s basis can be found in the first of the four noble truths. Later in his Samana practices, as he learned how to let go of the Self, he realized even more how …show more content…
He realizes that, “No other teachings will attract me, since this man’s teachings have not done so” (29). This realization shows how his desire for teachings ends, and he begins to focus on finding himself. He realizes that what he really finds essential cannot be found through teachings, and that even the most perfect teachings could not teach him what he really wanted to find. When he ended the desire for the best teachings, he was free of the suffering, and he was able to see the world in it’s full beauty. The Illustrious One exemplifies someone who has ended his suffering. Siddhartha points out the flaw in his teachings, and the Buddha asks, “Do you think, O Samana from afar, that it would be better for all these to relinquish the teachings and to return to the life of the world and desires?” (28). Since the Buddha has travelled the path to enlightenment already, he knows how to avoid desire. The question makes Siddhartha reflect on his actions, and it helps him realize that he must find his own way, because if he followed Gotama’s teachings it would just be his Self transformed into his teachings. Gotama knows that if he stops his teachings, he would go back to the suffering, so he continues to teach others, a desireless profession. Siddhartha begins to gain a sense of direction when he realizes that his desire for knowledge chains him back from finding the …show more content…
Gotama helps Siddhartha come to see things in a new light towards the end of their conversation. He realizes, “It is not for me to judge another life. I must judge for myself. I must choose and reject.” This realization falls in line with right speech and mental attitude, two parts of the Eightfold path. Right speech and right mental attitude restrict you from negative thought and emotions like anger as well as speaking ill of someone else, some things that might happen when judging another life. Focusing on himself also plays a key role in other parts of the Eightfold path. He begins to think more about this and eventually decides, “I will learn from myself the secret of Siddhartha” (32). Inner focus and reflective thought are key components in certain parts of the Eightfold path, especially right mindfulness. Although he learned about how to get away from the Self with the Samanas, he always kept coming back. He now that he realizes that in order to achieve enlightenment, he must do it through learning more about the Self, and embracing what he learns rather that trying to eliminate it. During his talk with Gotama and the time he spent reflecting on it afterwards, Siddhartha came to several realizations. The new methods that he learned and realizations he came to were all key components of one of the