I can Think

Aim: Debate wether or not Siddhartha is a hero.
Read Now: Siddhartha can be described as a hero because he's been changing through out the story. First he was miserable in a not wealthy nor healthy way. Now, he's powerful and rich. He had a bad perspective of rich people, but when he was miserable all he dreamed about was being wealthy and having a good life. Siddhartha is finding his Self between all his adventures and experiences. Siddhartha is now achieving good qualities by his own and recognizing himself. He's achieving what he once wanted.
At the end of chapter By the River, Siddhartha was willing to leave the old Siddhartha and starting a "new Siddhartha". He was considered happy now, young. Wanting to start since the beginning.

Debate if Siddhartha is a hero or not
Points:
Siddhartha is not a hero because heros need to be more unique and if your point is that Siddhartha has done things beyond himself, then Buddha, Govinda and Vaseduva are heros.
For example Govinda left Siddhartha for his own benefit, that's doing something for him self and thinking beyond him, so Govinda then will be considered a hero and heros are supposed to be unique. 

Fading Away for Any Good?

As the years go by, Siddhartha starts getting more and more wealth. He's now full of valuable things he never had before. He becomes replaced by more material-like qualities. He grows greedy, troubled by everyday problems, and unhappy. He feels trapped by pleasure, pain, and a sense of self-hatred. Before all this richness he thought that rich people were, " discontent, of sickliness, of displeasure, of idleness, of lovelessness." But, "Slowly the soul sickness of the rich crept over him."
Siddhartha reached this point of richness and discontrol, that his Samana qualities start to fade. He starts gambling and showing-off his wealth that it "finally trapped him." 
Why would someone want to have lots of wealth when he or she won't even recognize himself? Will Siddhartha wake up? Why is Siddhartha being so bipolar in the case that sometimes he thinks that what he's doing is bad, by hating himself, but he still loves his new wealth and "new life"?

I interpret this photo as the money being Siddhartha's wealth, and the key being his key to life. I think in Siddhartha's situation he needs something to chose. If he can't be a good person with wealth, I would prefer he keeps his normal Samana life. He's not having a healthy life because of a wealthy life. 

Chapter 7, Samsara

Responding to The Editors

Dear Editors,

In response to Sophia Noel's article: "Surviving ADHD", Sophia is a senior diagnosed with ADHD, when she was a wee young gal. She described all her troubles about dealing with this disorder. "Through out the years I have struggled emotionally, physically, and academically because of my disability." Sophia tells us how her disability was first notice and diagnosed. When she had five years old she told her mom that some trees were talking to her: "They are telling me to hurt lots and lots of people." Her mother "froze", they tested her on several "neural disorders". Then, she was diagnosed with ADHD. Though she struggled a lot through her school years, "I went from a C/B student in middle school and early high school to a straight A (with an occasional B) student in 11th and 12th grade."

I like how Sophia develops her memoir. She develops it briefly with out giving us every single detail, which makes it a more easy and fluent reading. Sophia also describes how she felt because of her disability, this really made me get into her thoughts and situation, which is really good for a reader to develop such thing. Lovely ending, I'm glad she "survived ADHD."

Finding The One in Love

Amongst The People, the first chapter of part two is based on Siddhartha finding a girl he's starting to like. Kamala is trying to make Siddhartha a well round person by trying to find him a job, clothes and food. Siddhartha starts to get a good life around this girl; Kamala. Siddhartha is really getting into Kamala, while Kamala is only trying to show Siddhartha good paths and how to take his own knowledge further. 
I don't really understand what Siddhartha wants now. He's giving all his effort and interests for a girl. Why would he do something like that when all he wanted was reaching Nirvana? 
After all, Siddhartha still has his thoughts of a Samana. Siddhartha sees people from other perspective, he won't empathize much with others. That's what he find in common with Kamala. 
"Kamala looked at him and smiled. "You are talking about him again,"she said. "Again you have Samana Thoughts.""
They are both different to normal people that's why Siddhartha really likes her. 
"I am like you. You cannot love either, otherwise how could you practice love as an art? Perhaps people like us cannot love. Ordinary people can- that is their secret."
With this saying I got a little confused, if Siddhartha "cannot love" then, what is he feeling towards Kamala? Is it just another companion for him?

I liked this chapter because it's a cool story of finding someone really similar to you. Haven't you had that one person you really understand with? Someone you never knew? 
What will happen to Siddhartha in the next chapters and his rebel thoughts and "love"?

Comparing to a Hero

In the last few chapters of Siddhartha, I notice how Siddhartha is really trying to be himself and finding the one thing he likes. I can relate Siddhartha in this moment to Eric in the Little Mermaid. Eric is a very wealthy kid, a prince. He falls in love of a "random" girl which everyone thinks is not the same "class" or social level as Eric. Eric has always been behind the guards and his royalty life. He has never done something by himself neither for him. He meets the little mermaid, and starts doing what he wants, the real Eric. He dresses casual, does adventurous things and all because of his new companion. Siddhartha finds this new girl he really likes and starts doing things for her, but it's also on his favor. Kamala, His new companion of Love, does positive things to Siddhartha; getting him a job based on all his knowledge. Little Mermaid, shows Eric the real world and the real him. These two heros, are showing the way to find Self. 

Starting New

Siddhartha is starting a new life in this chapter: Kamala. I like how Siddhartha is willing to create his new path by living and thinking only what his thoughts and mind tells him to do. He's not following neither Govinda or any other God. Siddhartha is disposed to continue a road by himself. 
Was Siddhartha, himself, hidden? Maybe Siddhartha didn't believe in him at first. Maybe it's because Self is an issue, being yourself is a conflict with society, dealing with others. 
Siddhartha meets Ferryman, a man he compares to his companion Govinda. Ferryman teaches Siddhartha how to see life by listening to a river. He, who starts a new path, is learning by senses. He is forming a new future with Kamala. Kamala, a women with love and sensuality might bring something new, an experience to Siddhartha's life. 
"You have been lucky..."
I agree with what Kamala because Siddhartha has been really lucky by not getting anything bad or wrong

Videoing What?

Awakening Videoblog

Fading

Siddhartha goes away from Govinda and Buddha. He must keep his path. Siddhartha will embark a new stage in his life. He wants to form himself.
..."he had also left his former life behind him in the grove."
Siddhartha seeking for Brahman, Atman, never thought about himself. He runed from him. Siddhartha started to realize that he must be good, he started teaching and finding his own. He, who was lost, knew he was alone now. His shadow, his companion left him by choosing what he wanted, it's now Siddhartha's turn.
Will Siddhartha find himself?
On who or what will he believe in?
will he find another companion along his new path? Or is it a forever life?

Found IT...

Govinda and Siddhartha find Gotama Buddha. Each day, they're both more surprised of how many people want to hear the Buddha's teachings. As soon as they see the crowd of people they notice him, the Buddha, just like a holy man. The Buddha gives all of the people the feeling of peace, quiet and full of goodness.
"Be at peace, Govinda. The Illustrious One's teachings are very good. How could I find a flaw in them?"
I love that moment when you get peace from a person because that person makes you feel either safe or stronger. I mean, we all have that one person right?
When Siddhartha says that the Buddha sees life as a "cause and effect", I understand this as if everything happens because you made it happen. You choose what to do. Because of your actions, you'll get your consequences or the way life responds to you. I also see life this way, if you are responsable for the actions, then your responsable for it's consequences.
I think about Buddha's way of thinking... I wish people were that way.
"It is not for me to judge another life. I must judge for myself. I must choose and reject."
This means everyone should mind their own life. If that can happen many things could change... maybe someday.
At the end of my chapter I love how Siddhartha thinks he found or will find himself. Buddha inspired Siddhartha on becoming "his Self". He will find IT.

Adapting and Leaving

As I read through Siddhartha Chapter two, we notice how Siddhartha and Govinda are adapting to their new lives as Sammanas. They join the Sammanas by entering a contest. Siddhartha and Govinda started to do some Sammana manners, which include not eating just once a day. How could you get accostumed to something like that? I started to think and predict that Siddhartha won't be able to do this radical change. I proved myself when I read this:
" On another occasion When Siddhartha left the wood with Govinda in order to beg for food..." (pg.14).
Will Siddhartha keep with this new life? If so, how?
After I read few more pages I notice that Siddhartha is actually leaving the Sammanas.
"Soon, Govinda, your friend will leave the path of Sammanas..." (pg.15).
I knew this would happen with Siddhartha. he's a strong guy, but not the way he imagined he was. Govinda then gets impressed on how much Siddhartha learned from the Sammanas, he became a powerful guy, that gets what he wants.

I think it's important to think that way, (to get what you want), only if it's in a honest and responsable way. Siddhartha uses some powers and I take it as cheating to get what he wants, which is something I don't agree with.

Being Ideal

Siddhartha, a wealthy guy in ancient India. Govinda, his best friend. They both come from the elite Brahman origin. As I read through the pages, I noticed that Siddhartha is a guy wanted by every woman, and men urge to be him.
"Your soul is the whole world." (pg.4)
How is it that he got this fame?
Why is it exactly that people want to be him?
What positive actions will he do to demonstrate that he is worthy?
I ask myself all these questions.
Siddhartha starts thinking that he has learned all he needed from his professors. This is something I don't agree with because you'll never know enough, you'll never stop learning.
Siddhartha seeked for enlightenment. He was always searching for peace, and the actions to do everything right."Govinda, come with me to the banyan tree. We will practice meditation." (pg.5)
Something radical crossed Siddhartha's mind. He started to doubt himself, his religion, his existence, his rituals and more.
Why and how could someone doubt themselves when all he gets is love and admiration of all he's done?
Siddhartha is a man with determination, when he wants something he needs to get it. Siddhartha tells his father about his desires. He wants to become a Samana, as soon as his father listens to him he gets really upset. Siddhartha stays there all night until his father lets him go. Being determined on the things you want is pretty good. That means that you don't give up so easy on the things you want. This changes paths in your life and gives you great opportunities because you risk yourself to new adventures and big decisions.

While reading Siddhartha, I realized that Jesus (the Bible) and Siddhartha have some similarities. Both are loved by their people. Jesus has it's followers and Siddhartha also does. They both believe in peace. Both believe that people get what they deserve. Though, they use different ways or tecnics to show their beliefs and thoughts, they deeply relate to each other.

I interpret this image of Siddhartha in two ways. I can see that Siddhartha is seeking for enlightenment. I can see the people bellow him praying for him, giving him value and admiring him. I suppose this is in the banyan tree where he meditates with Govinda.