Siddhartha:Siddhartha: The Last The Last BeginningBeginning

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

21 September 201021 September 2010

Who is Siddhartha?Who is Siddhartha? [He] had begun to feel the seeds of discontent [He] had begun to feel the seeds of discontent

within him. He had begun to feel that the love of within him. He had begun to feel that the love of his father, mother, and friends would not always his father, mother, and friends would not always make him happy, give him peace, satisfy and make him happy, give him peace, satisfy and suffice him. He had begun to suspect that his suffice him. He had begun to suspect that his worthy father and other teachers had already worthy father and other teachers had already passed on to him the bulk and best of their passed on to him the bulk and best of their wisdom, that they had already poured the sum wisdom, that they had already poured the sum total of their knowledge into his waiting vessel; total of their knowledge into his waiting vessel; and the vessel was not full, his intellect was not and the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still...Nobody showed the way, nobody knew not still...Nobody showed the way, nobody knew it - neither his father, nor the teachers and wise it - neither his father, nor the teachers and wise men, nor the holy songs. They knew a men, nor the holy songs. They knew a tremendous number of things, but was it tremendous number of things, but was it worthwhile, knowing all these things if they did worthwhile, knowing all these things if they did not know the one important thing, the only not know the one important thing, the only important thing?important thing?

Starter Questions, Part IStarter Questions, Part I What is the most impressive quality that human beings What is the most impressive quality that human beings

possess? Our capacity for reason? Our inventiveness? Our possess? Our capacity for reason? Our inventiveness? Our curiosity? Our ability to love? Our ambition? Our artistic curiosity? Our ability to love? Our ambition? Our artistic skills? Our ability to feel at all? Something else?skills? Our ability to feel at all? Something else?

What are humanity’s greatest weaknesses? Are your What are humanity’s greatest weaknesses? Are your answers to #s 1 & 2 related?answers to #s 1 & 2 related?

What is most impressive about you?What is most impressive about you? Do your answers to #s 1 & 3 match? (What do you think Do your answers to #s 1 & 3 match? (What do you think

this means?)this means?) What do you feel is your greatest weakness?What do you feel is your greatest weakness? Do your answers to #s 2 & 5 match? (What do you think Do your answers to #s 2 & 5 match? (What do you think

this means?)this means?) How can we, as people, improve our weaknesses? How can How can we, as people, improve our weaknesses? How can

you (on an individual basis) improve your weaknesses? Are you (on an individual basis) improve your weaknesses? Are you doing this on an everyday basis? If not…well, why you doing this on an everyday basis? If not…well, why aren’t you?aren’t you?

Which qualities define friendship? Compatibility? Trust? Which qualities define friendship? Compatibility? Trust? Kindness? What do you find yourself examining while Kindness? What do you find yourself examining while meeting someone for the first time, forming a first meeting someone for the first time, forming a first impression? In other words, which values do you value in impression? In other words, which values do you value in others?others?

Starter Questions, Part IIStarter Questions, Part II ““Yesterday I told you I knew how to think, to wait, and to fast, but Yesterday I told you I knew how to think, to wait, and to fast, but

you did not consider these useful. But you will see that they are you did not consider these useful. But you will see that they are very useful, Kamala…” (49).very useful, Kamala…” (49). Do you have an overlooked talent or trait that is key to your success? Do you have an overlooked talent or trait that is key to your success?

Do you underestimate others? Do others underestimate you?Do you underestimate others? Do others underestimate you? ““From the moment I made that resolution I also knew I From the moment I made that resolution I also knew I

would execute it…” (50).would execute it…” (50). Do you possess determination and perspective, as Siddhartha Do you possess determination and perspective, as Siddhartha

apparently does? What are some goals you have achieved in similar apparently does? What are some goals you have achieved in similar fashion?fashion?

““That seems to be the way of things. Everyone takes, That seems to be the way of things. Everyone takes, everyone gives. Life is like that” (52).everyone gives. Life is like that” (52). Do you feel this statement is accurate? Convince me – one way or the Do you feel this statement is accurate? Convince me – one way or the

other – with examples from the text and from your life.other – with examples from the text and from your life. How do these questions relate to your personal How do these questions relate to your personal

statements?statements? By dedicating ourselves entirely to an ideal, to the pursuit By dedicating ourselves entirely to an ideal, to the pursuit

of one special thing, can we unlock the potential within of one special thing, can we unlock the potential within ourselves to become something greater?ourselves to become something greater?

Can we transcend who we are? Can we exceed our own Can we transcend who we are? Can we exceed our own expectations? expectations? Can we transcend who we want to be?Can we transcend who we want to be?

The Noble Eightfold PathThe Noble Eightfold Path As you saw, the Noble Eightfold Path provides As you saw, the Noble Eightfold Path provides

followers with a behavioral outlinefollowers with a behavioral outline Right View – Understand the Four Noble TruthsRight View – Understand the Four Noble Truths Right Aspiration – Care about all living thingsRight Aspiration – Care about all living things Right Speech – Speak truthfully, kindly, Right Speech – Speak truthfully, kindly,

respectfully, and properly (obscenity not allowed)respectfully, and properly (obscenity not allowed) Right Bodily Action – Follow the Five (or Ten) Moral Right Bodily Action – Follow the Five (or Ten) Moral

Precepts (Buddhist moral codes)Precepts (Buddhist moral codes) Right Livelihood – Your work shouldn’t harm Right Livelihood – Your work shouldn’t harm

anything that livesanything that lives Right Endeavor/Effort – Concentrate on meditation, Right Endeavor/Effort – Concentrate on meditation,

control your negative thoughtscontrol your negative thoughts Right Mindfulness – Give full attention to whatever Right Mindfulness – Give full attention to whatever

you are doing, and give your best effort at all times you are doing, and give your best effort at all times (something I encourage you to do in class!)(something I encourage you to do in class!)

Right Concentration – The mental discipline Right Concentration – The mental discipline necessary for reaching enlightenmentnecessary for reaching enlightenment

The Man Who Sold the WorldThe Man Who Sold the World Nirvana: The apex of human Nirvana: The apex of human

existenceexistence Represents the elimination of desireRepresents the elimination of desire In turn, nirvana also brings serenity, In turn, nirvana also brings serenity,

wisdom, and compassionwisdom, and compassion Because desire is eliminated, Because desire is eliminated,

suffering is eliminatedsuffering is eliminated Without suffering, the samsara cycle Without suffering, the samsara cycle

is brokenis broken

Spin You Right ‘RoundSpin You Right ‘Round The samsara cycle represents birth The samsara cycle represents birth

and rebirth, the cycle of existenceand rebirth, the cycle of existence You enter, leave, and re-enter the You enter, leave, and re-enter the

material world, which contains material world, which contains sufferingsuffering

Hence, your existence here will be Hence, your existence here will be defined by sufferingdefined by suffering

Remember: Nirvana breaks the Remember: Nirvana breaks the cycle!cycle!

Siddhartha Gautama, upon reaching Siddhartha Gautama, upon reaching nirvana, claimed he had broken his nirvana, claimed he had broken his Samsara cycleSamsara cycle

Don’t Be Fooled…Don’t Be Fooled… Maya vs. SatyamMaya vs. Satyam Maya: “The principle of ‘appearance,’ and Maya: “The principle of ‘appearance,’ and

the illusory nature of the universe; what the illusory nature of the universe; what we see around us is unreal, but Maya we see around us is unreal, but Maya displays it as real.”displays it as real.” Think of the MatrixThink of the Matrix

Satyam: “The real; that which abides and Satyam: “The real; that which abides and exists beyond Maya.”exists beyond Maya.” Think of life outside the Matrix Think of life outside the Matrix

You wish to see beyond the veilYou wish to see beyond the veil Acceptance of the veil means accepting your Acceptance of the veil means accepting your

own blindness to the way things workown blindness to the way things work This, in turn, prevents you from walking the This, in turn, prevents you from walking the

path – which means you will continue sufferingpath – which means you will continue suffering

Everything You Do…Everything You Do… Understand the concept of karmaUnderstand the concept of karma We receive what we earn, for good We receive what we earn, for good

or for ill – and it lasts!or for ill – and it lasts! Once again, nirvana breaks the cycleOnce again, nirvana breaks the cycle ““Everything you do/Comes back to Everything you do/Comes back to

you/Whatever it may be…/What you you/Whatever it may be…/What you do as an angel/Or what you do as a do as an angel/Or what you do as a devil/The favor returns itself devil/The favor returns itself somehow.”somehow.”

311, “Paradise”311, “Paradise”

The Man by the RiverThe Man by the River Bodhisattva: One who has Bodhisattva: One who has

achieved enlightenmentachieved enlightenment However, rather than attain However, rather than attain

nirvana, bodhisattvas remain nirvana, bodhisattvas remain herehere

Dedicate themselves to the Dedicate themselves to the welfare of other living thingswelfare of other living things

People pray to them for helpPeople pray to them for help This is Vasudeva’s role, as well This is Vasudeva’s role, as well

as Gotama’sas Gotama’s

The Word of WordsThe Word of Words Those of you who have finished already Those of you who have finished already

realize the supreme importance of Om on realize the supreme importance of Om on the textthe text

The “word of words” can be defined in any The “word of words” can be defined in any number of waysnumber of ways

One useful way to think of Om is to One useful way to think of Om is to understand that it represents unity, the understand that it represents unity, the “one-ness” of all things“one-ness” of all things

This is why the Noble Eightfold Path This is why the Noble Eightfold Path places such high value on all living things places such high value on all living things – not just humans– not just humans

Siddhartha is able to “pronounce it Siddhartha is able to “pronounce it silently”silently” A true understanding of Om indicates A true understanding of Om indicates

enlightenmentenlightenment

Take Control of Life’s WiimoteTake Control of Life’s Wiimote Control your circumstances through Control your circumstances through

understanding and dedicationunderstanding and dedication If you focus on understanding yourself, you will If you focus on understanding yourself, you will

be more aware of the consequences your actions be more aware of the consequences your actions causecause Less likely to hurt others, or any living thingLess likely to hurt others, or any living thing Everything is connected, right?Everything is connected, right?

If you try to do your best every day, your If you try to do your best every day, your dedication will eventually pay offdedication will eventually pay off

Obviously, it’s tough to try your best every day; Obviously, it’s tough to try your best every day; that’s why we asked the questions at the that’s why we asked the questions at the beginning, and on the blogbeginning, and on the blog

In “Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right In “Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?”, for example, the point was to make you Now?”, for example, the point was to make you think about the following:think about the following: How much control do you feel you have over your own How much control do you feel you have over your own

happiness? Do you consciously try to do things that happiness? Do you consciously try to do things that satisfy you? Do you get too distracted or overworked to satisfy you? Do you get too distracted or overworked to focus on such matters?focus on such matters?

Final Beginning ThoughtsFinal Beginning Thoughts These things that we’ve talked about – These things that we’ve talked about –

development, happiness, thoughtfulness, fear, development, happiness, thoughtfulness, fear, loss, desire, connection, consequence, control, loss, desire, connection, consequence, control, and transcendence – have everything to do with and transcendence – have everything to do with everything everything wewe do do

Regardless of whether you’re writing an essay Regardless of whether you’re writing an essay for a prospective college or enjoying a day with for a prospective college or enjoying a day with your friends, these things underpin our existenceyour friends, these things underpin our existence

To read To read SiddharthaSiddhartha is to look into a very is to look into a very particular sort of mirror, much like particular sort of mirror, much like Catcher, Catcher, Mockingbird, Mockingbird, or or GatsbyGatsby

Everyone sees something different…and you’ll Everyone sees something different…and you’ll see something different if you ever read this see something different if you ever read this againagain

It’s a special book, the kind that stays in your It’s a special book, the kind that stays in your blood, and I hope you take something special blood, and I hope you take something special away from it!away from it!