Better Wise Up…Better Wise Up…

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

19 October 201019 October 2010

CharactersCharacters SiddharthaSiddhartha

The main character in the storyThe main character in the story What’s his name? How does he grow? Where does he What’s his name? How does he grow? Where does he

go? Who does he meet?go? Who does he meet? GovindaGovinda

Siddhartha’s childhood companionSiddhartha’s childhood companion The shadow of greater menThe shadow of greater men What goes around…What goes around…

GotamaGotama An individual who has achieved nirvanaAn individual who has achieved nirvana Starts as a prince, escapes the shelter, sees suffering, Starts as a prince, escapes the shelter, sees suffering,

hits the ascetic/excess/bodhisattva phases, and reaches hits the ascetic/excess/bodhisattva phases, and reaches nirvananirvana

VasudevaVasudeva The ferryman who plays a bigger role near the endThe ferryman who plays a bigger role near the end Another bodhisattvaAnother bodhisattva All walks of life…All walks of life…

CharactersCharacters KamaswamiKamaswami

A merchant who teaches Siddhartha the principles of A merchant who teaches Siddhartha the principles of businessbusiness

Uses intellect and desire as both weapon and fuelUses intellect and desire as both weapon and fuel Trapped by his fearsTrapped by his fears

KamalaKamala The courtesan Siddhartha meets after leaving the The courtesan Siddhartha meets after leaving the

SamanasSamanas Has the power to growHas the power to grow Nobler than her first impression indicatesNobler than her first impression indicates

The BrahminThe Brahmin Siddhartha’s fatherSiddhartha’s father Never defied…well, just onceNever defied…well, just once

Siddhartha’s SonSiddhartha’s Son The boy Siddhartha conceives with Kamala and attempts The boy Siddhartha conceives with Kamala and attempts

to raiseto raise Carries a piece of his fatherCarries a piece of his father Spin the cycleSpin the cycle

ConceptsConcepts The Three Universal TruthsThe Three Universal Truths

Anicca (everything changes), anatta (non-self, impermanence), and Anicca (everything changes), anatta (non-self, impermanence), and dukkha (suffering).dukkha (suffering).

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths Suffering exists in the worldSuffering exists in the world Suffering is caused by human desireSuffering is caused by human desire Suffering can be eliminated by eliminating desireSuffering can be eliminated by eliminating desire Eliminate desire by following the Eightfold PathEliminate desire by following the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold PathThe Eightfold Path 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, respectfully, and properly Right Speech: Speak truthfully, kindly, respectfully, and properly Right Bodily Action: Follow the Moral Precepts Right Bodily Action: Follow the Moral Precepts Right Livelihood: Your work shouldn’t harm anything that livesRight Livelihood: Your work shouldn’t harm anything that lives Right Endeavor/Effort: Concentrate on meditation; control unnecessary Right Endeavor/Effort: Concentrate on meditation; control unnecessary

negative thoughtsnegative thoughts Right Mindfulness: Give full attention to whatever you are doing as you Right Mindfulness: Give full attention to whatever you are doing as you

are doing it, and give your best effort at all timesare doing it, and give your best effort at all times Right Concentration: The mental discipline necessary for reaching Right Concentration: The mental discipline necessary for reaching

enlightenment.enlightenment. The Samsara CycleThe Samsara Cycle

Birth, Life/Suffering, Death, Rebirth Birth, Life/Suffering, Death, Rebirth (On each cycle after this one, the steps would be Rebirth, Life, (On each cycle after this one, the steps would be Rebirth, Life,

Suffering, Death)Suffering, Death)

ConceptsConcepts KarmaKarma

Actions have consequences Actions have consequences Your life’s course is determined by the positive/negative Your life’s course is determined by the positive/negative

choices you makechoices you make Your karma is cumulative, and keeps accumulating until you Your karma is cumulative, and keeps accumulating until you

reach nirvanareach nirvana Maya / SatyamMaya / Satyam

Maya represents our sensory interpretation of realityMaya represents our sensory interpretation of reality Satyam represents true reality – a truth our senses aren’t Satyam represents true reality – a truth our senses aren’t

capable of fully processingcapable of fully processing Think of the veil and what lies behind itThink of the veil and what lies behind it

OmOm The unity of all thingsThe unity of all things

NirvanaNirvana The highest state of human existenceThe highest state of human existence A condition consisting of ultimate wisdom and peace that one A condition consisting of ultimate wisdom and peace that one

reaches after defeating desirereaches after defeating desire BodhisattvaBodhisattva

An individual who attains enlightenment, thereby freeing An individual who attains enlightenment, thereby freeing him/herself from karma and desire, but who chooses to stay in him/herself from karma and desire, but who chooses to stay in order to help others who search for peaceorder to help others who search for peace

SymbolsSymbols Water / The RiverWater / The River

The river symbolizes the unity of all things – life, connection, The river symbolizes the unity of all things – life, connection, etc.etc.

As Vasudeva says in “Kamala,” the river taught him that As Vasudeva says in “Kamala,” the river taught him that “everything comes back” “everything comes back”

Siddhartha’s lens, Vasudeva’s teacherSiddhartha’s lens, Vasudeva’s teacher The OarThe Oar

See last week…See last week… SnakeskinSnakeskin

Siddhartha thinks of one in “Awakening,” recalling his own Siddhartha thinks of one in “Awakening,” recalling his own recent “shedding” of the Samana “shell”recent “shedding” of the Samana “shell”

Birds (especially the songbird)Birds (especially the songbird) The songbird represents Siddhartha’s soul – more specifically, The songbird represents Siddhartha’s soul – more specifically,

the best part of it, the qualities that set him apart from all the the best part of it, the qualities that set him apart from all the others and earned him respect and love in his hometown (his others and earned him respect and love in his hometown (his focus and drive to become something better)focus and drive to become something better)

Songbird dead in a cage = Heart dead in a ribcageSongbird dead in a cage = Heart dead in a ribcage Golden = SpecialGolden = Special Gold = Currency/DesireGold = Currency/Desire Gold Cage = World of DesireGold Cage = World of Desire Birds in General = Possibility of Enlightenment/ElevationBirds in General = Possibility of Enlightenment/Elevation

ConceptsConcepts Forests / Trees / Town / HutForests / Trees / Town / Hut

Each geographical location has its own significanceEach geographical location has its own significance The town represents human desire and transitory, The town represents human desire and transitory,

everyday concernseveryday concerns The forest represents untouched nature and our own The forest represents untouched nature and our own

spiritual purityspiritual purity The hut lies on the edge between both, close to the river The hut lies on the edge between both, close to the river

(Siddhartha’s “rehab house”)(Siddhartha’s “rehab house”) The GazeThe Gaze

Judging potentialJudging potential Judging equalsJudging equals Judging wisdomJudging wisdom Bright eyes indicate knowledge; dim ones or gazes that Bright eyes indicate knowledge; dim ones or gazes that

fall before him indicate inferiority.fall before him indicate inferiority. The KissThe Kiss

Kamala’s imperfect giftKamala’s imperfect gift Desire and pleasure without loveDesire and pleasure without love Siddhartha, Govinda, and OmSiddhartha, Govinda, and Om

ThemesThemes LoveLove

Romantic (Kamala)Romantic (Kamala) Familial (Brahmin/Son)Familial (Brahmin/Son) Respect (Vasudeva)Respect (Vasudeva) Platonic (Govinda)Platonic (Govinda)

UnityUnity Everything is united (Om)Everything is united (Om) Karma reinforces these bondsKarma reinforces these bonds Reality exists at a single unified point in timeReality exists at a single unified point in time

Generational DivisionGenerational Division The old cannot grow; the young remain dynamicThe old cannot grow; the young remain dynamic

PeacePeace Free from desire and needFree from desire and need The bulls-eye of the Nirvana targetThe bulls-eye of the Nirvana target

SufferingSuffering MayaMaya Human WeaknessHuman Weakness Siddhartha’s Damage (Kamala, Govinda, Kamaswami, Siddhartha’s Damage (Kamala, Govinda, Kamaswami,

the Brahmin, and the Son)the Brahmin, and the Son)

ThemesThemes SearchingSearching

Different targets (Brahmin, Siddhartha, Govinda, Kamala, Different targets (Brahmin, Siddhartha, Govinda, Kamala, Kamaswami), no target (Gotama, Vasudeva, Son) Kamaswami), no target (Gotama, Vasudeva, Son)

Enlightenment / KnowledgeEnlightenment / Knowledge Possibly our greatest aim – definitely Siddhartha’sPossibly our greatest aim – definitely Siddhartha’s Possible to attainPossible to attain

CyclesCycles Siddhartha’s life moves in cyclesSiddhartha’s life moves in cycles People move in and out of it People move in and out of it Cause and consequenceCause and consequence Samsara cycleSamsara cycle Paying off old debts (Kamala, Vasudeva, Govinda, Brahmin)Paying off old debts (Kamala, Vasudeva, Govinda, Brahmin)

IdentityIdentity The “self” torments SiddharthaThe “self” torments Siddhartha Samanas kill itSamanas kill it Clothing vs. Qualities…Substance vs. SuperficialClothing vs. Qualities…Substance vs. Superficial Many mistakes stem from a lack of self-knowledgeMany mistakes stem from a lack of self-knowledge Enlightenment = stable, flawless personaEnlightenment = stable, flawless persona

ThemesThemes Poverty / WealthPoverty / Wealth

Spiritual and monetary destitution/excessSpiritual and monetary destitution/excess Poor as a ferryman; different kind of poverty as a Samana Poor as a ferryman; different kind of poverty as a Samana Earning money kills spiritual explorationEarning money kills spiritual exploration Spiritual wealth exists in inverse proportions to monetary wealthSpiritual wealth exists in inverse proportions to monetary wealth (Notice that Siddhartha reaches enlightenment after his son steals his (Notice that Siddhartha reaches enlightenment after his son steals his

money!)money!) Ferrymen have nothing, while the Son has everythingFerrymen have nothing, while the Son has everything

Transformation / TransienceTransformation / Transience Different ShellsDifferent Shells Vasudeva’s literal “enlightenment” Vasudeva’s literal “enlightenment” The lines in Kamala’s faceThe lines in Kamala’s face Death, age, loss, youth, triumph, etc.Death, age, loss, youth, triumph, etc.

TeachingTeaching Siddhartha disdains them, but there’s no nirvana without them!Siddhartha disdains them, but there’s no nirvana without them! Knowledge, not wisdomKnowledge, not wisdom

ExcessExcess See the “Samsara” chapterSee the “Samsara” chapter Samanas suffer from excess in the other direction (deprivation)Samanas suffer from excess in the other direction (deprivation) Don’t binge and purge on Don’t binge and purge on anythinganything Kamaswami = Pursuit of excessKamaswami = Pursuit of excess See the Son and the ferrymenSee the Son and the ferrymen

ThemesThemes ControlControl

Siddhartha’s the control freakSiddhartha’s the control freak Thinking, waiting, fastingThinking, waiting, fasting Losing all controlLosing all control

CompromiseCompromise Uncompromising personalitiesUncompromising personalities Slavish devotion to teachingsSlavish devotion to teachings Compromise indicates connectionCompromise indicates connection

CompassionCompassion Gotama and Vasudeva: Listen!Gotama and Vasudeva: Listen! Siddhartha sets himself apartSiddhartha sets himself apart

CrueltyCruelty Siddhartha was cruel…was he malicious? Siddhartha was cruel…was he malicious? The Son vs. the Father (x 2)The Son vs. the Father (x 2) Dying aloneDying alone

ThemesThemes ConsequencesConsequences

Consequence = karmaConsequence = karma Parental legaciesParental legacies Bad choicesBad choices

Social StatusSocial Status Flipping the coinFlipping the coin Shifting with shellsShifting with shells Different characters value it differentlyDifferent characters value it differently

RelationshipsRelationships VasudevaVasudeva KamalaKamala GovindaGovinda KamaswamiKamaswami The BrahminThe Brahmin GotamaGotama The SonThe Son

ThemesThemes IndependenceIndependence

No teachers, no doctrineNo teachers, no doctrine Shells and departuresShells and departures Setting himself apartSetting himself apart Independence vs. unityIndependence vs. unity

Sleeping / Awakening (Rebirth)Sleeping / Awakening (Rebirth) Sleeping through shellsSleeping through shells

DefianceDefiance Generational divisionGenerational division Defying natural order/universal truthsDefying natural order/universal truths

SuperficialitySuperficiality Maya and desireMaya and desire The courtesan and the merchantThe courtesan and the merchant Depthless desiresDepthless desires Superficiality and samsaraSuperficiality and samsara