With the SamanasWith the Samanas

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

12 October 201012 October 2010

The First ExtremeThe First Extreme The first extreme: Life as a SamanaThe first extreme: Life as a Samana Siddhartha’s first experience with life Siddhartha’s first experience with life

outside his home is reminiscent of outside his home is reminiscent of Gotama’s impression of the rest of the Gotama’s impression of the rest of the world – those first glimpses of pain, world – those first glimpses of pain, depravation, and struggledepravation, and struggle

The difference is that Gotama was moved, The difference is that Gotama was moved, while Siddhartha claims that “all were not while Siddhartha claims that “all were not worth a passing glance, everything lied, worth a passing glance, everything lied, stank of lies; they were all illusions of stank of lies; they were all illusions of sense, happiness and beauty. All were sense, happiness and beauty. All were doomed to decay. The world tasted bitter. doomed to decay. The world tasted bitter. Life was pain.”Life was pain.”

Purity is his goal – but should we chase Purity is his goal – but should we chase perfection?perfection?

Aren’t we just guaranteed to suffer?Aren’t we just guaranteed to suffer?

Down Towards the HealingDown Towards the Healing In order to chase it, Siddhartha suffers In order to chase it, Siddhartha suffers

intensely; sometimes the cure is worse intensely; sometimes the cure is worse than the diseasethan the disease

Siddhartha’s body decays – graphically – Siddhartha’s body decays – graphically – over the course of three years as he tries over the course of three years as he tries to shatter the Selfto shatter the Self He saves everything – even his breathHe saves everything – even his breath Trying to suffocate the Self in order to reach Trying to suffocate the Self in order to reach

the truth behind itthe truth behind it He has the right idea – looking behind the He has the right idea – looking behind the

veil – mixed in with a whole lot of wrongveil – mixed in with a whole lot of wrong A lot of what happens in the second A lot of what happens in the second

chapter follows that pattern – hints of chapter follows that pattern – hints of what should be happening drowning in what should be happening drowning in seas of misdirectionseas of misdirection

Hopping BodiesHopping Bodies The moment where his soul is basically bopping from The moment where his soul is basically bopping from

body to body is another examplebody to body is another example ““And Siddhartha’s soul returned, died, decayed, turned into And Siddhartha’s soul returned, died, decayed, turned into

dust, experienced the troubled course of the life cycle. He dust, experienced the troubled course of the life cycle. He waited with new thirst like a hunter at a chasm where the life waited with new thirst like a hunter at a chasm where the life cycle ends, where there is an end to causes, where painless cycle ends, where there is an end to causes, where painless eternity begins. He killed his senses, he killed his memory, he eternity begins. He killed his senses, he killed his memory, he slipped out of his Self in a thousand different forms. He was slipped out of his Self in a thousand different forms. He was animal, carcass, stone, wood, water, and each time he animal, carcass, stone, wood, water, and each time he reawakened. The sun or moon shone, he was again Self, swung reawakened. The sun or moon shone, he was again Self, swung into the life cycle, felt thirst, conquered thirst, felt new thirst…into the life cycle, felt thirst, conquered thirst, felt new thirst…Although Siddhartha fled from the Self a thousand times, dwelt Although Siddhartha fled from the Self a thousand times, dwelt in nothing, dwelt in animal and stone, the return was in nothing, dwelt in animal and stone, the return was inevitable; the hour was inevitable when he would again find inevitable; the hour was inevitable when he would again find himself, in sunshine or in moonlight, in shadow or in rain, and himself, in sunshine or in moonlight, in shadow or in rain, and was again Self and Siddhartha, again felt the torment of the was again Self and Siddhartha, again felt the torment of the onerous life cycle.”onerous life cycle.”

These visions represent the Samsara cycle These visions represent the Samsara cycle Siddhartha’s still trapped in – and he doesn’t quite Siddhartha’s still trapped in – and he doesn’t quite seem to see it, at least not at firstseem to see it, at least not at first There’s a dim understanding of unity at work here in his attempts at There’s a dim understanding of unity at work here in his attempts at

escape, but he’s so caught up in himself and his “onerous life cycle” escape, but he’s so caught up in himself and his “onerous life cycle” that he doesn’t consciously understand what’s happening to himthat he doesn’t consciously understand what’s happening to him

Temporary EscapeTemporary Escape We see on the chapter’s second page that We see on the chapter’s second page that

he’s being instructed by the eldest he’s being instructed by the eldest Samana – wasn’t it only a few paragraphs Samana – wasn’t it only a few paragraphs ago that Siddhartha was all anti-teacher?ago that Siddhartha was all anti-teacher?

But we soon see him questioning the But we soon see him questioning the Samanas’ methods and teachings, just as Samanas’ methods and teachings, just as he challenged the elders in his village, he challenged the elders in his village, bemoaning the temporary nature of his bemoaning the temporary nature of his escape (escape (remember thisremember this))

Once again, no one seems to know the Once again, no one seems to know the way to reach what Siddhartha seeks; way to reach what Siddhartha seeks; remember, he distrusts teachers because remember, he distrusts teachers because they haven’t achieved what they’re trying they haven’t achieved what they’re trying to teach othersto teach others

Remote and LostRemote and Lost When Govinda defends the Samanas’ methods, When Govinda defends the Samanas’ methods,

he and Siddhartha begin discussing the futility of he and Siddhartha begin discussing the futility of their search in terms of intoxicationtheir search in terms of intoxication

““You speak thus, my friend, and yet you know You speak thus, my friend, and yet you know that Siddhartha is no driver of oxen and a that Siddhartha is no driver of oxen and a Samana is no drunkard. The drinker does indeed Samana is no drunkard. The drinker does indeed find escape, he does indeed find a short respite find escape, he does indeed find a short respite and rest, but he returns from the illusion and and rest, but he returns from the illusion and finds everything as it was before. He has not finds everything as it was before. He has not grown wiser, he has not gained knowledge, he grown wiser, he has not gained knowledge, he has not climbed any higher.”has not climbed any higher.”

““I do not know. I have never been a drunkard. I do not know. I have never been a drunkard. But that I, Siddhartha, only find a short respite in But that I, Siddhartha, only find a short respite in my exercises and meditation, and am as remote my exercises and meditation, and am as remote from wisdom, from salvation, as a child in the from wisdom, from salvation, as a child in the womb, that, Govinda, I do know.”womb, that, Govinda, I do know.”

Intoxication = Too EasyIntoxication = Too Easy Intoxication here is an easy metaphorIntoxication here is an easy metaphor It is the willing surrender of control to corruption, a It is the willing surrender of control to corruption, a

substitution of poison for experience, an inherently substitution of poison for experience, an inherently empty, sad, and self-destructive pursuitempty, sad, and self-destructive pursuit

It is one of the ultimate expressions of desire’s It is one of the ultimate expressions of desire’s relationship to suffering specifically because there relationship to suffering specifically because there is nothing to gain but false escapeis nothing to gain but false escape It is It is too easytoo easy

This, in turn, is one of the reasons why Hesse This, in turn, is one of the reasons why Hesse shows Siddhartha drinking so heavily in the shows Siddhartha drinking so heavily in the “Samsara” chapter; he poisons himself because he “Samsara” chapter; he poisons himself because he leads a poisoned lifeleads a poisoned life

““We find consolations, we learn tricks with which We find consolations, we learn tricks with which we deceive ourselves, but the essential thing – the we deceive ourselves, but the essential thing – the way – we do not find.”way – we do not find.”

Style vs. LifeStyle vs. Life He’s getting faster – it took about eighteen years He’s getting faster – it took about eighteen years

to flee the Brahmins, and only three to ditch the to flee the Brahmins, and only three to ditch the SamanasSamanas

If the forest is about stagnation – a kind of self-If the forest is about stagnation – a kind of self-inflicted torment – the Samanas’ lifestyle is about inflicted torment – the Samanas’ lifestyle is about another kind entirelyanother kind entirely

The idea is that human life is filled with desire, The idea is that human life is filled with desire, and therefore causes sufferingand therefore causes suffering

If one burns away one’s own humanity – becomes If one burns away one’s own humanity – becomes uncivilized, denies the body what it wants, etc. – uncivilized, denies the body what it wants, etc. – one could, in theory, look beyond the blindness one could, in theory, look beyond the blindness caused by living as a Selfcaused by living as a Self

Piercing the veil – moving through Maya and into Piercing the veil – moving through Maya and into SatyamSatyam

Style vs. Life, Part IIStyle vs. Life, Part II The Samanas’ approach is particularly The Samanas’ approach is particularly

flawed because it contains a fundamental flawed because it contains a fundamental contradictioncontradiction

In order to continue existence as a In order to continue existence as a Samana, one must violate its credos dailySamana, one must violate its credos daily

One must stop asceticism in order to eat One must stop asceticism in order to eat at some point, to sleep at othersat some point, to sleep at others

The clear implication is that life is not The clear implication is that life is not compatible with the Samana way – a big compatible with the Samana way – a big hint that their outlook could be a mistake, hint that their outlook could be a mistake, or at least that they’re going about things or at least that they’re going about things incorrectlyincorrectly

Take ControlTake Control ““What remains from all that seems holy to What remains from all that seems holy to

us? What remains? What is preserved?”us? What remains? What is preserved?” The Samanas’ principles of asceticism – The Samanas’ principles of asceticism –

compared unfavorably to the “drunkard’s” compared unfavorably to the “drunkard’s” actions – only prove that one cannot flee actions – only prove that one cannot flee the unavoidablethe unavoidable

It’s important to take control, not to It’s important to take control, not to simply hidesimply hide

At one point, Siddhartha wonders aloud At one point, Siddhartha wonders aloud whether he’s still “trapped in the cycle”whether he’s still “trapped in the cycle”

Spiraling OutSpiraling Out ““Well, Govinda, are we on the right road? Are we Well, Govinda, are we on the right road? Are we

gaining knowledge? Are we approaching gaining knowledge? Are we approaching salvation? Or are we perhaps going in circles – we salvation? Or are we perhaps going in circles – we who thought to escape from the cycle?”who thought to escape from the cycle?”

““We have learned much, Siddhartha. There still We have learned much, Siddhartha. There still remains much to learn. We are not going in remains much to learn. We are not going in circles, we are going upwards. The path is a circles, we are going upwards. The path is a spiral; we have already climbed many steps.”spiral; we have already climbed many steps.”

They’re definitely spiraling – but they’re heading They’re definitely spiraling – but they’re heading downwards, not upwardsdownwards, not upwards

Every day spent on the wrong path is a day Every day spent on the wrong path is a day further removed from enlightenment (although it further removed from enlightenment (although it must be pointed out that these experiences, must be pointed out that these experiences, futile as they may seem, do prove critical to futile as they may seem, do prove critical to Siddhartha’s eventual success)Siddhartha’s eventual success)

The World Was SickThe World Was Sick Gotama’s introduction phrased in terms of Gotama’s introduction phrased in terms of

plagues and cures – an interesting choice, plagues and cures – an interesting choice, given his real personal history.given his real personal history.

““The world was sick, life was difficult and The world was sick, life was difficult and here there seemed new hope, here there here there seemed new hope, here there seemed to be a message, comforting, seemed to be a message, comforting, mild, full of fine promises.”mild, full of fine promises.”

Foreshadowing: “He had heard that this Foreshadowing: “He had heard that this alleged Buddha had formerly been an alleged Buddha had formerly been an ascetic and had lived in the woods, had ascetic and had lived in the woods, had then turned to high living and the then turned to high living and the pleasures of the world, and he held no pleasures of the world, and he held no brief for this Gotama.”brief for this Gotama.”

CyclesCycles Govinda, always easily distracted by the prospect of Govinda, always easily distracted by the prospect of

something better, grows eager to meet Gotama after something better, grows eager to meet Gotama after hearing from those who have witnessed him workhearing from those who have witnessed him work

When Siddhartha mocks him for straying from the When Siddhartha mocks him for straying from the Samanas’ path so readily, Govinda says he’s merely Samanas’ path so readily, Govinda says he’s merely curious about the teachercurious about the teacher

Everything goes in cycles: Siddhartha believes he has Everything goes in cycles: Siddhartha believes he has “already tasted the best fruit” of Gotama’s teachings, “already tasted the best fruit” of Gotama’s teachings, but he’s also aware that he’s started stagnating again but he’s also aware that he’s started stagnating again in the Samanas’ worldin the Samanas’ world

Once again, a leader is displeased with Siddhartha’s Once again, a leader is displeased with Siddhartha’s intended departure, and Siddhartha simply defeats intended departure, and Siddhartha simply defeats him (through the strength of his will and him (through the strength of his will and desiredesire, , ironically enough)ironically enough)

My GenerationMy Generation The elders themselves may be unable to The elders themselves may be unable to

give Siddhartha what he wants or needs – give Siddhartha what he wants or needs – but it’s important to remember that he but it’s important to remember that he doesn’t want to be given anythingdoesn’t want to be given anything

Whether he’s aware of it or not, their Whether he’s aware of it or not, their influences help guide him along the course influences help guide him along the course he’s takenhe’s taken

Knowledge can be passed from one source Knowledge can be passed from one source to another, but wisdom cannot – it must be to another, but wisdom cannot – it must be generated from within in order to be pure generated from within in order to be pure and genuineand genuine

If you simply want to hear someone tell you If you simply want to hear someone tell you the truth – don’t want to look for it yourself the truth – don’t want to look for it yourself – you’re Govinda– you’re Govinda

Now we’re off to see the Wizard…the Now we’re off to see the Wizard…the Wonderful Wizard of OmWonderful Wizard of Om

BreakdownBreakdown Symbols: The Gaze (Siddhartha’s Symbols: The Gaze (Siddhartha’s

staredown with the Eldest Samana)staredown with the Eldest Samana) Shell: 2Shell: 2 Characters: Govinda and the Eldest Characters: Govinda and the Eldest

SamanaSamana Mental State: Confusion and wandering; Mental State: Confusion and wandering;

reaffirms resistance to doctrinereaffirms resistance to doctrine

Breakdown, Part IIBreakdown, Part II Themes: Themes:

Generational DivisionGenerational Division Elder Samana traps himself Elder Samana traps himself

Suffering Suffering Self-inflicted while trying to avoid itSelf-inflicted while trying to avoid it

SearchingSearching Groping for the correct courseGroping for the correct course

EnlightenmentEnlightenment Losing sight of what mattersLosing sight of what matters

CyclesCycles Siddhartha vs. an Elder/Govinda followsSiddhartha vs. an Elder/Govinda follows

Breakdown, Part IIIBreakdown, Part III Themes: Themes:

PovertyPoverty Monetary/spiritualMonetary/spiritual

TransformationTransformation Degenerating at an accelerated rateDegenerating at an accelerated rate

ExcessExcess Too harsh, too fastToo harsh, too fast

RelationshipsRelationships Siddhartha + Elders/GovindaSiddhartha + Elders/Govinda

IndependenceIndependence Govinda, Gotama, and the SamanasGovinda, Gotama, and the Samanas

DefianceDefiance Siddhartha vs. the Elder SamanaSiddhartha vs. the Elder Samana