New Journey, New Decision, New Path

       After Siddhartha and Govinda have been with the Samanas for three years, Govinda is proud of the spiritual improvements they have both achieved since joining. Siddhartha, on the other hand, was still dissatisfied because the path of self-denial did not provide a permanent solution for him. He realises that the Samanas have been as unsuccessful as the Brahmins. At this time, a new holy man, named Gotama the Buddha appeared. According to page 16, "Gotama, the Buddha had conquered in himself the sorrows of the world and had brought to a standstill the cycle of rebirth." Govinda convinced Siddhartha they both should leave the Samanas and seek out Gotama. Siddhartha agrees, and he hypnotizes the elder Samana with his gaze.

      The questions I have for this part of the text are: how could Siddhartha conquer the elder Samana with merely one simple gaze? According to Siddhartha, he never achieved his true goal of enlightenment. He always found his Self again after losing it through asceticism. Would this new journey with Gotama help Siddhartha find true spiritual enlightenment? How would Gotama be different from the Satamas? The Samanas tortured themself for self-denial. Is this a suitable way to discover spiritual enlightenment?

     In my opinion, Siddhartha has a certain power over the Samana and he is already spiritually superior because he was able to hypnotize the elder Samana with one mesmerizing gaze. Siddhartha is closer to spiritual enlightenment than the Samanas. Also, when Siddhartha waited in his father's room to leave the Brahmins, he gazed steadily to get his father's approval. This may suggest that Siddhartha has astonishing strength of will and determination to reach his goal. Once, I have heard from a Buddhist that Buddha believed that the cause of suffering is the craving for something that can never be satisfied. I believe that Gotama would not torture himself to find spiritual enlightenment, unlike the Samanas. The Samanas believe that enlightenment can be found only through self-denial and worldly desires.