He saw that the water continually flowed and flowed and yet it was always there; it was the always the same and yet it was new.≤ Pg 102

          I believe that this symbolizes Siddhartha new beginning in life, his change from the bad to the good. He looks down at his fancy clothing and then into the jewels that are the river and is dissatisfied that he has chosen this path. The he remembers the ferryman and the simplicity of his life so he goes to him and he tells the man that he envies him. But the man says ≥What you and all your riches where as I am a lowly boat owner, you have all and I have none.≤ Siddhartha just says maybe it is better to have none than all. This inner self has awakened and he now hobbles down his new path with open eyes and a fresh look on things. He wants to learn everything from the boatman, he gives him his clothing in exchange for poor beggar clothing. This simple ferryman begins to teach Siddhartha things that he has never known before it opens his eyes to the things around him. He learns that the river is everywhere at once but its essence doesnπt change, and he his like that. Because even though he chooses different paths to go down he really remains the same on the inside and doesnπt change. On the hero path he is probably right before the climactic battle.

≥Then one day, some monks came along, followers of Gotama, the Buddha, and asked to be taken across the river.≤

Siddhartha and the ferryman hear about Gotama being ill, and how he will die soon. Many people are crossing the river on their way, a pilgrimage, to see the Buddha on his deathbed. So why donπt the ferrymen go as well? They donπt need to go. The river is their Buddha. It teaches to them infinite knowledge and will never die, for although it is not alive, it is a being of nature. They need not speak, only listen. This is what the river teaches. They are humble, allowing anyone cross for any reason; business, religion, or whatever, even though only a few hear and see what they do. It seems like less of a responsibility to ferry people back and forth than it does a passion. While Samanas will trek great distances while eating so little, they remain by the river, soaking up its knowledge. The two seem to be very similar, although Vasudeva has never had formal teachings. I believe it was the river that Siddhartha was looking for his whole life. He was looking for the thing that would help him attain unity and peace. The teachings of the Samanas were never necessary, but it was only the painful experiences that were truly necessary. Yet this river that they remain by, learn from, and live off of is no religion, but rather another experience.

≥Weariness was written on Kamalaπs beautiful face, weariness from continuing along a long path with no joyous goalä≤

In a previous chapter, Siddhartha stated that he liked Kamala because they were similar to each other, different from the other people. When Siddhartha discovers this I think that he is realizing he has no goal, nor does anyone else. Only when he was young, a Samana, he did have a goal. His goal was to find the self. Now he knows his current life is a waste, useless and nauseating. His previous skills- to think, fast, and wait- were something no one could steal but had infinite value. He traded those for ultimately worthless material possessions like money and clothes. But why did he choose to allow himself to drift so far from his original goal? Was he not taught to relinquish all desires? Nonetheless he decided to pursue Kamala, sex, wealth; the life of the others. He seems to be so good at everything. Anything he set his mind to he accomplishes. So why not turn around, and set his mind back on the right path. It turns out all the pleasures he pursued made him suffer. The life of a Samana in the woods was his true calling and happiness. Any normal person would look at Samana life and call it hell. But the Samanas have a superior view of the world, and know that ordinary life of desires and possessions is truly hell. This is what Siddhartha realizes.