Siddhartha

Siddhartha

Introduction

This seems to be an easy going, rock and roll novel, but it has some serious depth to it, depth worth searching through.

Sections	This unit will be divided into the following sections.
Topic		See Page
Vocabulary
Dalai Lama and “Little Buddha”

Vocabulary

Instructions

The following words are taken from the first chapters of the novel. From their use in the novel, what do you suppose they mean?

Words

Define the following words.

• ablutions

• Om

• Atman

• Brahmin

• Rig veda

• Prajapati

• Upaanishads

• samanas

Dalai Lama and "Little Buddha"

Introduction

Before we begin the work, it is important thhat you have a good idea of the people, country, and the author.

Project

Thanks to the World Wide Web, I have found a ton of information on Siddhartha and the Buddha. Your project is to read the information, find what is important, then relate it to the rest of the class.

Steps		You should follow these steps when working on this project.
Step	Action
1	Read the material and highlight anything interesting or relevant.
2	Copy the interesting or relevant onto another sheet
3	Photocopy that sheet for the class
4	Present your information to the class

The Little Buddha

Introduction

A lovely little film, a trifle dull, but Keanu Reeves plays the Buddha and it looks beautiful.

Questions

Answer the following questions as you watch the film.

1. The very first scenes in a film are key for setting the tone and developing key elements. The goat story is the initial scenes of the movie

What tone does this story set?

2. What makes the monks seem so wierd to the mother?

3. Why might it be important that Jesse first sees them wearing a mask?

4. What were the circumstances of the buddha’s birth?

5. What does the hermit say about the son?

What does the father want?

6. What is Siddhartha’s youth like?

Why wouldn’t Dad want him to see the world?

What does Sidd see in the world?

Continued on next page

Little Buddha 1, Continued

7. What analogy does the teacher use for the tea?

8. What are ascetics?

What does he learn there?

9. How does the director use colors to create mood?

The Brahmin’s Son

Introduction

See the contrasts to the movie from the outset, but notice the tone is the same.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. Why is Siddhartha unhappy?

Why is his spirit like a “waiting vessel”?

2. Why is Govinda willing to follow him?

3. How are the Samanas described?

From his description, how does the author feel about them?

4. How did Siddhartha convince his father?

Why didn’t he just go?

5. Why, do you suppose, Mom doesn’t have more of a role in the decision?

Structure

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

• Why, in the center of this chapter, does Siddhartha string together 20 rhetorical questions?

With the Samanas

Introduction

Siddhartha gets started on the way.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. How does he act when he is with the Samanas?

2. What is his goal?

What happens when he reaches that goal?

3. How does Sidd meditate?

4. What frustrates Sidd?

5. Complete the quote: “I could have learned more quickly and easily _______________________________”

Explain this.

6. Acccording to Siddhartha, what can one learn?

Explain.

7. Who is Gotama?

What does the author think of him?

8. What does Sidd do with the oldest Samana?

What does that feat show?

Thought questions

For all his talents, Siddhartha is still learning. How can you tell that Siddhartha is still very young?

Continued on next page

Siddhartha, Continued

Structure Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

• When Sidd meditates on the animals, what does the author do to show the change?

• When Sidd out-meditates the old Samana, How does the author show Sidd’s power?

Gotama

Introduction

Sidd goes on to look for second hand wisdom.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. How is Gotama different from the Samanas?

2. How do they rcognize him?

3. Why does govinda choose to join him

Why won’t Siddhartha?

4. According to Siddhartha, how will he find enlightenment?

5. Gotama asks him if his (Gotama’s followers) will also find enlightenment. Siddhartha dodges this question. How?

6. What has the Buddha robbed from him?

What has he given?

Language

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

• What does the Buddha mean by “clever”?

Though

Answer the following question thoughtfully.

• Is Siddhartha arrogant?

Awakening

Introduction

Sidd goes his own way and goes and goes and goes.

Questions

Answer the following questions thoughtfully.

1. What does Sidd decide to study?

How is that the one field he has been ignorant in?

2. Why does he feel an “icy chill”?

He compares himself to a star. How is that so?

3. How is he different now.

Structure

Answer the following sentence thoughtfully.

• Why, do you suppose, the third sentence of the chapter is so long?

Kamala

Introduction

The world of Samsara is open to the master. No more fasting and meditation! Bring on the Courtesans!!!!

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. How has his point of view changed?

How does the writing style reflect this?

2. Complete the quote: “To obey no other eternal command ________

_____________. Nothing else was necessary”

How is this Emersonian?

3. What dream does Siddhartha see?

Will this woman lead him to enlightenment?

4. What does Siddhartha think of the Ferryman and of the river?

5. Why doesn’t Siddhartha “ascend the tree” with the woman?

6. Hesse uses a simile to describe the woman’s (Kamala’s) mouth. What is it?

What does that say about the woman?

7. How does Siddhartha prepare for Kamala?

What does he want from her?

8. Why might the portrayal of Kamala be politically incorrect?

Continued on next page

Kamala, Continued

9. What three things can Siddhartha do?

10. When Siddhartha recieves his first kiss, the style changes.

How?

Why?

11. Who is Kamaswami?

12. Siddhartha compares himself to a stone. How is this so?

Amongst the People

Introduction

After ”ascending the tree” Siddhartha decides he likes his new world.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. How does Siddhartha take control of the interview?

2. For all of his holy skills, in the end, why does Kamaswami hire him?

3. In your own words and thoughtfully, what did Kamala teach him?

4. What makes Siddhartha good at business?

Why might he be an excellent partner for Kamaswami?

5. What does his four day trip to the village show about Siddhartha?

How could that be good business?

6. What does Siddhartha’s inner voice say?

How is life “flowing past” him?

7. What do you suppose a Samana heart is?

8. How are Siddhartha and Kamala similiar?

Samsara

Introduction

Sidd is starting to get tired of it all.

Questions

Answer the following questions.

1. Does Sidd have a bad life?

What is good about it?

2. What had Siddhartha learned (important stuff)

3. What happened when the property finally became chain and a burden?

4. How does his dice playing echo his real life?

5. What was his Kamala dream about?

6. What was the Bird dream about?

7. Why does he feel dead?

8. Why is it important that Kamala is pregnant? Why out of that last trip?

Symbolism

This chapter uses at least three major symbols or similes. What are they?

Explain.

By the River

Introduction

Suicide is painless...

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. Why does Sidd wish to kill himself?

2. What is the tone of this section. is it entirely serious?

3. What sound does he here?

How does he react?

4. How is he different when he wakes up?

Who is sitting with him?

5. What does Sidd start lecturing his friend about?

Symbolism

How does the river work as a symbol?

The Ferryman

Introduction

Don’t pay the Ferryman....

Questions

Think

Kamala has a pretty weak role. How would the story be different if she were stronger? What would happen if she had a sense of humor?

The Son

Introduction

Now, the strangest chapter of the book. The shoe is on the other foot.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. What about Sidd would make him a lousy father?

2. How does young Sidd take advntage of the father?

3. What does he try and do for his son?

Why won’t it work?

4. Why doesn’t he punish the boy?

5. Why is the river laughing?

How has Siddhartha gotten his own?

6. How can love be “Samsara”?

7. Why does the son hate the father?

8. Why did he break the oar?

9. In losing his son, what might Siddhartha have gained?

Thought

When I read this chapter, I laugh at Sidd’s troubles. Whyat is ironic about his losses?

Introduction

Vasudeva finally gets what he deserves.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. What “wound” does Siddhartha have?

What is the different light that he sees people in?

2. What has been his biggest change since becoming a ferryman?

As a result, how does the tone of the book change?

3. What does the river do when Sidd goes to see his son?

Whoe reflection does he see?

4. Siddhartha and Vasudeva listen very, very closely to the river. What do they hear?

Why is everything interconnected?

5. Where does Vasudeva go? (Not just the woods)

Thought

Although there is one more chapter left to go, the ultimate realization has come in this one. What is it?

Govinda

Introduction

Sidd prepares for his final trip; his apotheosis. And he gets an old visitor.

Questions

Answer the following questions fully.

1. Why is there still restlessness in Govinda’s heart?

2. What is wrong with seeking, according to Sidd?

3. Why doesn’t Sidd have a doctrine?

How can wisdom not be communicable?

Can you communicate knowledge?

4. What is the symbolism of the stone?

5. How can Nirvana and Samsara be the same?

6. What does Govinda see Siddhartha do?

What does this show about Sidd’s final change?

Thought question

Could Sidd have become a Buddha while sitting next to a freeway instead of a river?