Assignment #3

“Slowly blossomed, slowly ripened in Siddhartha the realization, the knowledge, what wisdom actually was, what the goal of his long search was. It was nothing but a readiness of the soul, an ability, a secret art, to think every moment, while living his life, the thought of oneness, to be able to feel and inhale the oneness. Slowly this blossomed in him, was shining back at him from Vasudeva's  old, childlike face: harmony, knowledge of the eternal perfection of the world, smiling, oneness.”

"Siddhartha"

      After being schooled and exposed to different ethnicities.  He has now had his AH HA moment, he is no longer lost as to who he is or what he is. He has searched and found himself through knowledge and understanding. He has accepted himself with all his flaws and imperfections.  He now feels oneness with the world and himself, feeling peace and later tries to rectify mistakes that he has made with people in his past.

      Oneness is to have inner peace, balance and harmony in one’s life, although it is not very easy these days. And as stated in the earlier part of the story that the world is hostile and dangerous, it is, but one still has to live and try to make one’s life less harsh, cold and as comfortable as possible. Also earlier in the story you discussed “Vesica Piscis” or “fish bladder in Latin illustrates the idea of synthesis or unity of opposites by showing two circles intersecting. The circles can be seen as coming together or pulling apart. The unity is illustrated the shaded figure in the middle, this figure, known as the Eureola, also has religious significance.” This is a great example of Siddhartha, at first one person with two inner self having a tug of war, trying to find who he is by having different experiences and exposures from a comfortable upper class life to an ascetic self-denial, to enjoying the sensual aspects of life, so the circle is trying to pull apart, but clearly cannot because one cannot be without the other. Eventually finding himself. The circles become more stable and accepting of each other. This is also wisdom, how to hive harmoniously with ones-self and with others, knowing right from wrong and practicing it, and being accepting of self and others. Everyone goes through these experiences or tug of war on a daily basis but it is how we interpret it and how we learn from it to better ourselves and grow as individuals.

"Barry Murdaco"