Does Siddhartha attain/reach Nirvana? If so, where and how does Siddhartha attain/reach Nirvana? Do you find this resolution of the work to be authentic or genuine, or has the author forced a conclusion onto Siddhartha's story without fully or sufficiently leading to, preparing the reader for, this conclusion? Why do you say that?
Yes, Siddhartha did attain Nirvana
What is Nirvana?
- This is backed up with evidence from page 100, during his conversation with Kamala: essentially, he says that he has "found peace." In effect, he no longer feels suffering; thus, he has broken out of samsara.
- Moreover, with the river, he sees the world as it really is.
- Page 133: he sees and understands people as they really are.
- "The ending of the samsara cycle"
- "seeing the world as it really is"
- "unconditioned freedom"
- cooling off
When?
To better understand how, we need to know when. Pages 118-119, when the multiple voices of the river became "om" and his wound "blossomed." "At that moment, he stopped fighting with destiny, stopped SUFFERING."
http://scriptures.ru/india/murtis/indexen.htm
The River
Does he?
The archetype:
- Crossing may symbolize new territory
- On the ither side is someting new/different
- Human life
How?
Where and how?
YES
Authentic?
http://www.mo-rast.org/images/River.jpg
He does several things, or rather, several things naturally come to him, that help him to achieve Nirvana:
- He denies the existence of time.
- By living and listening to the river. It, along with Vasudeva, is his teacher.
- By understanding that things are out of his control.
Why authentic?
ASCETICISM
MIDDLE PATH
SENSUALISM
1
3
2
The Goldilocks Complex
Evidence
- Page 84: "I am starting all over again..."
- Page 122: "Some people, Govinda, must change greatly..."
http://www.trovarsinrete.org/1circolo/english%20corner/goldilocks/e-bk-easy-readers-04goldilocks-pic3-anim.gif