Siddhartha Reading Section #4

Visual Vocabulary:

http://www.aegistraining.co.uk/blog/2013/4/2/drop-and-give-me-zen-how-to-cheat-your-way-to-enlightenment.html

In this reading section I chose the word "enlightenment," because of the relations it has with the story in general. If you put it in simple words, the literal story is about Siddhartha attempting to become enlightened, and it can open up a whole new world about the story once you've heard of the word.

What enlightenment means in the Buddhist religion is a blessed state in which the individual transcends desire and suffering and attains Nirvana. So, with knowing the meaning of the word and the theme of the story; this single world can truly tell a whole story. Siddhartha tries to become enlightened by himself without any teachers, he ends up being taught from a "river," and finally reaches his final state of enlightenment. The main reason for picking this word wasn't because of how much it connected to the story itself, since there are many other words to do so. It was because it gave such a big idea for a person who would just start reading the book. It allows the person to have a big thought on how it actually might be connected with the book.

Overall, the word that I picked which is "enlightenment" can be regarded as a helpful word in understanding the story. The detailed words cannot be such closely related to the story, as it describes a specific part; however the more general words can be very easy to understand. 

Siddhartha Reading Section #3

Connection to a movie:

The reading section #3 of Siddhartha can be connected very well to the movie of Avatar. The main character was sort of a Siddhartha with how he made the biggest decisions which changed his life, and meeting up against someone that he used to know was very similar to the scene in the 3rd reading section.

The main character made the big decisions of helping the alien kind instead of serving his main purpose of collecting these crystals that were for wealth. He was indeed looking for money and success while serving at the planet, yet he made the choice to stop researching and fighting for the crystals; but helping the alien kind instead. The meeting with the superior when the main character was defending the alien kind was quite tragic,  but not so related to the meeting of Siddhartha and Govinda. Even though the meetings between the two characters were in totally different scenes, the main point of the scene was the "reuniting" of the two characters rather than what they actually did. Only two scenes of the book can be compared to the movie itself, however the first scene was closely related in what they were trying to achieve.

Overall, the connections can be made between the book, Siddhartha and the movie, Avatar. The vivid scenes that were truly changing in points of where the book might go to, or where the movie might lead to are connected in understandable ways. The reason I chose Avatar to compare to the book wasn't because of the overall theme of the movie, but how the specific scenes of both were game changing.

Siddhartha Reading Section #2

Visual Vocabulary: Ardent

                                                        http://kristinwhitelaw.com/passion.html
Ardent is quite an important word in the chapter of "Kamala," with the many seductive sections within the chapter. With the 3 scenes that show an essence of ardent, this word can be the word that can be used to describe the chapter in a general view.

Having, expressive of, or characterized by intense feeling; passionate is the dictionary definition of ardent. Understanding the essence of this chapter is very important with the three events in which Siddhartha meets Govinda as a woman, the woman by the stream, and Kamala. Ardent, can truly describe the whole chapter as a simple word. The examples such as Siddhartha drinking milk from Govinda's breasts, and the woman's attempt to seduce Siddhartha, and Kamala rewarding Siddhartha for his poetry with a kiss has everything related to do with being passionate for love. Siddhartha wants Kamala to by his side and he tries to get a good job, but Kamala finds one for him eventually. The intense feeling of Siddhartha wanting to be with Kamala can be a very big story changer from the wise Siddhartha to a kind hearted, loving Siddhartha. 

I chose this word out of all the other vocabulary words that could be found throughout the chapter, because of how much connection it has to be theme of his chapter; love.

Siddhartha Reading Section #1

Respond to the text personally:


I can very much relate to the part one of the Siddhartha story line personally because of how Siddhartha tries to pursue his goals, unlike Govinda who tries to follow Buddha himself; just like everyone else. Siddhartha starts as a Brahman, and wishes to take part of becoming a Samana within the forests. 

Being an individual with deciding what I want to do for myself has been what I've been trying to do since the day I thought of my first career in the future. My parents want me to enroll in every AP course in order to have a good career in the future, yet I believe that taking normal courses in high school can get you into good colleges such as Yale, Harvard, Stanford. Colleges don't really look at how smart you are, but how much you improve over time. One person can be very smart in 11th grade, but in 12th grade their grades might fall which can give an idea of them not being able to get into a good college. On the other hand, if someone does bad in 11th grade then does well in 12th grade, they will have a better chance to go into a well college. Just like Siddhartha wanting to pursue what he wants to do, I wish that I could choose my own life choices with my parents supporting me.

To wrap it all up, Siddhartha's personal opinions can relate to my personal opinions of wanting to choose our personal choices in life (educationally, mentally, and physically).