Siddhartha #4

In the last chapter of Siddhartha, Siddhartha has to learn by himself from himself. He is starting a new journey in life. He walks away from everything even his best friend and the Buddha. He observes and learns from his surroundings. Siddhartha is learning more and more every day. He no longer depends on others and their experiences and teaching. He himself is making them. I believe the quote above resembles a great teaching from the chapter. Even though Siddhartha was alone in the wilderness he learned more and more every day, because at the end of the day you are all you have. 

Questions Siddhartha #3

Questions Siddhartha #3

1. Will Siddhartha take care of his child?

2. Will a child bring “happiness” and “purpose” to his life?

3.Will a child be exactly what he needed?

4. What were Siddhartha’s reason/purposes for going back to the ferry man?

5. Did he get what he was looking for doing so?

6. Why would Siddhartha have suicidal thoughts?

7. What would make him so depressed?

8. How is suicide viewed in Buddhist culture?

9. Is Hinduism and Buddhism the same, similar or totally different?

10. What is the meaning and importance behind the golden bird? 

11. What are characteristics of “the godly one”?

12. Do you think Siddhartha was in a way jealous of the Buddha?

13. Why did Siddhartha not join the Buddha?

14. Do you think enlightenment is experienced or taught?

15. Was the Buddha trying to use reversed psychology on Siddhartha? 

First 30 pages come with a lot of questions:

First 30 pages come with a lot of questions:

Vocab I don’t under stand:

1.     Atman

2.     Om

3.     Brahmin

4.     Atonement

5.     Ablutions

6.     Prajapati

7.     Upnishads  

Questions in general:

1.     Why is Siddhartha so unhappy with the life style he was living?

2.     Where is this “QUEST” for happiness going to take him?

3.     How will he get there?

4.     What will he find when he gets there?

5.     Is it truly fulfilling?

6.     Will normal day every people get to use these tactics (if he even gets them)?  

7.     Will he ever see his family and friends again?

8.     What lessons will I learn by reading this book?

9.     Should and can I apply them to my everyday life?

10. And if so am I successful? 

Op-Ed Article and Response

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/05/world/europe/human-rights-watch-says-its-moscow-researcher-threatened.html

For the last couple of weeks we have not only read Persepolis, but we have been learning and discussing topics like: women’s rights, fear, power, politics, religion, torture, revolution, capital punishment, human rights, government oppression, globalization, family, and education.

This last month a researcher in Human Rights Watch’s office in Moscow Russia was repeatedly threated because of her pregnancy. These threats were sent via cellphone. Investigators also say that the group threatening her has been eavesdropping on her telephone. They also knew things like where she lived, and what she was doing; which is a total violation of privacy. These threats were serious enough for the Human Rights organization to leave Russia as a whole. This is not the first time the organization has been threatened. For the last couple of decades Russia has suffered with this topic of human rights. The government of Russia was very strict, and heartless. They did innumerous counts of violent acts among their citizens. In my opinion a human rights group has all the “right” to go into countries like Russia, that haven’t had a good history with human rights, and try to change and observe what is going on in that country. Human Right’s group is calling this the latest example up rising pressure against rights and civic groups in Russia. 

The Passport

 The Passport:

When I first read the title: The Passport, I thought things were going to get better. When you think of passport, you think of freedom, but freedom is far from what this chapter is about. Uncle Taher has another heart attack. A passport is not given to his wife so he can be operated on overseas. So they went to a friend, Khosoro, and asked him to make them fake passports. While at his house an 18-year old girl comes out of the basement. She is in hiding because she is a communist. A couple days later Khosoro’s house was ransacked. The 18-year girl was arrested and killed. Khosoro fled on a horse to turkey. Three weeks later Uncle Taher passed away. That same day his real passport arrived.

 I believe that the picture below represents what Marjane and her family were feeling at that moment. They felt trapped. In the picture you can infer that the person can’t move, that their hands are handicapped. You can also see that the wood is in the shape of a word bubble. I believe this means that they don’t have the freedom of speech, which is what the Iranian people where going through. 

The Sheep

The Sheep:

The chapter, The Sheep, is when the plot line takes the turn of the worst. The boy she really likes is moving to the United States, Mohsen was murdered, Anoosh is put in jail and is later executed, and she loses faith in G-d.

After reading this chapter I was left with many questions. One of them being, will she ever see the boy she likes again, and if not will she have another “great” love? I would also like to know if her family would ever be given justice for what the government of Iran has done and put them through. My last question is will she ever regain faith in her religion and in G-d.  

Persepolis

Persepolis

In the chapter Persepolis Marjane discovers some old family secrets. She discovers that her grandfather was put in jail. She learns about how cruel the Kings of Iran really were. And with that she learns that the kings control the government, and the government controls the people. Which means that the government doesn’t want the citizens speaking. 

This chapter reminded me of the book Sarah’s Key. It reminded me of this book in many ways. For starters the family in Sarah’s Key also had a secret that not many in the family knew about. Another reason why it relates is because, governments all around Europe controlled the people. Argo people in Europe were not allowed to speak up. They had to keep their opinion and their way of life “hidden”; just like in Persepolis. 

THE VEIL

The veil:

In the chapter the veil Marjane’s life quickly changes. Not only her life changed, but the whole country of Iran changed as well. Even though she does not know why, she is forced to wear a veil. This was the beginning of the Islamic revolution. I have never been forced to wear a veil, but I can relate to this. When we are little we are always forced to put on the clothes our parents want us to wear. I remember every time I had to go to the synagogue my parents made me put on my silver ballet flats. The back ends of the shoes were sharp because of the silver glitter, and would scratch the back of my heel every time I walked.  I never understood why I had to wear the silver ballet flats, I just knew that every time we had to go to the synagogue I couldn’t wear my Dora the explorer sneakers; instead I had to wear my silver ballet flats. I guess you could say that Marjane didn’t ask questions about wearing her veil; she just knew that she had to wear it even if she didn’t like it and it made her uncomfortable. 

Reading Blog: Tablets VI-VII

I don’t understand why the palace prostitute is cursed. So what if he was turned into a rich respectful person? Instead of cursing her they should thank her for making Enkidu a household name around Uruk. Will they realize that in the end? Will Enkidu be cured from his sickness? 

RESULT:

The palace prostitute is cursed because, in other words she "tamed" Enkidu. She was the one who changed him into a civil human being, instead of the cave-man he was before. Later on Enkidu does take back his curse, but, you can infer there is still resentment. Unfortunately Enkidu does pass away. Enkidu's passing, like everything in life had a positive side. The bright side is that it makes Gilgamesh question himself about what he really wants out of life. Leading him into another "quest".

Reading Blog: Tablet V-VI

You can see that in tablets IV-V there is a basing strongly on dreams. Enkidu and Gilgamesh go on a "quest". Not just any quest, but a spiritual/mental quest. His destiny, will be determined by his dreams. Dreams can mean many things, but they are also hard to separate from reality. I can relate to how Enkidu is feeling. About a year ago my brother came barging into my room while I was asleep, screaming, “Look what I bought”. Little did I know it was a puppy. Once I awoke I went to go tell him about my dream; when I went into the kitchen I could not believe my eyes: my brother washing a baby Labrador. 

Reading blog: Tablets l-lll

Reading blog #1.

Tablets I-III reminds me of the 1990 movie Pretty Women.  Pretty Women is a movie about a classy businessman who falls in love with a prostitute. In these three tablets (mainly in the first); Enkidu is mesmerized by a palace prostitute. She transforms him into a civilized human being instead of the wild animal-man he once was. Who knows if they will have a happy ending like Edward and Vivian.