To
relate to this issue, two characters of Hermann Hesse's celebrated novel,
"Siddharth" come to my mind-- Govind and Siddharth. Govind accepts
Lord Buddha and turns his disciple unquestioningly, whereas Siddharth is an inquisitive
mind; he is not ready to accept Buddha blindly.The biggest question that
bothers him is-- if Buddha is the enlightened one, does it not mean that there
is no knowledge beyond him? He is not prepared to accept that knowledge is
finite. Therefore, he chooses his own path, moves on his own quest. Govind is
conformist, dedicates himself to Lord Buddha and prefers to think in Buddha's
mind in stead in his mind. He lives in relative peace and happiness. But the
path of Siddharth's quest is not strewed with flowers; he goes through all
miseries, sufferings as well as moments of happiness in life.
But which path is superior? In my view the path of Siddharth is a quest, a journey, an endeavor to learn through experience, an assertion of human dynamism-- hence it is much superior to Govind's acceptance and surrender to Lord Buddha.
The quest for happiness is a limiting factor; it requires willing suspension of mind. Happiness can be the journey of life with its accompanying trials and tribulations along with its beauty and enchantment. Pursuing happiness through denial of the varieties that life offers is sheer stupidity.
But which path is superior? In my view the path of Siddharth is a quest, a journey, an endeavor to learn through experience, an assertion of human dynamism-- hence it is much superior to Govind's acceptance and surrender to Lord Buddha.
The quest for happiness is a limiting factor; it requires willing suspension of mind. Happiness can be the journey of life with its accompanying trials and tribulations along with its beauty and enchantment. Pursuing happiness through denial of the varieties that life offers is sheer stupidity.
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