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Four Noble Truths
Life means suffering
There is a cause of suffering – usually linked to craving or longing for something transient.
The cessation (end) of suffering is attainable through Nirodha, which means dispassion.
There is a path to end suffering, which lies somewhere between self-indulgence (hedonism) and
asceticism (self-denial).
Eightfold Path
WISDOM
Right View
Right Intention
ETHICAL
CONDUCT
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
MENTAL
DEVELOPMENT
Right Mindfulness
Right
Concentration
To see and understand things as they really are
To commit to ethical and mental self-improvement:
1. Renunciation
2. Good will
3. Intention of harmlessness
To recognize the power of speech and, as such, abstain from the
following:
1. False speech
2. Slanderous speech
3. Harsh words
4. Idle chatter
To commit to wholesome actions and abstain from the following:
1. Harming sentient beings
2. Taking what is not given (includes stealing, dishonesty,
fraud)
3. Sexual misconduct
To commit to earning one’s wealth peacefully and legally and
abstain from gaining wealth in the following ways:
1.) Dealing in weapons
2.) Dealing in human beings
3.) Working in meat production and butchery
4.) Dealing in intoxicants and poisons
The prerequisite for all other mental development; without effort,
nothing can be achieved. Involves four types of endeavors, ranked
in order of perfection:
1. Prevent the arising of unwholesome states
2. To abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen
3. To awaken wholesome states
4. To maintain perfect wholesome states
To possess the mental ability to see things as they truly are with
clear perception through four foundations:
1. contemplation of the body
2. contemplation of feeling (repulsive, attractive, or neutral)
3. contemplation of the state of mind
4. contemplation of the phenomena.
To concentrate all mental faculties on wholesome thoughts and
actions, often developed through the practice of meditation.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What is the “self” that exists in each of us?
What causes suffering?
How do we end suffering?
How does one reach enlightenment?
PART ONE VOCABULARY
abate: to reduce, lessen, diminish
ablutions: a washing of the body as part of a religious ceremony
ascetic: a person who dedicates himself to an extremely simple life, practicing extreme self-denial, abstaining
from normal pleasures of life
Atman: the universal soul from which all individual souls derive and to which they all return to
avaricious : greedy
Brahman/Brahmin: a member of the priestly class of Hindus
countenance: appearance, usually the face
demeanor: conduct, behavior
disillusionment: the freeing from idealistic beliefs (can be depressing!)
emanate: to flow out or come forth from a source of origin
illustrious: glowing, shining, emitting light
imperturbable: incapable of being upset or agitated; calm
insatiable: unable to satiated; incapable of being satisfied (“He has an insatiable thirst for knowledge.”)
jackals: wild, scavenging dogs that hunt in packs
Nirvana: freedom from the endless cycle of personal reincarnations, with their consequent suffering, as a
result of the extinction of individual passion, hatred, and delusion:
Om: a mantra or repeated word in meditation
renounce: to give up voluntarily
respite: a delay in time, temporary relief, a break
salvation: being saved or protected
Samanas: certain wandering ascetics from India, one of whom was Gautama Buddha; they deprive themselves
of material possessions and comfort
Vedas: the entire body of Hindu sacred writings, chief among which are four books, the Rig-Veda, the SamaVeda, the Atharva-Veda, and the Yajur-Veda.
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Chapter One: The Brahmin’s Son
1) Why is Siddhartha unhappy? Why is his spirit like a “waiting vessel”? For what is he searching?
2) Describe Govinda’s relationship with Siddhartha. How would you characterize it?
3) Describe the Samanas. Does the author portray them favorably or unfavorably?
4) How did Siddhartha convince his father to allow him to join the Samanas?
Chapter Two: With the Samanas
1) How does Siddhartha act when he is with the Samanas?
2) What is his goal? What happens when he reaches that goal?
3) How does Siddhartha meditate?
4) What frustrates Siddhartha?
5) Complete the quote: “I could have learned more quickly and easily _____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________.” (Page ________)
a. Explain this.
6) What does Siddhartha do with the oldest Samana? What does that feat show?
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Chapter Three: Gotama
1) How is Gotama different from the Samanas?
2) How do they recognize Gotama?
3) Why does Govinda choose to join him? Why won’t Siddhartha join him?
4) According to Siddhartha, how will he find enlightenment?
5) What is the “flaw” Siddhartha finds in Gotama’s teaching? Explain. (pg. 26)
6) What has the Buddha robbed from Siddhartha? What has he given Siddhartha?
7) Has Siddhartha progressed in his search by the end of chapter 3? Explain.
Chapter Four– Awakening
1) What does Siddhartha decide to study? How is that the one field he has been ignorant in?
2) Why does Siddhartha feel an “icy chill”? He compares himself to a star. How is that so?
3) How is Siddhartha different now?
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Part Two (Chapters 5-8)
apt (adj) – intelligent; quick to learn
VOCABULARY
ardent (adj) - passionate
countenance (n) – the appearance/expression of the face
courtesan (n) – a prostitute that associates with noblemen and men of wealth
disillusionment (n) – the freeing from idealistic beliefs (can be depressing)
equanimity (n) – remaining calm even under pressure or strain
folly – foolishness, foolish behavior
indolent (adj) – slothful, lazy
insatiable (adj) – incapable of being satiated or satisfied)
insipid (adj) – boring and empty
irksome (adj)-annoying, irritating
Kama (n) – God of erotic desire in Hinduism
lament (v) – to mourn over or feel sorrow toward
pilgrimage (n) – a long journey made to a sacred place as an act of religious devotion
prudent (adj) – wise and careful
reproach (v) – to find fault with a person, to blame
servile (adj) – submissive, gives in to others
subservient (adj) – serving or acting in a servant-like manner; servile
supple (adj) – responsive and quickly adaptable in mental action
swami/swamy: a Hindu religious teacher
transitory (adj) – not eternal; lasting only a short time
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Chapter 5 – Kamala
1) In the beginning of the chapter, Siddhartha sees the world in a new, fresh way. Why? (Why can he see the
world now, when he could not really see it before?)
2) What does Siddhartha see in his dream in the ferryman’s straw hut? What might be the symbolic value of
this image in his dream?
3) Why does Siddhartha NOT make love (“ascend the tree”) to the first woman that he comes across in the
village? Quote the line that explains why he does not engage in love making with her.
4) Describe the beautiful woman in the sedan chair that Siddhartha sees as he travels
further into the village. What does this woman look like?
5) Why does Siddhartha say to Kamala that “Never again will I lower my eyes when I
meet a beautiful woman” (44)?
Sedan Chair
6) What does he want to learn from Kamala?
7) What does Kamala tell Siddhartha that he needs in order to receive any instruction from her?
8) In this chapter, Siddhartha announces to Kamala, on numerous occasions, that he can do three specific
things, and he asserts that he can do these three things well. What three skills does Siddhartha know that
he possesses?
9) Siddhartha compares himself to a stone. Explain.
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Chapter 6 – Amongst the People
1) Who is Kamaswami? What does his name mean? (Hint: Look at the vocabulary)
2) After Kamaswami takes in Siddhartha, how does Siddhartha’s life change? In what manner does he live?
3) Kamala had warned Siddhartha to make sure that Kamaswami treats Siddhartha as his _____________. (pg 49)
Does Siddhartha heed (follow) Kamala’s advice?
4) Even though Siddhartha is successful as a merchant, what is his attitude toward the business?
5) In your own words and thoughtfully, what did Kamala teach him?
6) How are Siddhartha and Kamala similar?
Chapter 7 – Samsara
1) Does Siddhartha have a bad life? What is good about it?
2) What happened when the property finally became a chain and a burden?
3) How does his dice playing echo his real life?
4) What was his Kamala dream about?
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5) What does he begin to notice about Kamala’s face and his own?
6) What was the Bird dream about? What does it mean?
7) Why does he feel dead?
8) Why is it important that Kamala is pregnant? Explain.
Chapter 8 – By the River
1) Why does Siddhartha wish to kill himself?
2) What sound does he hear? How does he react?
3) How is he different when he wakes up? Who is sitting with him?
4) What does Siddhartha start lecturing his friend about? Why?
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PART III VOCABULARY
countenance (n)- appearance, usually the face
emanate (v) – to flow out or come forth from a source of origin
indignation (n) – anger at something unjust
intrinsic (adj) – belonging to something by its very nature (“Mothers intrinsically protect their young.”)
jest (v) – a joke, a witty remark
lament (v) - to mourn over or feel sorrow toward
sage (n) – a person famed for wisdom
transitory (adj) – not eternal; lasting only a short time
veneration (n) – an expression of respect and awe, reverence
Chapter 9 – The Ferryman
1) What does Siddhartha learn from the Ferryman? How are the skills he is learning now important to him for
life?
2) What do people say about Siddhartha and the Ferryman?
3) How are they becoming alike? Is this a good thing? Explain.
4) Describe the events surrounding Kamala’s meeting Siddhartha again.
5) How has Siddhartha changed since their last meeting? How has Kamala changed?
6) What happens to Kamala? How does this effect Siddhartha?
Chapter 10 – The Son
1) What about Siddhartha would make him a lousy father?
2) How does young Siddhartha take advantage of the father?
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3) What does he try to do for his son? Why won’t it work?
4) Why doesn’t he punish the boy?
5) Why is the river laughing? How has Siddhartha gotten “his own”?
6) How can love be “Samsara”?
7) Why does the son hate the father?
8) Why did he break the oar?
9) In losing his son, what might Siddhartha have gained?
Chapter 11 – Om
1) What “wound” does Siddhartha have? What is the different light that he sees people in?
2) What has been his biggest change since becoming a ferryman?
3) As a result, how does the tone of the book change?
4) What does the river do when Siddhartha goes to see his son? Whose reflection does he see?
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5) Siddhartha and Vasudeva listen very, very closely to the river. What do they hear? Why is everything
interconnected?
6) Where does Vasudeva go? (Hint: Not just the woods)
Chapter 12 – Govinda
1) Why is there still restlessness in Govinda’s heart?
2) What is wrong with seeking, according to Siddhartha?
3) Why doesn’t Siddhartha have a doctrine? How can wisdom not be communicable? Can you communicate
knowledge?
4) What is the symbolism of the stone?
5) How can Nirvana and Samsara be the same?
6) What does Govinda see Siddhartha do? What does this show about Siddhartha’s final change?
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