Chapter 8. By the River

Table of Contents
Ideas of Interest from "By the River"
The Reading Selection from "By the River"
Topics Worth Investigating

Assault of Mara, ŠKathleen Cohen

Ideas of Interest from "By the River"

  1. Siddhartha had apparently just concluded that the game of Sansara is not a game worth losing his life over, and so he left the life of sensation. Why, then, does he fall even deeper in despair as he assertively abandons the ways of his old life?

  2. Siddhartha defensively replies to Govinda's inquiries, "I am on a pilgrimage." When Govinda expresses surprise, Siddhartha rationalizes his assertion. Why pose such a pretense before his old friend?

  3. Later in life, Siddhartha refers to this meeting with Govinda and claims that he learned something significant from Govinda. Can you discover any clue in the chapter as to what Siddhartha learns?

  4. In what ways did Buddha's warning to "be aware of too much knowledge" foreshadow Siddhartha's present crisis?