Section 4

Section 4 i find it the most important and the one that teaches the most. After Kamala's death, Siddhartha tries his best to bond with his son. He is still sad because of his mother, he doesn't understand what happened and how it will ever be fine. Siddhartha wants to teach his son most of his knowledge, so he as his father, can understand things. But he is reminded that he could never pass his knowledge though his son had to experience it all. He had to experience to be able to understand everything Siddhartha understood. The son runs away through the river. Siddhartha and Vesudeva try to find him but they can't. Siddhartha goes to the town but gives up, because he knows he will never find him. SIddhartha feels hurt and sad for waht his son did. He keeps on learning from the river and Vesudeva, who know is seen holy and as a god to Siddhartha. One day Versudeva tells Siddhartha he need to listen to river, he hears all the voices togteher and feel an eternal peace and unity to the world. Siddhartha had finally achieved enlightenment. Versudeva confesses he wants to leave and wander through the world, so he can find his own inner peace. He leaves Siddhartha as the ferryman, and disappears into the forest. Govinda is still a monk, but he has been notified that there was a very wise and holy ferryman. He goes and visits this ferryman without knowing it was Siddhartha. They discuss and he finally knows it was his good friend. Before Govinda leaves, Siddhartha asks him to kiss him in the forehead. WHen this happens Govinda watches Siddhartha's entire live through his eyes, all the faces, the suffering and happiness. When he steps back he feels a need to worship and venerate Siddhartha.

This section can give the reader many emotions. Siddhartha finally found illumination an a perfect balance between his life and the whole universe. He found what he was looking for, and could share it with his dearest friend Govinda. But the end of the book also gave me a lot of questions. What happens to Govinda after this experience? Will he try to achieve illumination? What will happen to Siddhartha? How come people learn from him, if he couldn't teach his knowledge? The end of the book made me a little emotional. Govinda felt the need to look up to Siddhartha, I feel the same for my big brother. Without him I would never be the person I am right now. I would had never fallen into the path of Buddhism, or see things as I see them right now. I would feel part of the society that know rules the world. Without my brother I believe I wouldn't feel as proud of myself and my actions as I am now.