Salvation

media type="custom" key="3715001" on page 5 “Was Atman then not within him? Was not then the source within his own heart? One must find the source within one’s own Self, one must possess it” “These were Siddhartha’s own thoughts this was his thirst, his sorrow”

" Although Siddhartha eventually achieves Salvation, as you all know it, if you read the book, he goes through many cycles. What I mean by cycles is going to different paths, and failing to achieve salvation and enlightenment and starting over again. “Are we gaining knowledge? Are we approaching salvation? Or are we perhaps going in circles?” (14)  The three questions in this phrase is not only an example of “three” but more importantly, emphasises the dissatisfaction of Siddhartha. The word knowledge and salvation is used, with each other, perhaps the purpose of this was to emphasise one or the other. The next significant instance regarding the means by which one can attain salvation is seen through the following quote: “He whose reflective pure spirit sinks into Atman Knows bliss inexpressible through words.” (16) enlightenment is something that can be achieved only through oneself, rather than reliance on external forces. This is further emphasized with the mention of a “reflective pure spirit” , the nature of salvation is evidenced when it is stated that there will be “bliss inexpressive through words”, which suggests that salvation is not of the material, physical realm. As time went on his smile began to resemble the ferryman's, was almost equally radiant, almost equally full of happiness, equally lighting up through a thousand little wrinkles, equally childish, equally senile." It is arguably through Siddhartha’s journey on the river that salvation is attained from him, and is from this traverse that the next quote is derived The image of “a thousand little wrinkles” becoming suddenly illuminated portrays salvation’s ability to restore vitality in a person. The paradox in the terms “childish” and “senile” serve to imply that salvation is not something that is restricted by age, nor even time itself, but is available to all who willingly seek it.
 * Govinda's monologue