Siddhartha

Siddhartha question

Ryan Hicks

January 2015

Comparative Civilizations 12

Inquiry: Richness

            Richness is defined by Merriam-Webster (An Encyclopedia Britannica company) as “having a lot of money and possessions”. This statement can be true in certain contexts however for some richness comes in many other forms. In philosophy richness is known as knowledge. Can knowledge prove that richness is more than just a material object? Looking at Siddhartha’s journey, richness can be measured in more than just ways of material values.  Looking at Plato’s readings one sees that the true meaning of richness is knowledge. And looking at western society richness is defined just as literally as the dictionary states it. To what extent can the definition of richness be changed based on the stories of Plato and Siddhartha?

            Western society is known as a very materialistic society. Rich is a term to describe the people who have many possessions, mainly physical. One of the most read articles of the year is Forbes magazine’s richest people of the year. The online live page has over forty thousand posts across various social media sites. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of people who see the posts. This list published to these people shows the people ranked by descending order of net worth in cash. How is it fair to rank people in order of cash? One answer might potentially be the definition of the word richness. If defined as stated by Merriam-Webster this definition is one that not just promotes a western society view on a topic but also however demotes a more traditional or religious view on the topic. A definition of a word used by two distinct societies but only promotes one is a definition that needs to be changed.

            Plato is a philosopher who is well known for his views on western society. Why is a western society philosopher so focused on knowledge? Plato’s cave is the perfect analogy of richness in western society. While the money and material is what the light projects on the wall the sun or fire that projects the shadows is the truth. These truths lay outside the cave waiting to be found. Sure money and possessions provide richness to those inside the cave but what defines richness outside of it? The definition needs to see change for those who live outside of the cave.

            Siddhartha is a prime example of where the definition of richness needs to be changed. Siddhartha decides to leave his teacher to pursue his own search for knowledge. Along his journey he finds knowledge from Kamala the courtesan he meets in the big city. He falls in love with her and she tells him that he needs to gain money, and nice clothes to love her. In his acquisition of all the money and material objects he gains knowledge, which points him back to his simpler life at the river. Where he helps those who need to cross the river. This knowledge helps him become what could be described as a man at peace with his inner self. How is a man who has money and no happiness richer than that of a man who is happy with no money?

            The dictionary is a place where people look for answers; a place where people gather knowledge. However they can’t gather richness. This is because the book itself says richness is not knowledge but material possessions and money. This may remain true for those trapped in the cave of western society however for those from around the world the definition remains only in their hearts. And thoughts. The definition of richness needs to be greatly changed and altered to a definition that appeases the beliefs of more than just western society. The new definition should show what richness is for all people no matter who they are and what they believe it