The summer blog begins...jump right in!
After reading the introduction of "The World's Religions" I immediately skipped to chapter 2 on Buddhism because this is the religion we had decided to focus on. I'm impatient. It took a few a pages to realize I would benefit from reading chapter 1 on Hinduism. So this is where I am now.
I know nothing about Hinduism also, so this is time well spent.
I did get far enough in the Buddhism chapter to find out Siddhartha is "Buddha's" first name in his before life. Ah-ha-ha, I thought, "Siddhartha" the novel by Herman Hesse. Someone brought a copy to the group last Friday. When it was held up there was group recognition and approval but that is because everyone in their before life has read it. It was the "in" book right up there with "Trout Fishing in America." Of course I saw a girl at my high school with a copy of "Trout Fishing" and I felt sorry for her because I thought she was forced to read fishing regulations for some science class.
I admit I did not read "Siddhartha" at Woodside High School. I was not cool. I was in the drama crowd. I studied Broadway musical comedies and not enlightenment or journeys of discovery.
"Man of La Mancha" was the big hit on Broadway and I would dash home to hear Richard Kiely sing "The Impossible Dream" one more time.
I wrote an American History final based entirely on the musical "1776". High school was easier back then.
Name dropping! Kenny Ortega, the director/producer of High School Musical 1 & 2 was MY director and choreographer for shows with Redwood City Civic Light Opera. A theatre company started by kids and for kids. He was a cheer leader and student at Sequoia High School.
So what does all of this have to do with Buddhism? Since it's too soon to have much to say about our "suggested book", I'm asking when and why did you read "Siddhartha" and if you didn't...why not? Perhaps you know people who read it or were about to read it but got distracted. There must be some good stories out there.
"Young people", Cathy C, Sarah and McKenna are excused from this assignment.
Jane
