B.Mitchell
K. Hamstra
Philosophy RGC
5 June 2003
"Seeking means: to have a goal; but finding means: to be free,
to be receptive, to have no goal."
-Siddhartha- From Siddhartha, (Hesse 402).
I agree with Siddhartha's statement. I do so based largely on the fact that I have come to the same conclusion due to my life experience. Siddhartha and I approach this claim with the same train of thought and grounds. The basis for this statement is most definitely reason, by reason I mean to say using the words "seek" and "find" individually and recognizing that the two words carry with them connotations. We must recognize these connotations in order to be objective with regard to the subject. All that is necessary for one to realize the huge differences in these words is to ponder in what circumstances the terms "seek" and "find" would be used.
Siddhartha Gautama meditating.
Siddhartha (novel)
Siddhartha-Life is but a DreamAnother equally correct course of action would be to locate the terms in a dictionary and here the differences are self-evident.
These two methods of derivation of the terms allow us to examine Siddhartha's claim and realize that he is correct. One case in point is something that is familiar to almost all English speaking people, the child's game called "Hide and Seek", which clearly has a goal in order to win. Another example is when people state that they are "seeking a...." the phrase could easily be finished with words like: employment, financial freedom, relationship, and many other common phrases.
I agree whole-heartedly with Siddhartha with regard to the statement. The definitions he sets forth are concise and to the point. Siddhartha draws a stark contrast between the two terms and provides us with an example by referring to himself as a "finder." This statement shows that he truly...