Siddhartha: Coming To America

Siddhartha: Coming to America

All the way from India, Siddhartha comes to the United States. Siddhartha travels to New York City to get a look at in a way he had not yet seen. Siddhartha, slightly overwhelmed at first just walks lackadaisically through Times Square, staring at all the lights and signs. He walks into a small deli along the side of the street. A young, dark haired man was sitting at a table in the middle of the deli waiting for him. The man’s name is Bill; he is the guide the travel agency had set up for Siddhartha to meet with on his trip visiting America.

“You must be Siddhartha. I’m Bill, Bill Jones, I’ll be your guide through this lovely city we call New York.”
“Very nice to meet you Bill, I am very glad to have found some transitory peace here in this deli.” Siddhartha looks left and right indicating there is only one other person in the deli aside from them.
“It is nice, but living here in the city you really get used to all the commotion that goes on. I’ve been living here since I was a kid, and there is no place I would rather be.”
“From what I have just seen since arriving I can think of a few places I would rather be, but since you are my guide I will leave it to you to convince me.” Both Siddhartha and Bill got up from their seats and headed towards the door.

Stepping outside again, Siddhartha cringed at the all of the noise. This was no place that anyone could reach enlightenment. As the two men stood at the curb, Bill called for a cab. “I’m going to show you some of the greatest parts of New York; you wait!” Bill leaned to the cab driver, “Central Park south please”.

“My first impression of you when you walked into the deli was your peaceful countenance was neither happy nor sad. You seemed to be smiling gently inwardly. With a secret smile, not unlike that of a healthy child, you walked along, peacefully” Bill told Siddhartha as they traveled to their destination.
“I felt that way about someone I met once as well…”
“Well, here we are. Central Park.” Bill handed the cab driver the toll and exited the cab.

Bill guided Siddhartha through Central Park pointing out statues and other notable objects. Once the two men had journeyed deep enough into the park you could not even tell you were in a city at all. “This may be the most similar to India you’ll find here, Siddhartha.” said Bill.
“Hmm… yes, this is similar to what I am used to. This area reminds me of when I went off with the samanas in the woods and tried to find enlightenment.”
“Did you find it?”
“At that time no, but many years later I did.”
“Now let’s keep moving. We want to see as much of the city as we can.”
Bill guided Siddhartha yet further through the park until Bill came to a sudden stop. “We should… er… I think we should go this way.” Bill was clearly unsure as to which way they should travel.
“Are we lost?” asked Siddhartha who asked the question somewhat rhetorically.
“No no. Don’t be silly. I know where we are… I think.”
“Because if we were I would have no problem with being lost here. It is very calming and peaceful.” Said Siddhartha
“Well, you are the guest here. I suppose we can rest here for a little while until someone comes by and we can follow them out of here.”
Siddhartha walked to a bench and sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes. Bill went and sat down next to him. “So what’s it like-“
“Shh…” Said Siddhartha, cutting off Bill from what he was about to say. “Just enjoy this. Take it in. There are few times in life where you can enjoy the calm and peacefulness of nature like this.”
Bill looked around, shrugged his shoulders and sat like Siddhartha on the bench. Side by side, the two men sat on the bench with legs crossed and eyes shut. They were completely concentrated on the silence and calm around them. Bill had never experienced anything like this before. He saw all these forms and faces in a thousand relationships to each other, all helping each other, loving, hating, destroying each other and become newly born. Each one of them was mortal, a passionate, painful example of all that was transitory. Yet none of them died, they only changed, were always reborn, continually had a new face: only time stood between one face and another.
“Hey. Getting late. Might wanna think ‘bout getting out of here and a little closer to the streets.” Siddhartha and Bill quickly opened their eyes to see a park ranger standing in front of them. “Lotta muggers around here at night. I’m just warning ya.” Said the ranger.
“Actually, we got lost in here, do you think you could help us out and get back to the streets?” asked Bill.
“Yeah, no problem. Let’s hurry up though it’s getting dark.”
Bill and Siddhartha looked around and realized that it must have been about 6 o’clock at night. They had sat on the bench for almost 7 hours in a deep meditation. “That was amazing!” said Bill to Siddhartha. “I had no idea that it would be that relaxing and calming!”
“Yes. Meditation is the best way to relax.”
“I guess so!” said Bill “I feel fantastic!”
Siddhartha and Bill got up and began following the ranger out of the park.
“I am delighted that I was able to share my relaxation methods with you Bill.”
“I’m happy you showed me. Ya know, I’m not totally sure what you experienced when you had your enlightenment, but I think I had my enlightenment there.” Replied Bill
“Perhaps you did, I traveled my entire life seeking enlightenment, and I would be a little surprised if you had. But I am not one to say you could not have been enlightened there.”
The ranger had led the men out of the park back to where they had entered the park. The men were very thankful. “It’s pretty late Siddhartha; I think we might need to end this tour. I apologize for getting lost. I didn’t even give you a good tour.”
“You are right Bill, but I was able to show you peace and relaxation. I am happy with helping you.”