Kathmandu — Nepal

August 7th — The Path

At the end of a long day filled with long walks, I found myself in the garden of Kathmandu Boutique Hotel, reading Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. The soothing sound of rain, the warm air, and the enveloping darkness became my companions.

On the contrary to my previous reading attempts, the book felt different this time — alive and electrifying. I had failed to truly connect with it in the past, but surrounded by this vivid symphony of sights, sounds, and scents, it resonated with me deeply, weaving itself into the flow of my thoughts.

The protagonist Siddhartha, along with his companion Govinda, embarks on a journey to escape the confines of self-consciousness. They leave behind the comfort of their lives to join the ascetics (the Sadhus). In their ascetic lifestyle — devoid of pleasures and steeped in worship — they seek enlightenment. One day, they hear that the Buddha has come to a nearby town. Drawn by curiosity and excitement, they set out to hear him speak.

Buddha is undeniably captivating, a masterful orator. At the end of the day, Govinda turns to Siddhartha and says, “Siddhartha, I’m so glad we embarked on this journey together. It has brought us to Buddha, and I’ve made my decision — I will join him. I will embrace his teachings and become his follower.”

Siddhartha replies, without mockery or anger, but directly and perhaps even cheerfully, “I am so happy for you, Govinda. From this point forward, our paths part ways. I wish you nothing but the best and hope you find joy on your chosen path. As for me, I must continue on my own.”

Govinda, unprepared for this response, is stunned and feels abandoned.

But why doesn’t Siddhartha choose to follow Buddha?

Because the journey is not about abandoning the self only to bind oneself to another, even one as perfect as Buddha. It is not about becoming “you” or “him.” The path lies in breaking free from all selves — yours, mine, theirs — and walking your own unique way. It is about merging with the essence that exists in a stone, a tree, the color yellow, in nothingness, emptiness, or the heart. Perhaps it is about becoming “nothing”, dissolving completely.

If the journey were as straightforward as following a prescribed path, it would be far too simple. But the real challenge is carving out your own way — unique, unrepeatable, and in harmony with The One, himself.

Without external support — the lights, colors, music, alcohol, and other things, or the mesmerizing effects we so adore — it’s incredibly hard to capture and sustain that pure, unadulterated joy. Yet, the true treasure lies in becoming one with life’s simplest, purest exhilaration.

The journey starts with becoming yourself, then abandoning that self and all other-selves. To be nothing, to be everything, to always be — a grain of sand gazing into infinity.

original photo by Pachamama

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