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Buddha, Vol. 4: The Forest of Uruvela
The Eisner and Harvey WinnerIn this fourth volume of the award-winning graphic novel biography, Buddha slowly discovers that his destiny lies in a path not readily available to him. With fellow ascetics Dhepa who has complete faith in the purifying quality of painful physical ordeals, and Assaji, who can predict everyone's death to the hour, Buddha travels through the kingdom of Magadha into the Forest of Uruvela, where The Middle Path and Enlightenment wait beyond a series of death-defying trials.Awake under the Pippala tree...
370 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 1983
44 people are currently reading
969 people want to read
About the author
Osamu Tezuka
2,153 books1,291 followersDr. Osamu Tezuka (手塚治虫) was a Japanese manga artist, animator, producer and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. He is often credited as the "Father of Anime", and is often considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, who served as a major inspiration during his formative years. His prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such titles as "the father of manga" and "the God of Manga."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
April 9, 2019
Stumbled into this book at a local library. This is the first Japanese manga that I am reading and it is about Buddha, so needless to say I was excited in reading this book.
And this book did justice to my excitement, couldn't keep it down until I was done with the book.
This book describes in detail of the phase of life that Siddhartha went through in the forest of Uruvela as a seeker of truth and to overcome the dread of death.
I always thought being a saint or leaving routine life and going to the forest was fun.
No more traffic. No more rush. No more gossips. No one to judge you. No more chores.
No more working days. No more exams.
No more responsibilities. No more pollution. No more bills.
No more loans/EMI. No more inflation. No more taxes.
Well… A lot of no more’s and finally peace!!!
That’’s what I thought going to the forest as a monk meant.
You know, having a relaxed time, living a simple, peaceful and happy life.
But then reading this book I got a glimpse of the hardship that the people renouncing their regular life go through.
Siddhartha goes to the forest of Uruvela seeking the truth and goes through innumerable amount of confusions and problems.
This books tells stories that dated aeons ago when monarchy was in the prime.
The lives of kings, queens, peasants and how the system of caste hugely influenced their lives.
My favourite characters in this book are Assaji and Tatta
Assaji - a cute little monk, friend of Siddhartha, a seer, who could predict the time of death accurate to the seconds. What strikes me the most about this person is that, despite knowing that he is going to die in few years, he always maintains a positive and happy spirit and embraces his death in the most graceful way.
Tatta - a strong man of the lowest caste, perceived as rogue and shunned by the villagers. A man who immensely loves his fragile dying wife, he loves her so much that he wouldn't think twice before plunging into a burning house to save his sick dying wife.
It has so many other interesting and amazing characters as well.
We wouldn't think that a book titled 'Buddha' would have so much of violence and gore. The life of an ascetic is not calm, peaceful as one might think. The phase of life that Siddhartha went through in the forest of Uruvela is sure filled with pain, suffering, torture and agony. But despite all of that what kept Siddhartha on track was his burning determination to find out the truth about suffering and death, perhaps the way to eternal happiness as well.
And as the world knows he not only succeeds in finding the answers but also ends up sharing his wisdom to the world, leaving behind his legacy that survives for centuries.
'Siddhartha' by Herman Hesse is also yet another well known book that is an amazing and soothing read.
That book tells us the wisdom of Buddha, what he thinks and how it feels like to being Buddha.
We see a calm, composed enlightened Buddha in Herman Hesse’s work.
But this book tells us about the unwavering commitment and determination in search of the truth that he had and the unimaginable things that 'Siddhartha' went through to eventually become the 'Buddha’
Needless to say definitely a good read indeed
And this book did justice to my excitement, couldn't keep it down until I was done with the book.
This book describes in detail of the phase of life that Siddhartha went through in the forest of Uruvela as a seeker of truth and to overcome the dread of death.
I always thought being a saint or leaving routine life and going to the forest was fun.
No more traffic. No more rush. No more gossips. No one to judge you. No more chores.
No more working days. No more exams.
No more responsibilities. No more pollution. No more bills.
No more loans/EMI. No more inflation. No more taxes.
Well… A lot of no more’s and finally peace!!!
That’’s what I thought going to the forest as a monk meant.
You know, having a relaxed time, living a simple, peaceful and happy life.
But then reading this book I got a glimpse of the hardship that the people renouncing their regular life go through.
Siddhartha goes to the forest of Uruvela seeking the truth and goes through innumerable amount of confusions and problems.
This books tells stories that dated aeons ago when monarchy was in the prime.
The lives of kings, queens, peasants and how the system of caste hugely influenced their lives.
My favourite characters in this book are Assaji and Tatta
Assaji - a cute little monk, friend of Siddhartha, a seer, who could predict the time of death accurate to the seconds. What strikes me the most about this person is that, despite knowing that he is going to die in few years, he always maintains a positive and happy spirit and embraces his death in the most graceful way.
Tatta - a strong man of the lowest caste, perceived as rogue and shunned by the villagers. A man who immensely loves his fragile dying wife, he loves her so much that he wouldn't think twice before plunging into a burning house to save his sick dying wife.
It has so many other interesting and amazing characters as well.
We wouldn't think that a book titled 'Buddha' would have so much of violence and gore. The life of an ascetic is not calm, peaceful as one might think. The phase of life that Siddhartha went through in the forest of Uruvela is sure filled with pain, suffering, torture and agony. But despite all of that what kept Siddhartha on track was his burning determination to find out the truth about suffering and death, perhaps the way to eternal happiness as well.
And as the world knows he not only succeeds in finding the answers but also ends up sharing his wisdom to the world, leaving behind his legacy that survives for centuries.
'Siddhartha' by Herman Hesse is also yet another well known book that is an amazing and soothing read.
That book tells us the wisdom of Buddha, what he thinks and how it feels like to being Buddha.
We see a calm, composed enlightened Buddha in Herman Hesse’s work.
But this book tells us about the unwavering commitment and determination in search of the truth that he had and the unimaginable things that 'Siddhartha' went through to eventually become the 'Buddha’
Needless to say definitely a good read indeed
December 4, 2020
Not in the momentum to enjoy this as much as I did the first 2 volumes.
Feels like the pattern is repeated, with similar characters losing their sheen.
Not sure what else am I expecting from this.
So confused, I need a Buddha to enlighten me!
Feels like the pattern is repeated, with similar characters losing their sheen.
Not sure what else am I expecting from this.
So confused, I need a Buddha to enlighten me!
January 11, 2012
Aiih... sepertinya buku ini-lah yang paling mendekati buku pertama deh dari segi ke-favorit-an ane.
Buku ini penting, karena ada adegan di mana Siddhartha mendapat pencerahan dan akhirnya untuk selamanya dikenal dengan nama "Buddha".
Favorite quote:
"Kalau kau tidak ada, sesuatu di dunia ini akan timpang. Kau pun punya peranan penting." (hal 362)
*terharu*
:*)
Selain itu, buku ini juga mungkin termasuk satu dari yang paling komikal, khususnya sewaktu masa-masa tapa siksa diri yang dijalankan Siddhartha di Hutan Uruwela (banyak petapa-petapa yang gaya-gaya bertapa-nya konyol-konyol sangat, xD).
Sinopsisnya, Siddhartha akhirnya berangkat ke Hutan Uruwela bersama Dhepa dan Assaji untuk melakukan tapa penyiksaan diri karena setelah mencari pencerahan ke beberapa pertapa terkenal di Magadha, Siddhartha merasa tidak mendapatkan apa-apa. Maka hal terakhir yang belum dicoba adalah hal yang paling dibenci Siddhartha, yakni menyiksa diri sendiri.
Siddharta dalam masa tapanya masih sempat bertemu dengan Tatta dan Migaila yang masih menantikan janji Siddhartha untuk pulang ke Kapilawastu. Siddhartha juga berkenalan dengan Sujata, cewek abg yang naksir berat sama dia... :D
Setelah akhirnya berselisih paham dengan Dhepa, dan Assaji menggenapi ramalannya sendiri tentang nasibnya, Siddhartha pun meninggalkan tapa siksa diri dan bertapa di bawah pohon Bodhi.
Di wilayah lain, diceritakan pula tentang pangeran negeri Kosala, Pangeran Wirudhaka a.k.a. Pangeran Kristal, yang kejam dan membenci nasibnya karena ternyata ibunya berasal dari golongan budak/Sudra, sehingga dia memiliki darah separuh Ksatria dan separuh Sudra.
Pangeran Kristal dalam perjalanannya bertemu dengan Yatala, manusia berukuran sebesar gergasi mirip yeti, yang hidupnya dipenuhi dendam
karena orang tua-nya yang adalah budak mati secara mengenaskan.
Yatala pada akhirnya bertemu dengan Siddhartha di pohon Bodhi dan membantu Siddhartha mencapai pencerahan.
Dan ya, secara artistry ke-manga-an, banyak sekali bukti rekam ke-"dewa"-an Osamu Tezuka yang bisa diamati di buku keempat ini, termasuk gambar dahsyat di halaman 363 yang menunjukkan betapa semua kehidupan sebenarnya saling terkait satu dengan yang lainnya.
Tapi selain itu, rasanya perlu juga menyinggung tentang peranan Asha Fortuna dan Christina M. Udiani yang telah menerjemahkan dan menyunting serial komik ini sampai tetap menjadi begitu menarik seperti seharusnya. Bravo!
^^
Buku ini penting, karena ada adegan di mana Siddhartha mendapat pencerahan dan akhirnya untuk selamanya dikenal dengan nama "Buddha".
Favorite quote:
"Kalau kau tidak ada, sesuatu di dunia ini akan timpang. Kau pun punya peranan penting." (hal 362)
*terharu*
:*)
Selain itu, buku ini juga mungkin termasuk satu dari yang paling komikal, khususnya sewaktu masa-masa tapa siksa diri yang dijalankan Siddhartha di Hutan Uruwela (banyak petapa-petapa yang gaya-gaya bertapa-nya konyol-konyol sangat, xD).
Sinopsisnya, Siddhartha akhirnya berangkat ke Hutan Uruwela bersama Dhepa dan Assaji untuk melakukan tapa penyiksaan diri karena setelah mencari pencerahan ke beberapa pertapa terkenal di Magadha, Siddhartha merasa tidak mendapatkan apa-apa. Maka hal terakhir yang belum dicoba adalah hal yang paling dibenci Siddhartha, yakni menyiksa diri sendiri.
Siddharta dalam masa tapanya masih sempat bertemu dengan Tatta dan Migaila yang masih menantikan janji Siddhartha untuk pulang ke Kapilawastu. Siddhartha juga berkenalan dengan Sujata, cewek abg yang naksir berat sama dia... :D
Setelah akhirnya berselisih paham dengan Dhepa, dan Assaji menggenapi ramalannya sendiri tentang nasibnya, Siddhartha pun meninggalkan tapa siksa diri dan bertapa di bawah pohon Bodhi.
Di wilayah lain, diceritakan pula tentang pangeran negeri Kosala, Pangeran Wirudhaka a.k.a. Pangeran Kristal, yang kejam dan membenci nasibnya karena ternyata ibunya berasal dari golongan budak/Sudra, sehingga dia memiliki darah separuh Ksatria dan separuh Sudra.
Pangeran Kristal dalam perjalanannya bertemu dengan Yatala, manusia berukuran sebesar gergasi mirip yeti, yang hidupnya dipenuhi dendam
karena orang tua-nya yang adalah budak mati secara mengenaskan.
Yatala pada akhirnya bertemu dengan Siddhartha di pohon Bodhi dan membantu Siddhartha mencapai pencerahan.
Dan ya, secara artistry ke-manga-an, banyak sekali bukti rekam ke-"dewa"-an Osamu Tezuka yang bisa diamati di buku keempat ini, termasuk gambar dahsyat di halaman 363 yang menunjukkan betapa semua kehidupan sebenarnya saling terkait satu dengan yang lainnya.
Tapi selain itu, rasanya perlu juga menyinggung tentang peranan Asha Fortuna dan Christina M. Udiani yang telah menerjemahkan dan menyunting serial komik ini sampai tetap menjadi begitu menarik seperti seharusnya. Bravo!
^^
May 24, 2015
Een tijdloos meesterwerk vervolgt. Prachtig.
January 31, 2023
This series picked up quite a bit.
We get to see Siddhartha goes through a few ascetic mentors before going to the forest of Uruvela to participate in years of painful trails. This is the book where we start to see him start to become Buddha.
So many great stories in this one. Tezuka is an absolute master, it just seems to come so easily to him.
We get to see Siddhartha goes through a few ascetic mentors before going to the forest of Uruvela to participate in years of painful trails. This is the book where we start to see him start to become Buddha.
So many great stories in this one. Tezuka is an absolute master, it just seems to come so easily to him.
March 7, 2019
Volume 4 slows the story down a bit to develop some character development and plotting.
At this point of the story, Siddhartha is on what his travel mate's idea of path to enlightenment is. We get a lot of big themes in this volume. From questioning tradition and its effectiveness, the constant change of life, the sacrifice of ones own possible health for the good of others, we get a lot of things to think about from this book. We also get lessons about friendship and camaraderie. Lessons about who we think our friends are, who they are really, and those who we ultimately become closest too.
Again, Tezuka's use of a cartoon like drawings again gives us a certain expectation of what kind of story we are in for. But this volume is probably the darkest one yet. There is a lot of death, and a lot of hard lessons learned the hard way. Ultimately, we know that Siddhartha is on the right path, but the path is hard and full of hard choices and, like in life, even if all the choices are bad, we still have to choose.
Excellent pacing and quick, quirky dialog move the plot along well in this volume. So much so that even though there isn't really a great battle sequence or action scene like the other volumes (for the most part), you still feel rewarded and satisfied by the time you put down the book.
I once again must comment on the artwork, which is stunning in its execution and a wonder to see how Tezuka constantly evolves his art and adds to it volume by volume. In this one, I notice so much more detail in close ups. Rocks, architecture, patterns on fabric, and faces now have more crosshatching and detailed line work. It commands attention as Tezuka usually uses this to denote great importance to certain aspects of the story.
This is a great book with a fast moving plot and great, evolving art. Look forward to volume 5.
At this point of the story, Siddhartha is on what his travel mate's idea of path to enlightenment is. We get a lot of big themes in this volume. From questioning tradition and its effectiveness, the constant change of life, the sacrifice of ones own possible health for the good of others, we get a lot of things to think about from this book. We also get lessons about friendship and camaraderie. Lessons about who we think our friends are, who they are really, and those who we ultimately become closest too.
Again, Tezuka's use of a cartoon like drawings again gives us a certain expectation of what kind of story we are in for. But this volume is probably the darkest one yet. There is a lot of death, and a lot of hard lessons learned the hard way. Ultimately, we know that Siddhartha is on the right path, but the path is hard and full of hard choices and, like in life, even if all the choices are bad, we still have to choose.
Excellent pacing and quick, quirky dialog move the plot along well in this volume. So much so that even though there isn't really a great battle sequence or action scene like the other volumes (for the most part), you still feel rewarded and satisfied by the time you put down the book.
I once again must comment on the artwork, which is stunning in its execution and a wonder to see how Tezuka constantly evolves his art and adds to it volume by volume. In this one, I notice so much more detail in close ups. Rocks, architecture, patterns on fabric, and faces now have more crosshatching and detailed line work. It commands attention as Tezuka usually uses this to denote great importance to certain aspects of the story.
This is a great book with a fast moving plot and great, evolving art. Look forward to volume 5.
August 14, 2012
Follows the Buddha on his path to achieving enlightenment. A lovely, human story of a man with a deep spiritual yearning, wrestling with trying to understand the world, and human nature, and death. I love how Tezuka tries to portray sincerely the spiritual journey of Siddhartha while grounding it in a very ordinary, sometimes tragic, sometimes comic world. His world is not so different from now. The issues of class, of caste, of poverty, of disease, of death - they are not alien nor antiquated. Tezuka portrays the world of 500 B.C.(ish) as being much the same as now in every way that matters, demystifying the religious so that it might seem relevant and human.
In this volume Siddhartha turns away from Dhepa's path of flagellation and masochistic ordeals of purification, losing a friend in the process. Tezuka is good at balancing the human drama of the dissolution of their friendship with the central spiritual conflict the Buddha has with the limits of needless suffering to bring truth or wisdom.
In this volume Siddhartha turns away from Dhepa's path of flagellation and masochistic ordeals of purification, losing a friend in the process. Tezuka is good at balancing the human drama of the dissolution of their friendship with the central spiritual conflict the Buddha has with the limits of needless suffering to bring truth or wisdom.
June 23, 2013
Tier, Pflanze, Mensch - es ist alles dasselbe Leben
Beeindruckend, wie diese Reihe in ihrer anfängigen Nebenläufigkeit nun langsam beginnt, auf ein Ziel hinzuströmen, und dabei immer buddhistischer wird in ihrer Beurteilung der Personen - selbst auf den modernen Leser abstoßend wirkende Charaktere, wie der Kristallprinz, der seine Mutter dem in jeden Lebensbereich eindringenden Kastenwesen opfert, werden nicht verurteilt, sondern als Mitleidende dieser auf Leiden basierenden Welt geschildert.
Das Leiden wird zum Selbstzweck, wenn, wie im Wald von Uruvela, sich die Asketen versuchen in Selbstkasteiung zu übertreffen und der Schmerz des Körpers als Erleuchtung mißdeutet wird. Der Zeichenstil Tezukas macht diese Selbsttäuschung in ihrer ganzen, traurigen Komik deutlich. Auch die Erleuchtung Siddhartas ist grafisch sehr gelungen - Bilder, die sich einprägen, weil sie so einfach und dabei irgendwie einen Punkt treffend sind.
Eine Gratwanderung der Darstellung von Humor und Trauer, von Fanatismus und Mitleid. Ein bewegendes Kunstwerk.
Beeindruckend, wie diese Reihe in ihrer anfängigen Nebenläufigkeit nun langsam beginnt, auf ein Ziel hinzuströmen, und dabei immer buddhistischer wird in ihrer Beurteilung der Personen - selbst auf den modernen Leser abstoßend wirkende Charaktere, wie der Kristallprinz, der seine Mutter dem in jeden Lebensbereich eindringenden Kastenwesen opfert, werden nicht verurteilt, sondern als Mitleidende dieser auf Leiden basierenden Welt geschildert.
Das Leiden wird zum Selbstzweck, wenn, wie im Wald von Uruvela, sich die Asketen versuchen in Selbstkasteiung zu übertreffen und der Schmerz des Körpers als Erleuchtung mißdeutet wird. Der Zeichenstil Tezukas macht diese Selbsttäuschung in ihrer ganzen, traurigen Komik deutlich. Auch die Erleuchtung Siddhartas ist grafisch sehr gelungen - Bilder, die sich einprägen, weil sie so einfach und dabei irgendwie einen Punkt treffend sind.
Eine Gratwanderung der Darstellung von Humor und Trauer, von Fanatismus und Mitleid. Ein bewegendes Kunstwerk.
January 4, 2012
It should go without saying that everything I wrote in my review of the previous volume about Tezuka's writing and artwork should also be true here. That is, they are fantastic. And indeed, the storytelling is even better in this volume. The plot is gathering steam and reaching the more familiar ground of Buddha's enlightenment. There are fewer asides and introduction of new characters, and the one significant exception to this rule is already tied into the main storyline by this volume's end.
Also, in this book, the mirroring and contrast of the monks' self-imposed torments in the forest versus the horrible injustices committed in the name of the caste system contribute to a sense of moral urgency, a greater need for a relief from all this suffering, or at least some perspective on it. And that relief is provided within this volume as well. Yet so many volumes remain! Clearly, there is no choice but to continue the story...
Also, in this book, the mirroring and contrast of the monks' self-imposed torments in the forest versus the horrible injustices committed in the name of the caste system contribute to a sense of moral urgency, a greater need for a relief from all this suffering, or at least some perspective on it. And that relief is provided within this volume as well. Yet so many volumes remain! Clearly, there is no choice but to continue the story...
June 27, 2012
Rich in character and period detail, full of wit, and beautifully drawn.
January 17, 2017
"Like trees, grass, hills, and streams, humans exist, as part of nature, so there is some purpose for which we live...tied to all that is. You, too, play a crucial part in that web."
March 12, 2017
Infinitely more interesting than any of the previous volumes. A lot of violence and gore though. And it is presented very casually. Definitely...enlightening.
September 2, 2025
সবচেয়ে ভালো লাগল মারকে আলাদা ব্যক্তিহিসাবে না দেখিয়ে চিন্তার বিভিন্ন স্তররূপে দেখানো হয়েছে। বুদ্ধও সাধারণ মানুষের মতো সংগ্রামের মধ্য দিয়ে বোধি অর্জন করেছেন। এই 'সাধারণ' থেকে 'অ-সাধারণ' হয়ে ওঠার অভিযাত্রা এই খণ্ডটিকে অনন্য করে তুলেছে।
November 30, 2021
The most favorit part after the first volume.
January 13, 2022
The Forest of Uruvela is markedly more philosophical than the first three volumes of this series, and all the better for it.
January 19, 2024
Tears drip from my eyes the entire time I read this manga just FYI. Got to hold the book up away from my face.
The fourth wall jokes sure get me laughing though! And it's not that I'm sad. It's just very moving.
The fourth wall jokes sure get me laughing though! And it's not that I'm sad. It's just very moving.
August 13, 2017
This being Volume 4 of Osamu Tezuka’s graphic novel of the life of Buddha the flow of the narrative is comfortable. The level of the art work remains high even if he has begun to simplify some of the images expecting us to understand the conventions of this series. The narrative style is familiar but we are being taken deeper into the mysteries of Buddhism and how this belief system would have appeared to those watching it mature. I had thought Vol 3 was the best of the series, four is better. An unfortunate aspect of the narrative style is Tezuka’s continued reliance on anachronisms. They can be short cuts that help the reader get the point quickly or just lazy writing. In this book they are too intrusive and distracting.
The not yet Buddha, Siddhartha continues to follow Dhepa deeper into the world of the aesthetics. With them is the much younger Assaji. In Assaji Siddhartha has the example of a person certain of the day of his death, and at peace with his fate. Siddhartha has yet to understand why there must be death and what is it about humans that they alone carry awareness of the fate all living things share.
In volume 3 we were shown the realization ordeals that intended to purify the soul and only bring death are futile. Yet the purpose of our heroes arrival in the Forrest of Uruvelta is to practice just just such ordeals of purification. Instead of finding ever more purified souls we find emaciated and sometimes dead would be priests who are as petty and given to pride and violence as people less determined to be purified.
Siddharth will attain his status as the sacred Buddha, but there remain lessons to be learned.
I remain less than satisfied. The most beautiful acts of Siddhartha happen when he is most engaged with the living. Acting for life seems to me to be the best actions of the future Buddha. Yet he is most protective of his need to separate himself from love and any human loyalty. Siddhartha, now Buddha seems to understand this completely. Perhaps I will need the rest of the books to catch the glimmer of the deeper lesson.
The not yet Buddha, Siddhartha continues to follow Dhepa deeper into the world of the aesthetics. With them is the much younger Assaji. In Assaji Siddhartha has the example of a person certain of the day of his death, and at peace with his fate. Siddhartha has yet to understand why there must be death and what is it about humans that they alone carry awareness of the fate all living things share.
In volume 3 we were shown the realization ordeals that intended to purify the soul and only bring death are futile. Yet the purpose of our heroes arrival in the Forrest of Uruvelta is to practice just just such ordeals of purification. Instead of finding ever more purified souls we find emaciated and sometimes dead would be priests who are as petty and given to pride and violence as people less determined to be purified.
Siddharth will attain his status as the sacred Buddha, but there remain lessons to be learned.
I remain less than satisfied. The most beautiful acts of Siddhartha happen when he is most engaged with the living. Acting for life seems to me to be the best actions of the future Buddha. Yet he is most protective of his need to separate himself from love and any human loyalty. Siddhartha, now Buddha seems to understand this completely. Perhaps I will need the rest of the books to catch the glimmer of the deeper lesson.
January 9, 2017
Siddharta continues his journey towards enlightenment. His friend, the one-eyed monk has become a real jerk (never liked him anyway). I have no idea how one could possibly put oneself on a pedestal built on such condescending views of other human beings.
Siddharta helps Tatta's wife (and his ex-lover) by sucking puss out of her body for a long period of time. Dhepa finds out and disapproves, proceeds to almost kill Siddharta because of it (did I mention what a jerk he is?).
Asaji finally dies as he prophesied. This volume is quite gruesome and a bit surreal too with the appearances of Brahma (god). How does the universe work? Where do spirits go? Read to find out, hah.
Siddharta does attain enlightenment at the end. But his receives news that his home and kingdom was destroyed and taken over by the neighbour kingdom Kosala. All caused by caste problems. Surely everyone should figure out by now that the caste system is horrible, but hey people always resist change, especially those on the top of the pyramid obviously.
Siddharta helps Tatta's wife (and his ex-lover) by sucking puss out of her body for a long period of time. Dhepa finds out and disapproves, proceeds to almost kill Siddharta because of it (did I mention what a jerk he is?).
Asaji finally dies as he prophesied. This volume is quite gruesome and a bit surreal too with the appearances of Brahma (god). How does the universe work? Where do spirits go? Read to find out, hah.
Siddharta does attain enlightenment at the end. But his receives news that his home and kingdom was destroyed and taken over by the neighbour kingdom Kosala. All caused by caste problems. Surely everyone should figure out by now that the caste system is horrible, but hey people always resist change, especially those on the top of the pyramid obviously.
December 14, 2015
Siddharta mulai dipanggil dengan nama Buddha alias "Yang Tercerahkan". Tokoh-tokoh lama dan baru mulai merajut kisah dan menggabungkan benang merah mereka dengan sang Buddha. Gw sedih baca akhir kisah Assaji dan geram setengah mati dengan Dhepa (bahkan petapa pun bisa sekeji itu ya?). Gw juga trenyuh dengan kepedihan Pangeran Wirudhaka yg tidak mampu mengakui ibunya yg seorang Sudra, belum lagi kisah Yatala sang gergasi.
Tapi tetep ya....wajah-wajah dan dialog lucu masih bertebaran hingga agak bikin kenikmatan baca sedikit terganggu. Bahkan menurut gw, munculnya Tezuka-sensei sebagai cameo (dengan dialog "Biografi macam apa sih ini?") gagal menggelitik syaraf ketawa gw
*apa gw-nya yg oneng yah*
Tapi tetep ya....wajah-wajah dan dialog lucu masih bertebaran hingga agak bikin kenikmatan baca sedikit terganggu. Bahkan menurut gw, munculnya Tezuka-sensei sebagai cameo (dengan dialog "Biografi macam apa sih ini?") gagal menggelitik syaraf ketawa gw
*apa gw-nya yg oneng yah*
April 1, 2017
The Buddha hangs out with a bunch of ascetics whose goal is to inflict pain on themselves (more than a few die). This is the place in the story where he hangs out (kind of) under a tree and meditates until enlightenment. There is an interesting inter poser in the story. One of the harder books so far to read due to the suffering that takes place. As usual in this series great graphics.
July 3, 2010
These just keep getting better and better.
August 20, 2011
Getting a little tired of the series. Wondering where the historical canon ends and the fiction begins. In other thoughts: what a pack of sadomasochists those ascetics were.
October 29, 2024
Tezuka is still the king! And I continue to love this manga. Back to the shop tomorrow to buy part 5 and 6.
August 3, 2017
Though I did not realize it when I was reading this book, Asaji's story, looking back on it from the perspective of Book 8, offers powerful rebuttal to the idea that fate is fixed, even though he died on the day and in the manner as he foretold. In this book, I got to see that Asaji was still worried and fearful about his own death, but that he CHOSE to commit to his final act, despite Buddha doing everything he could to prevent it, despite Asaji's personal anguish.
The first time I read this book through, though, I just thought both Asaji and Buddha were off their rockers. What a crazy thing for Asaji to do to himself! What a crazy thing to witness on the way to attaining Enlightenment! I almost did not continue with the series because this was so counter to everything I might expect of reality, though given that all these ascetics were in the forest having an orgy of self-deprivation and pain, what could I have been expecting, right? Asaji's suffering, though, felt different from the other ascetics'. He wasn't inflicting this on himself for personal gain after death. Thinking of it that way makes me feel better, anyway.
This book is where my conflicting views of the story and the messages in it really kicked in. Any story extolling the virtues of characters sacrificing themselves for the sake of others in the name of some grand ideology makes me feel that I simultaneously admire that character for their dedication and bravery and feel sickened by such heavy-handed moralizing in a narrative. Both are gut reactions that arrive hand-in-hand. I'd felt pretty positively about this series up until this book. After that, it was more of this admiration/distrust ambivalence.
The first time I read this book through, though, I just thought both Asaji and Buddha were off their rockers. What a crazy thing for Asaji to do to himself! What a crazy thing to witness on the way to attaining Enlightenment! I almost did not continue with the series because this was so counter to everything I might expect of reality, though given that all these ascetics were in the forest having an orgy of self-deprivation and pain, what could I have been expecting, right? Asaji's suffering, though, felt different from the other ascetics'. He wasn't inflicting this on himself for personal gain after death. Thinking of it that way makes me feel better, anyway.
This book is where my conflicting views of the story and the messages in it really kicked in. Any story extolling the virtues of characters sacrificing themselves for the sake of others in the name of some grand ideology makes me feel that I simultaneously admire that character for their dedication and bravery and feel sickened by such heavy-handed moralizing in a narrative. Both are gut reactions that arrive hand-in-hand. I'd felt pretty positively about this series up until this book. After that, it was more of this admiration/distrust ambivalence.
December 23, 2018
Pencarian kebenaran Siddhartha dari satu tempat ke tempat lain, dari satu guru ke guru lain tidak mencapai hasil. Pencarian itu berujung di hutan Uruwela dalam bentuk tapa penyiksaan diri bersama beberapa rahib lain. Selama tujuh tahun ia menjalani tapa penyiksaan diri dan tak mencapai pencerahan. Ia kemudian berhenti. Keputusan Siddharta untuk berhenti menyebabkan pertikaian di antara kawan-kawan rahibnya.
Siddhartha menyaksikan sendiri kematian Assaji, sahabatnya yang muda, ceria, dan kalem. Pada saat itulah ia mendapat pencerahan pertama. Di bawah pohon bodhi, akhirnya ia bertapa sesuai petunjuk Guru Asita. Di sanalah ia mencapai pencerahan. Sayangnya, lagi-lagi menurut saya, peristiwa maha dasyat mencapai pencerahan itu tak terasa dasyat, kurang dramatis. Kurang menyentuh.
Adegan paling menyentuh adalah saat Siddhartha menyelematkan Mighaila. Terasa betul persahabatan dan kemanusiaan yang tulus terjalin antara ia, Mighaila, dan Tatta. Dan betapa kasta menyebabkan kesengsaraan yang tiada habisnya.
Siddhartha berganti nama menjadi Buddha dan mulai menyebarkan ajarannya pada semua makhluk hidup termasuk binatang. Persentuhan hidup dengan berbagai tokoh menarik lain seperti Yatala menambah keyakinannnya mengajar.
Siddhartha menyaksikan sendiri kematian Assaji, sahabatnya yang muda, ceria, dan kalem. Pada saat itulah ia mendapat pencerahan pertama. Di bawah pohon bodhi, akhirnya ia bertapa sesuai petunjuk Guru Asita. Di sanalah ia mencapai pencerahan. Sayangnya, lagi-lagi menurut saya, peristiwa maha dasyat mencapai pencerahan itu tak terasa dasyat, kurang dramatis. Kurang menyentuh.
Adegan paling menyentuh adalah saat Siddhartha menyelematkan Mighaila. Terasa betul persahabatan dan kemanusiaan yang tulus terjalin antara ia, Mighaila, dan Tatta. Dan betapa kasta menyebabkan kesengsaraan yang tiada habisnya.
Siddhartha berganti nama menjadi Buddha dan mulai menyebarkan ajarannya pada semua makhluk hidup termasuk binatang. Persentuhan hidup dengan berbagai tokoh menarik lain seperti Yatala menambah keyakinannnya mengajar.
December 24, 2024
Siddhartha travels with fellow monks-in-training Dhepa and Assaji through the kingdom of Magadha into the Forest of Uruvela. Siddhartha rejects Dhepa's philosophy of enlightenment through painful physical trials, and the two part ways. Assaji has the power to accurately predict the future, including his own death, but when that death comes Siddhartha understands the reason for Assaji's sacrifice, contributing to Siddhartha's continued development. Later, Siddhartha's purity is tested to the limit when he finds out his mother and others are in trouble--should he disavow them as proscribed by his vows, or should he try to help them? This illustrates the dichotomy of Siddhartha's being--he is after all a human with human emotions, but trying to raise his consciousness to a higher plane. It is one more test on his road to understanding humans' place in the world. Siddhartha is taking his first small step in becoming the teacher he is to be.
Tezuka's artwork is excellent, with a combination of a loose, cartoony style for most of the book, but with some gorgeous fine line landscapes thrown in. There are numerous anachronisms that contribute to the humor of the book (which overall is actually pretty dark), such as references to Tarzan, King Kong, and baseball.
Tezuka's artwork is excellent, with a combination of a loose, cartoony style for most of the book, but with some gorgeous fine line landscapes thrown in. There are numerous anachronisms that contribute to the humor of the book (which overall is actually pretty dark), such as references to Tarzan, King Kong, and baseball.
February 15, 2020
Siddhartha is tested on his path to enlightenment, to becoming a monk. He watches his good friend sacrifice his life for starving wolves, while the privileged monks needlessly force themselves to suffer starvation and physical pain. His path crosses old friends, one of whom is sick and dying. When a giant, who has suffered the inhumanities of the caste system, seeks out Siddhartha, he speaks what he has realized: all life suffers, even those that seem cruel and cause suffering, suffer. Human life is suffering. All life—plant, human, animal—is interconnected in its suffering and in its purpose and existence.
Another brilliant volume in this incredible epic saga of human tragedy and triumph, told with action, romance, humor, sorrow, and wisdom. A carefully crafted tale, full of surprises, twists, human and complex characters, that is just great storytelling at its finest. Grade: A
Another brilliant volume in this incredible epic saga of human tragedy and triumph, told with action, romance, humor, sorrow, and wisdom. A carefully crafted tale, full of surprises, twists, human and complex characters, that is just great storytelling at its finest. Grade: A
May 24, 2020
Shallow and hurried towards the end. I know the series is not supposed to be factually accurate (quite a few creative liberties have been claimed), but it's not even very rigorous in saying what Buddha said, which is a shame I feel - this could've been a great medium to introduce someone to his philosophy. But anyway, the story is great and tells you a lot about the India of Buddha's times (hint: it wasn't a very nice period), and it's fun to read. The art is breathtaking throughout. Sample this:
Next review when I finish the series.
Next review when I finish the series.
April 12, 2025
What a masterpiece!
The series starts off slow, with the first book not even mentioning Buddha himself. But as it progresses the characters and story lines become more and more intertwined. Roping you in until the big moment of enlightenment is achieved.
I read several books and listened to a handful of courses on Buddhism. This series is different since it approaches the subject matter with much more humor and light-heartedness than most others.
This volume stands out in particular with the forest of trials. Siddhartha's reaction to the ordeals of the different ascetic monk and their misguided judgement when faced with real life challenges is a great metaphor for the hypocracy of many people practicing mindfulness and seeking enlightenment today.
The series starts off slow, with the first book not even mentioning Buddha himself. But as it progresses the characters and story lines become more and more intertwined. Roping you in until the big moment of enlightenment is achieved.
I read several books and listened to a handful of courses on Buddhism. This series is different since it approaches the subject matter with much more humor and light-heartedness than most others.
This volume stands out in particular with the forest of trials. Siddhartha's reaction to the ordeals of the different ascetic monk and their misguided judgement when faced with real life challenges is a great metaphor for the hypocracy of many people practicing mindfulness and seeking enlightenment today.
January 11, 2017
This installment of Buddha largely follows Siddhartha through the forest of trials in the effort to achieve enlightenment. The art style is identical to my reviews of the previous 3 books, so please refer back there for further information. I enjoyed this book a lot and was surprised at the length that some of these monks went to in the attempt to achieve enlightenment. In fact, some f the trials they went through were not believable, such as when they impaled each other with nails and just kept them there. However, I still highly recommend this entire series for the detailed plot and wonderful art.
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