The Ferryman

Mentally: Mentally, Siddhartha was living in the river and he found secrets and teachings through living upon the river. The Ferryman was not actually the one that taught Siddhartha, he just gave him guidance along the way to listen to the river and what it had to say to him, and teach him. He finds his inner enlightenment from the river, and he learns that time is not real. Siddhartha also learns that everything in his life was happening for a reason, and it is possible to move on without being attached to a certain "time" because it didn't exist. 

Physically: Physically, after crossing the river and finding out that what he really wanted was to continue with his journey, he had found Vasudeva, and began living in his hut with him. He took various trips along the river to think about life, and think about what he had to come, what he was really set out to do. Sometimes Siddhartha would talk with Vasudeva along the way. He was wearing little clothing and had reduced himself to very little, simple meals. He also was informed that he had a son, with Kamala. The power that the river has embraced Siddhartha because he realized that there was so much more to learn, and he knew this was the way to go, to follow and listen to it. 

Spiritually: When Siddhartha had returned to Vasudeva (the Ferryman), he had already predicted his return years in advance, he already saw that Siddhartha's journeys would bring him back. Siddhartha had listened and learned from the river. The river taught him things that he believed no other human teacher would be able to teach him, it showed him himself and what eh really was. It gave him an illusion about what was within him. Vasudeva goes over the spiritual journey with Siddhartha and encourages him to continue on with his journey, Vasudeva is a symbol of the in-between. He was on the earth solely to help Siddhartha reach his goal, than he himself descended into his own Nirvana. 

Socially: Socially, at this point in Siddhartha's journey to Nirvana he lives and has social aspects with the Ferrymen. He is a part of Siddhartha's life and helps him along the journey. Later in this chapter he finds Kamala along the riverbank, bruised and broken, ready to die.  Along with Kamala is his son, which brought a great deal of joy and peace to his life, he was at ease. 


Quote: "And when I learned that, I took a look at my life and saw that it too was a river, and the boy Siddhartha was separated from the man Siddhartha and from the graybeard past for Siddhartha's earlier births, and his death and his return to Brahma are without future. Nothing was, nothing will be; everything is, everything has essence, is present" (85). This quote resembles how Siddhartha feels about the river, it shows his progression through life and how he finds true enlightenment through learning and reflecting upon the river.