Guatama

Mentally: Mentally, Siddhartha still feels that he is incomplete in his mission to really find himself. He travels to this place where he listens to Guatama speak and he learns and takes in all of the lessons and teachings that Guatama has to offer. Within himself though, he still feels that there is something missing, he had found an "error" in his teachings and he felt that he had to continue with his journey. He feels that although everyone can teach him and tell him what the enlightenment and reaching Nirvana would be like, and tell them every detail, he would never be able to actually experience it himself if he just stayed there learning more about it. He wanted to journey out and find his own Nirvana, and experience it for himself. 


Physically: Physically Siddhartha had gone to Savatthi with Govinda, and in this town they were to find the Exalted One, the Buddha. They both believe that coming to this new place where priests and followers from all around the world will help them on their journey to within and that they will learn new things that they didn't previously know. Siddhartha is in a healthy physical state and he fasts in respect of the Buddha and their customs. They are both still physically in search of the Buddha and all that will bring them to their journey within. 

Spiritually: Spiritually, Siddhartha respects the Buddha and all of his teachings and beliefs, he remains in the city continually listening and absorbing the information he felt necessary. He fasted when the rest fasted, and he payed very close attention every time he spoke. Though like his mental state, he still felt empty and without a certain piece of knowledge. The teachings that the Buddha had to offer could not bring the knowledge that his soul wanted, which was to achieve Nirvana. So at the conclusion of the chapter he leaves, with the up most respect for the Buddha, to continue his journey and find out for himself. 

Socially: Socially, Siddhartha really only has his good friend Govinda. He still follows him along the paths that Siddhartha chose to travel. Within the city they don't really know many people so they only have each other. Govinda ends up finding what he needs within the Buddha, and has chosen to stay amongst the followers and learn everything that he had to teach. Siddhartha had chosen to move on in his quest to inner self, and the two respected each other's decisions. 

Quote: "But one thing the teachings, so clear and so venerable, do not contain: they do not contain the secret of what the Exalted One experienced" (29). This quote is a good summarization of this chapter because it expresses what Siddhartha is really out to find. He wants to experience the Nirvana for himself, not just hear about it. And it tells us why he never truly feels fulfilled from all of his other teachers along the way.