Don’t Be A Govinda

This lacks originality as it's a concept expressed in someone else's writing. I'll make my point. Eventually. Probably. Look, I'm doing my best, okay?

There's a book I like by the name of Siddhartha. Simply explained, it's about the son of an Indian holy man who basically says "Wtf dad, this all kinda seems like bullshit" and decides to leave home to find the true meaning of life. Shenanigans ensue. Slight spoiler- on his journey, he meets Buddha. He is intrigued by this as he's ya know, on the search for the truth or whatever but once he meets him, he is unimpressed. The chapter goes something like this:

SIDDHARTHA: So this is Buddha, huh?

GOVINDA: Uh yeah, he's pretty dope.

S: I mean, I guess...he's just like, sitting there. I don't get it.

G: Whaddya mean? He's enlightened.

S: What is THAT supposed to mean?

G: He's like, found the truth. You know, the meaning of all things.

S: What is the TRUTH?

G: It's the TRUTH, man. I don't know.

S: Oh, for fuck's sa-HEY BUDDHA!

BUDDHA: *casts a lazy yet enlightened eye over at Siddhartha*

S: Yo, Buddha. What's the deal? How exactly are you supposed to show people "the truth" What even is enlightenment?

G: What the hell, Sid? Be cool, do you not realize-

S: No hold on, Vin- this guy is a con artist, don't you see? He can tell us how you got there, but he can't SHOW us what it's like to be there, man. [to Buddha] Quit bullshitting everybody!

B: *gives Siddhartha an enlightened smirk, walks off enlightenedly to continue enlightening his followers*

S: What was that about?

G: I don't know but you're lucky he didn't come for you. That was rude af, my guy.

S: Whatever. Let's bounce. This is lame.

G: Actually...I'm gonna stay.

S: For real?

G:Yeah, dude...I'm kinda digging what he's saying.

S: BUT HE'S NOT SAYING ANY- alright, know what? You do you. I don't get it, but I respect it.

G: You're still my boy, though. You got this.

S: Yeah. You too. Be good.

This chapter stuck with me the most out of the entirety of the book despite it being one of the earliest and least involved chapters of the story. I read it while "finding myself". *gag* I mentally revisit it often as it serves as a reminder- when it comes to the TRUTH, especially truths involving the intangible, that is for you to define. We may have truths that can't be argued (though people will certainly still try), things like math, science, and so on but as far as what things like peace, openness, healing, spiritual connection, etc...no one can define that for us. Someone can tell us the steps they took to get there, but our path may very well lead in a totally different direction. Truth, like many other things in life, is subject to duality. It is both tangible and intangible, defended and defenseless, objective and subjective. All these years later, I'm still a little peeved with Govinda for choosing to follow the steps of another in pursuit of oneness. But that's his truth, right?