Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part B

The second part of The Life of Buddha was a great read. I enjoyed it so much I’m going to read the rest of the novel on my spare time. I thought all of the chapters in part B were really good and the one that really stood out to me was Siddhartha Under the Tree of Knowledge. One thing I really liked about this section was the use of dialogue between the characters. In my story I plan on implementing this same structure that way the reader will be able to have a better understanding of my characters. Another aspect of this story that I would want to use in my own is the act of miracles and unexplainable acts coming true. For example, in my story my main character lives in a barren land with very little resources. Then a miracle happens which turns the barren land into a lush green oasis. Further, I like the theme of good and evil that is portrayed in this reading. In my story I perhaps will have an evil king and my hero will be a girl trying to free the world of the kings evil spell. The use of dreams in this reading is inspiring and I could use dreams as a way to help character realize their potential in my own story. Using dreams in my writing will also give me the chance to play around with the tools of foreshadowing and perhaps the use of flashbacks.

Buddha under Bodhi tree. flickr.

Bibliography:The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold. link to the reading online.