Siddhartha Visits America

When Siddhartha finally woke up he rubbed his eyes, yawning and stretching and got out of bed. He walked out of his temporary hut, what his tour guide called a tent, and went down to the river. He splashed the fresh smelling, cool water on his face. He sat with his legs crossed, putting his hands together and began to meditate, continuously saying, “Om”. While meditating, Siddhartha thought about all the different places in the world and wondered how he ended up here, in this beautiful meadow in Colorado. Kristen, his American tour guide, had told him how beautiful this part of the country was and she was correct. He could see the purple heather growing on the mountain slopes and could smell the wonderful aroma it gave off. Wildflowers in colors of pink, gold, purple and blue also grew wild in this wondrous place. In the distance, Siddhartha could see the snow capped mountains and the haze around their tips as they rose high into the sky.
As Siddhartha sat and looked at the beauty around him, he could also hear the sounds of birds calling, the rustling of the wind through the treetops, and the sound of water trickling down the nearby rocky cliffs. He thought about how different his life would be if he lived here in America. The freedom the country gave its citizens was an amazing thing. He wondered if the people who lived here knew what a special gift freedom really was. To be fully enlightened, a person’s spirit must be free. A bald eagle flew over Siddhartha’s head and landed on a nearby branch.
Kristen walked up to Siddhartha and sat next to him. He began to explain to her how this beautiful river reminded him of a special river he had known in India. He explained how he had helped many people cross this special river and how the river speaks to us, although many do not hear it. She seemed to understand him. He knew there were other parts of America that were not as peaceful and beautiful as Colorado was. This would be his last day in his glorious meadow. Tomorrow, Kristen would be bringing him back to the airport for his journey to experience an American city, Las Vegas.
The flight arrived in the city at 10:15 a.m. As Siddhartha got off the plane, he felt the heat from the blazing yellow and orange sun above him seeping into his dark skin. He was comforted by the heat because it reminded him of his home in India. He could smell the gas fumes from the plane’s engines as they began to cool down. Kristen led Siddhartha through the airport to the shuttle van parked outside. The van brought them to their hotel, The Luxor. Siddhartha and Kristen got out of the van and looked up. What they saw before them was amazing! The hotel was huge and was shaped like an Egyptian pyramid. It rose up over 300 feet high into the clear, blue sky. There were many palm trees, flowering desert plants and cactus covering the property. It was like nothing Siddhartha had ever seen before!
As they entered the lobby of the hotel, Siddhartha looked up and was even more amazed. Kristen told him The Luxor had one of the largest atriums in the world. “What does this wondrous place represent? I have never seen anything like it!” Siddhartha said. “It represents Egypt and the famous pyramids that lie there from ancient times” Kristen said. “Oh, sounds interesting, you’ll have to tell me more about Egypt later too, but for now, go on and tell me more about this fascinating place!” he said.
Kristen said “The Luxor has restaurants, pools, shops, bars, nightclubs and a huge casino for gambling.” “Ah…” Siddhartha said. “I once lived in a place with many of these same things. Gambling was at one time one of my favorite things to do, but it led me down a path of misery.” “Why did it cause you misery?” Kristen asked. “I thought I was happy with material things and the rich way of life I led. But I was very unhappy with my life and knew I had to move on to my old ways to reach enlightenment. I finally did find my way and connected with Atman. I hope you will find peace in your soul as well.” Siddhartha said.
They walked through the lobby to the casino. Siddhartha saw many colorful and shiny machines that were all flashing light in many directions. He could hear bells and whistles and loud noises but above all, he noticed the “Om” like humming in the background. There were hundreds of people in dressy outfits, mostly black and white, surrounding the area. Women in short skirts were serving alcohol to the guests, reminding him of Kamala and the physical experiences he had once had in India. For a moment, he longed for these things again, but quickly realized this was not the lifestyle he chose and would not keep him on his path of enlightenment. He told Kristen “We must leave here immediately. This is not a safe place. It will lead me down the wrong path once again if I am not careful. I must return to my true home in India where I will continue living a life of enlightenment and connecting with Atman. I hope you choose to do the same. Let us go now while we can.” Kristen smiled at Siddhartha. She understood what he was telling her and they left the casino. Siddhartha went to his quiet room to rest and Kristen went to her room as well.
The following day, they boarded the plane to India. Siddhartha would now be Kristen’s tour guide and bring her to his home in India. He would show her the path to enlightenment and would some day help her cross over the river to the other side.