Ferryman's virtue

Emma Gerona
The Ferryman’s Virtue

The Ferryman is a wise man. Upon being asked to teach all his knowledge to Siddhartha he says, you will not learn from me, I have nothing to teach you, I learned all by listening to the river and you will learn this way too. Siddhartha sees knowledge in this man’s eyes and actions. And despite his previous thoughts of not wanting a teacher he aspires to re-learn to listen like the ferryman. When Vasudeva tells Siddhartha he won’t tech him Siddhartha is disappointed but interested in why he made the refusal. This exert shows that Siddhartha has found the right path towards nirvana and has begun the long journey of listening. Over time Siddhartha listens to the river and hears it out. He quickly is becoming happy and is showing the first signs of enlightenment. The ferryman’s virtue is listening, by living with the river he has been taught to listen and not speak. He has learned a very wise skill that most would just pass by. Vasudeva knows right speech, right speech; to speak only when necessary and not say anything that may harm another, to listen “Vasudeva spoke not a word himself, the speaker felt him receiving his words into himself… just listening…” pg110. Siddhartha sees that through listening the ferryman has reached perfection, he has let the suffering of Siddhartha enter his hart and embraced it knowingly. This is significant because Siddhartha needs to learn not to be taught, he needs to learn to listen and wait; and now he has done this.