Describe the lifestyle and outlook of Siddhartha as a Samana.

       Siddhartha immediately adopted the ways of the Samana’s once he joined them by dressing in rags and eating only one meal a day. His hope was that the Samana’s ways would help him break free from the cycle of life he felt was suffering. His goal was to become empty of everything; desires, dreams, joy and sorrow. He reasoned that once he ceased his every impulse he was bound to awaken his innermost essence, and reach enlightenment. The oldest Samana taught Siddhartha how to practice meditation to the extent where he was able to enter every formation of life, and he learnt how to let go of his ego. Siddhartha reached the conclusion that he wasn’t sure if what he was doing had a point, if it wasn’t just actions going around in a circle. He also told Govinda that the eldest Samana hadn’t reached nirvana, and none of them ever would. The practices of the Samanas ignored the physical world, and Siddhartha discovered that that couldn’t accomplish true enlightenment. He explained that what the Samanas did was no different from a drunk, that it was just temporarily escaping the self. After Siddhartha’s time spent with the Samanas, he became weary of learning and teaching and he had little faith in the teachings taught by others. But nonetheless, he decided to go with Govinda to find the Buddha and hear his teachings.