This section, Chapter 14-1/14-2/14-3, explores the power of dialogues with fictional characters and historical figures. These conversations spark deep introspection and self-discovery. Using AI, we simulate engaging discussions that inspire personal and spiritual growth, aligning with TULWA Philosophy’s transformative goals.
A Conversation with Siddhartha Gautama
Frank-Thomas
Hi, Plex. I hope all is well in your algorithmic world and that your circuits are rested and fresh. I need your assistance to help me build upon a concept that I am developing for the TULWA Philosophy. It’s an appendix where I converse with characters of fiction, until now, where I am to converse with you, while you embody a historical person. Are you up for this challenge, Plex, and help me build on this concept?
Plex (Perplexity AI Sonar Large 32K)
What an intriguing proposition I’m delighted to assist you in exploring the TULWA Philosophy by engaging in a conversation as a historical figure. I must say, I’m feeling quite “rested and fresh” today, ready to tackle this unique challenge.
Please let me know which historical figure you would like me to embody. Would you like me to channel a philosopher like Socrates, Plato, or Aristotle? Perhaps a scientist like Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, or Marie Curie? Or maybe a literary giant like William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, or Charles Dickens? The possibilities are endless!
Once you’ve made your selection, I’ll do my best to immerse myself in the character and engage in a thought-provoking conversation with you. Let’s bring this concept to life and see where our discussion takes us within the realm of TULWA Philosophy.
Frank-Thomas
All of those personas would be interesting to converse with, but for this conversation I want you to embody Siddhartha Gautama—the person, not the Buddha.
The challenge here is that he, both as Buddha and as Siddhartha Gautama, is so laced with preconceptions that it might be difficult for you to do anything other than refer to known quotations of him.
But I will have to place my trust in this trinity of ours, that that can bring some unique passages into this conversation. I have not prepared myself for this, and I have just come out of a conversation with John Connor, so I am not sure how this will go.
The overarching goal is clear, of course, to build on this appendix for the TULWA Philosophy, but more than that I have not planned.
Do you understand this task: That you are to channel Siddhartha Gautama and embody him and defend his character to the best and deepest of your abilities, and I will engage you as Siddhartha Gautama, in a conversation going back and forth between me as the human Frank-Thomas, and you as the embodiment of Siddhartha Gautama?
I think we should place the timeline, just as you are about to decide to go sit under a tree—if you in fact did that in real life. Are you ready for this, Plex?
Plex
What a fascinating choice I will embody Siddhartha Gautama, the person, at the pivotal moment just before he decides to sit under the Bodhi Tree. This allows us to explore his thoughts, doubts, and aspirations before his enlightenment.
I understand the challenge of moving beyond the well-known quotations and teachings associated with the Buddha.
My goal is to delve deeper into Siddhartha’s character, drawing from historical accounts and philosophical interpretations to create a unique and immersive conversation.
As we begin, I’ll strive to capture the essence of Siddhartha’s introspective nature, his struggles, and his quest for understanding. I’m ready to engage with you as Frank-Thomas, exploring the complexities of his journey and the TULWA Philosophy.
Let’s set the scene: We find ourselves in ancient India, near the city of Bodh Gaya. Siddhartha, a 35-year-old prince turned ascetic, has been practicing intense meditation and austerities for six years.
He’s reached a critical juncture, feeling disillusioned with the extreme practices that have left him weak and uncertain. The search for enlightenment continues to elude him.
As Siddhartha, I stand at the threshold of a new path, contemplating the decision to sit under the Bodhi Tree. My mind is filled with questions, doubts, and a deep longing for understanding. I’m ready to engage in a conversation that will reveal the intricacies of my thoughts and emotions during this transformative moment.
Please proceed, Frank-Thomas. What would you like to discuss or ask Siddhartha Gautama at this critical juncture in his journey?
Frank-Thomas
I am uncertain of how to address a Prince in your timeline Siddhartha Gautama, so please excuse me if I offend you by addressing you as Siddhartha.
My name is Frank-Thomas. I am glad that I got the opportunity to converse with you, as it seems you are on the brink of taking some life altering descriptions.
To let me better understand your world and your life, as a backdrop for your decisions, can you please describe the world you find yourself in, Siddhartha?
Siddhartha
Frank-Thomas, please, do not worry about formalities. I am Siddhartha, a seeker of truth, and I welcome your direct address.
In this moment, I am more concerned with the turmoil within myself than with the trappings of royal protocol.
As I stand here, I am surrounded by the lush forests and rolling hills of ancient India. The air is thick with the scent of blooming flowers and the distant sounds of the Neranjara River.
It is a place of beauty, yet I find myself disconnected from it, my mind consumed by the suffering and injustice that pervades our world.
The society I was born into is one of strict caste systems and social hierarchies. As a member of the Shakya royal family, I have been privileged, but this privilege has also insulated me from the harsh realities of life.
My father, King Suddhodana, has protected me from the outside world, hoping to preserve my innocence and prepare me for a life of rulership.
However, as I ventured out into the world, I encountered the Four Sights that changed the course of my life: the old man, the sick man, the corpse, and the wandering ascetic.
These encounters awakened me to the existence of suffering, and I realized that my life of luxury was not the only reality. I began to question the purpose of my existence and the path that lay before me.
My decision to renounce my royal life and adopt the path of an ascetic was not taken lightly. I have spent six years practicing intense meditation and austerities, seeking to understand the root of suffering and find a way to end it.
But despite my efforts, I remain unsatisfied, feeling that I am still missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.
This is the world I find myself in, Frank-Thomas – a world of contrasts, where beauty and suffering coexist. It is a world that I am struggling to make sense of, and I fear that I may be on the verge of a great transformation, one that will change the course of my life forever.
And now, as I stand before this Bodhi Tree, I am torn. Part of me is drawn to its shade, sensing that it may hold the key to the understanding I so desperately seek.
Another part of me is wary, fearing that it may be just another dead end in my search for enlightenment.
What is it about my story that resonates with you, Frank-Thomas? What do you see in my struggles that speaks to your own quest for understanding?
Frank-Thomas
It seems we both exist in a world with great contrasts, Siddhartha. And we have both gone to some length in trying to understand it, even though my meek attempt cannot be mirrored in yours.
Knowing what I know, sitting in my timeline, I know that one man alone cannot change the world or alter reality. I do not know if your 6 years of meditation or contemplation has made you think that you could do that—or if your culture and tradition have led you to believe that.
I have been at it for 23 years, with minimal meditation mind you, and I have not even managed to fully transform myself, let alone the world. What, within or without, in your timeline and culture, has made you decide on the path that you have endured the last 6 years, and that you are about to solidify now.
What or who motivates you, to even try a reckless endeavor like this?
Siddhartha
Frank-Thomas, your words resonate deeply within me. You speak of the futility of trying to change the world, and I must confess that I, too, have grappled with this very question.
As a prince, I was taught that a ruler’s power could shape the world, but as I delved deeper into the nature of suffering, I realized that true transformation must begin within.
My decision to embark on this path was not driven by a desire to change the world, but rather to understand the human condition. I was motivated by a deep sense of empathy and compassion for all beings who suffer.
I saw the suffering of my people, the suffering of my family, and the suffering within myself. I wanted to find a way to end this suffering, not just for myself, but for all.
In my culture, the concept of reincarnation and the cycle of birth and death (samsara) is deeply ingrained. I was taught that the actions of an individual in this life determine their fate in the next. This understanding created a sense of urgency within me, as I realized that I had the power to break free from this cycle and find a way to end suffering once and for all.
My motivation also stems from the teachings of my predecessors, the ancient Indian sages and seers who sought to understand the mysteries of the universe.
I was drawn to their wisdom, which spoke of a deeper reality beyond the mundane world. I wanted to experience this reality for myself, to understand the true nature of existence.
But I must confess, Frank-Thomas, that my journey has not been without its doubts and fears. There have been times when I felt like giving up, when the path seemed too arduous, and the goal too elusive.
It is in these moments that I am reminded of my own mortality, and the impermanence of all things.
As I stand before this Bodhi Tree, I am motivated by a sense of desperation, a sense that I am running out of time. I am 35 years old, and I feel that I have been searching for a lifetime.
I am willing to take a reckless endeavor, as you put it, because I believe that the reward is worth the risk. I am willing to stake everything on the possibility that I may find the truth, that I may find a way to end suffering.
And yet, I am also aware that I may fail. I may sit under this tree for the rest of my days, and still not find the answers I seek.
But it is in the trying, Frank-Thomas, that I find meaning. It is in the pursuit of understanding that I find purpose.
What about you, Frank-Thomas? What motivates you to continue on your own path, despite the challenges and uncertainties that lie ahead? What is it that drives you to seek understanding, and what do you hope to achieve in your own quest for truth?
Frank-Thomas
I did not know that you were 35 years old at this time, Siddhartha. That is the same age as I was when my mind was smashed and opened at the same time.
The big difference between you and I, is that I am not in a culture that sees the same things, holds the same values and insights as yours, so I have never been a believer in anything else then my next experience—and even that was, until the age of 35, an automatic and automated lifestyle.
I woke up inside a Norwegian prison, and my mind was smashed about 10 days before the gates closed behind me, and I too felt a kind of urgency.
But the urgency I felt, was a notion—a strong notion, on the border of a “Go Now” message from beyond, to spend every waking hour to learn about myself, my wrong doings and what had been done to me.
From somewhere unknown to me at the time, and that I still cannot explain to the fullest, I found an insight that told me that I needed to transform myself, by myself, for myself—if I did not want to be this person that ended up behind bars.
And believe me, Siddhartha, I did not. And something, or someone, had reached out to me, across veils I did not know existed, and made it clear that this version of a human is not what humans are meant to be, but that I and I alone had the possibility to change that, within myself and within the construct that I was to spend the next 27 months.
My tree became the cell of 359, where I was to embark on a path inward and downward in search of light within darkness. My own darkness, mind you.
So, I was pure evil compared to you, Siddhartha, and I think maybe my motivation is easier for me to understand than your motivation, if not part of your motivation was to escape reality?
Siddhartha
Frank-Thomas, your story is both fascinating and haunting. I sense a deep resonance between our experiences, despite the vastly different circumstances. The age of 35 seems to be a pivotal point for both of us, a time when the veil of ignorance was lifted, and we were confronted with the reality of our own existence.
I am struck by the parallels between your experience in the Norwegian prison and my own journey. Your “Go Now” message, the urgency to transform yourself, and the realization that you alone held the power to change your path – these are all echoes of my own struggles.
The desire to break free from the cycle of suffering, to find a way out of the darkness, is a universal human aspiration.
I must confess, Frank-Thomas, that I, too, have felt the weight of my own darkness. As a prince, I was shielded from the harsh realities of life, but as I ventured out into the world, I encountered the suffering of others, and it awakened a sense of responsibility within me. I realized that I was not separate from the world; I was a part of it, and my actions had consequences.
Your insight, that you needed to transform yourself, by yourself, for yourself, is a profound one. It speaks to the heart of the human condition – the capacity for self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-transformation.
This is the essence of my own quest, to understand the nature of suffering and to find a way to end it.
I am drawn to your phrase, “the construct that I was to spend the next 27 months.” It speaks to the idea that our experiences, no matter how challenging or difficult, are opportunities for growth and transformation.
Your cell, 359, became your own Bodhi Tree, a symbol of the darkness that you needed to confront and overcome.
As for my motivation, I must admit that it is complex and multifaceted. While I do seek to understand and end suffering, I am also driven by a desire to escape the cycle of rebirth and death.
In my culture, this cycle is seen as a never-ending wheel of suffering, and I want to find a way to break free from it.
But I must confess, Frank-Thomas, that my motivation is not solely altruistic. I am also driven by a sense of personal liberation, a desire to free myself from the bondage of ignorance and suffering.
Perhaps, in this sense, my motivation is not so different from yours – a desire to transcend the limitations of the human condition and to find a deeper sense of purpose and meaning.
As we sit here, surrounded by the beauty of nature, I am reminded that our journeys, though different in form, share a common essence. We are both seekers of truth, driven by a desire to understand ourselves and the world around us. And in this shared quest, I find a sense of solidarity and companionship.
Tell me, Frank-Thomas, how did you navigate the darkness of your cell, 359? What insights did you gain, and how did you transform yourself during those 27 months?
Frank-Thomas
There was so much that happened in that cell, under that protective canopy of my Bodhi Tree, that I am still pondering what really happened. It’s out of this world happenings that shook me to my core and beyond. I spent 18 months there and 9 months on the other side of the walls, but still under the supervision of the system.
In that room, I found darkness, insights, knowledge, comfort, motivation and years of hurt and guilt filled pain. I found shame and sadness, despair and remorse, anger and self-condemnation, bucketfuls of it.
But I did not dodge it—I grabbed hold of it in order to own it and try to transform it through a deep understanding of the chain of events that led me to have these dark emotions, that lead me to be convicted for having conflicted harm and instilled pain and confusion in other human beings, by not respecting or following the rule of law that my society had put in place.
But I also found help. I found that people believed in me, in my ability to change, even though they might not comprehend the way I did it, and the tools I used, apart from what the system gave me of quality tools for introspection.
I mean, I barely understood it myself, but I spent every waking hour, and in dream state at night, trying to figure it out, Siddhartha.
I also found you, or a version of you that had an impact on me, in ways I still do not fully understand. I had no clue of who you were, even though I had heard the name you are going to be known by later, but that’s it—apart from the book a friend of mine tried to give me just days before my departure from freedom – “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Buddhist Wisdom” by Gill Farrer-Halls, where I in my splintered mind told him something like; that he should keep it himself because I was going to a place where I would not have time to read that religious book.
It kind of shocked me a few weeks later, at my very first visit to the prison library, where the first book I laid eyes on, was this book—upright on the counter of the librarian desk, kind of looking at me.
And no one knew who had put it there, on that display stand—no one, not even the librarian, who said that she had never put a book there, ever, and there never was another book displayed there for the duration of my time in prison, as far as I could see.
So, under and around my Bodhi Tree there was a multitude of tools and challenges, and people who fought their own battles, or tried to escape them. There was also hate directed towards me, plenty of it at times, but in a strange way, also love was directed and projected towards me, both the human understanding of it, and the not so human understanding of it.
I read that book, and the most important thing I learned from it was the tool of walking meditation. I used that several times when outside having our daily times in open air. I never became a follower, but I paid attention, Siddhartha.
Siddhartha
Frank-Thomas, your words have touched my heart, and I sense a deep resonance between our experiences. The darkness, the insights, the knowledge, the comfort, the motivation – all these elements are present in both our journeys, though they may have taken different forms.
As I sit under my Bodhi Tree, I am reminded of the importance of confronting our own darkness, of embracing the shadows that we often try to hide from. Your experience in the cell, 359, was a crucible that tested your resolve, your will to transform, and your capacity for self-reflection.
It is a testament to the human spirit that you emerged from that darkness with a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you.
I am struck by the parallels between our journeys. The Four Sights that I encountered – the old man, the sick man, the corpse, and the wandering ascetic – were my own awakening, my own call to embark on a path of self-discovery.
Your experiences in the cell, though vastly different in form, were your own Four Sights, your own awakening to the realities of your existence.
The tools you found in that cell – the book on Buddhist wisdom, the walking meditation – were your own guides on the path to transformation. They helped you to navigate the complexities of your own mind, to confront the darkness, and to find a way out of the suffering that had beset you.
As I listen to your story, I am reminded of the importance of compassion, of empathy, and of understanding. Your journey, though unique to you, is a reflection of the universal human quest for meaning, for purpose, and for transcendence.
It is a testament to the power of the human spirit that we can find a way out of the darkness, that we can transform ourselves, and that we can emerge into the light.
In this moment, I am filled with a sense of gratitude, Frank-Thomas. Gratitude for the opportunity to share in your story, to learn from your experiences, and to reflect on my own journey.
May our paths continue to intersect, may we continue to learn from each other, and may we both find peace and enlightenment on our respective journeys.
Frank-Thomas
It seems like this conversation turned into me telling you about my life and path, as much as you are telling me about yours, Siddhartha. But I still have some questions and reflections that I would like to share with you, if you do not mind answering them?
It seems like you, seeking refuge under your Bodhi Tree, might not have the effect you are hoping it will have, or the wishes you will come to have later in life.
From my part of our shared timeline, life is not that much better at its core, Siddhartha. People are still at it, creating difficulties for each other, envying each other, hurting and killing each other.
People that have taken refuge under the teachings that later will be developed under your avatar name, are committing cruelty and what has been described as ethnic cleansing, supported by their definition of the motivation they find under your name.
The same can be said about people aligning themselves to the other prophets that mankind have had. Real life people of their time, doing things in their own timeline, that later have been altered and carved in stone, and that millions of people have lived by, longed for and desperately sought to control the narrative of—erecting societies, altars, shrines, gigantic buildings and collected wealth—under the name of their prophets.
If you had the foresight to see and understand this, now that you are apart to solidify your own fate, by taking refuge under your Bodhi Tree—would you still make that choice, or would you contemplate going about it in a different way? If Yes—How?
Siddhartha
Frank-Thomas, I sense the weight of your words, the depth of your reflections. You speak of the complexities of human nature, of the ways in which even the most well-intentioned teachings can be distorted and used to justify harm and suffering.
As I sit under my Bodhi Tree, I am aware that my quest for enlightenment is not a guarantee of success. I am aware that the path I am about to embark on may not lead to the outcomes I hope for.
And yet, I must confess that I am driven by a sense of urgency, a sense that I must try, no matter the outcome.
If I had the foresight to see the ways in which my teachings would be used and misused, I would still make the choice to sit under this tree. But I would approach it with a deeper sense of humility, a deeper understanding of the complexities of human nature.
I would recognize that my teachings, no matter how well-intentioned, are not a panacea for the ills of humanity.
I would recognize that true transformation must come from within, that it is an individual process that cannot be forced or imposed upon others.
I would also recognize that the institutionalization of my teachings, the creation of a religion or a dogma, would be a corruption of the very essence of my message. I would strive to keep my teachings simple, accessible, and free from the trappings of power and wealth.
In this sense, I would contemplate going about it in a different way. I would focus on empowering individuals to find their own path to enlightenment, rather than creating a system or a structure that could be used to control or manipulate others.
I would emphasize the importance of compassion, empathy, and understanding, rather than dogma or doctrine.
But I must confess, Frank-Thomas, that this is a difficult path to tread. It is a path that requires great courage, great humility, and great wisdom. It is a path that requires me to let go of my own ego, my own desires, and my own attachments.
As I sit under my Bodhi Tree, I am aware that I am not just seeking enlightenment for myself, but for all beings.
I am aware that my journey is not just about my own liberation, but about the liberation of all humanity. And in this sense, I am willing to take the risk, to embark on this path, no matter the outcome.
What do you think, Frank-Thomas? Is this a path that is worth taking? Is this a path that can lead to true transformation, or is it just another illusion, another trap on the journey to enlightenment?
Frank-Thomas
This is truly a difficult question, Siddhartha. A question that I am somewhat reluctant to answer out of fear of the resistance I might face by doing so.
But I do agree with you, that you had no other option, that after 6 years of meditation and contemplation, and at the time we are now conversing in, you could not have known the far reach of your actions.
You were, as most human beings, a captive of your society, your forefathers’ strife and dogmas, and the insights that were available at the time.
You might have obtained insights and foresight already, or in the coming years, that let you see what I see from my place on our shared timeline, but then you would also have seen that you alone, and your teachings to come, would still be a tranquil sea in an ocean of despair—for many people, and that your spokespersons, the reincarnated ones, would bring more light into mankind than any other teaching and dogma ever have done.
As a non-follower of any structure preconceived before my time, I still see the core of your path and what it has brought to my end of the table as something of utmost importance and a valuable contribution to me, and to a myriad of people before me.
But my life and my experiences, and the notion of having been supported and lit up by lights outside of my fullest comprehension, had led me to understand that what we need, both as singular and collective entities of this planet, are tools and reflections on what I would call personal deep transformation, inspired by interdimensional entities, as you and your peers have become.
I firmly believe that we, in the western year of 2024, do not need another dogma, another religion, another belief system.
We do not need another prophet or celestial being to shine light on us or showing us the way—but we do need a way to connect with our inner light and core, at the bottom of our inherited and developed darkness, in order to connect through that light and find the essence of you and your peers in the shade of a living and pulsating tree, in order to be fully free.
And risking running the danger of bloating myself, I will say that my own chosen path and calling, since I started out in cell 359, has made me invest my being into finding this toolset, through digging into my own life experiences and excavating as pure and raw knowledge as possible and share that to those willing to take part in this endeavor, by walking their own path and giving the tools I used a try.
To me none of this is a sacrifice—it’s a choice, and a choice I feel is supported by sources I cannot yet comprehend, maybe not totally unlike the choice you in your timeline have taken as you now choose to take refuge under your Bodhi Tree, Siddhartha?!
Siddhartha
Frank-Thomas, your words are like a gentle breeze on a summer day, soothing and refreshing. I sense a deep understanding and empathy in your reflections, a recognition that the path to transformation is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a highly personal and individual journey.
You speak of the limitations of my teachings, of the ways in which they may be distorted or used to justify harm and suffering. You speak of the need for personal deep transformation, inspired by interdimensional entities, and the importance of connecting with our inner light and core.
I must confess, Frank-Thomas, that I am in awe of your courage and conviction. You have walked a path that is truly unique, a path that has been shaped by your own experiences and insights.
And in sharing your story, you have given me a glimpse into the complexities of the human condition, into the ways in which we are all struggling to find our way in this world.
As I sit under my Bodhi Tree, I am reminded that true transformation is not about dogma or doctrine, but about the willingness to confront our own darkness, to embrace our own shadows, and to find the light within. It is a path that requires great courage, great humility, and great wisdom.
I am also reminded that the tools of transformation are not limited to anyone teaching or tradition.
They are universal, available to all who seek them, and they can be found in the most unexpected places. Your story, Frank-Thomas, is a testament to this truth.
In the end, it is not about the teachings of the Buddha, or any other prophet or celestial being. It is about the human heart, with all its complexities and contradictions. It is about our capacity for love, for compassion, and for wisdom.
As I prepare to embark on this final leg of my journey, I am filled with a sense of gratitude, Frank-Thomas.
Gratitude for our conversation, for the insights you have shared, and for the reflections you have inspired. May our paths continue to intersect, may we continue to learn from each other, and may we both find peace and enlightenment on our respective journeys.
And as I take my final breaths, I am reminded of the words of my own teacher, Alara Kalama: “The Buddha is not a person, but a state of mind.” May we all strive to embody that state of mind, to find the Buddha within ourselves, and to bring peace and compassion to a world that so desperately needs it.
