I pulled into the Notch State Park parking lot and that's when my day got a lot more interesting. As I pulled into my parking space there was this man standing there in this robe who looked Indian, he just stared at me in till I got out of my car. I stepped out and I asked him “ can I help you?” He said why yes you can, would you like to hike with me around these trails and show me the right way to go, I'm not from around here if you couldn't tell.” At first I was a little skeptical but how bad of a person be who is in robes, so I said sure and I got my stuff together and we were off. It was a beautiful fall day in New England, the temperature was not to hot and not to cold. The trees were full of amazing foliage, the mixing of yellow and orange and the occasional red leafs all around you was a sight to remember.
We began our trip at the lodge were all trails start, and I thought to myself I should introduce myself so he knows my name “ O this might be useful my name is Alex, what is yours?” He replied “ My name is Siddhartha, I'm a Buddhist monk from India.” Now that we knew each others names we could officially start our hike. The trails were rough and worn down from all the hikers through out the years. When we walked our feet rustled through the fallen leafs and kicked them to the side. We quickly left the flat area and started to ascend to the peak of the mountain. I looked over at Siddhartha and I could tell he was thinking or trying to absorb all the things going around him in nature. As I was walking through the leafs you could see squirrels running after each other and birds sitting on trees just singing there own song. This place is a place were man and nature can coexists as one. When we going up we could start to see more blue around us because it was getting higher and higher and the sky was coming closer. When we finally reached the top we it was the most amazing view of the valley. The wind was blowing in your face and you could see all around you for miles. Siddhartha said “this is a beautiful place to mediate and live your life, it reminds me of the place where I ferry people across a river.”(101) I just looked around and all you could see was nature and how this simple mountain can make you feel so small. We hanged around the top of the mountain for a little bit and then we started to descend. On the way down Siddhartha asked me “ is everyplace around here this peaceful?” I laughed for a little bit and responded “ I wish it was but I’ll take you to a place where you will never want to be.
We got into my car and drove to holyoke, already I could see the disgust on Siddhartha's face as we crossed the bridge. We pulled into the mall and he just looked at all the cars and concrete. He asked me “ where is the tree’s and grass, all there is stone.” I told him “ this is the holyoke mall, one of the busiest and grimmest place around here.” We walked into the mall and we were bombarded with people trying to get whatever they want at any means possible. Siddhartha asked me “ so all these people do here is go around buying materialistic things and wasting there money, while being extremely rude to others instead of spending times with there families and loved ones.” I replied “ ya basically that's the mall in a nutshell.” we kept walking around and you could see the disgust on Siddhartha face. He told me it reminded him of when he was gambling and drinking like a rich merchant.(79) The sounds of babies crying and moms ignoring them and talking on there cell phones where every where. Music from the stores was blaring and the smell of over powerful perfume was toxic to him. Siddhartha asked me “ why do people live like this, they seem over stimulated and so focused on buying.” I explained to him that we live in a materialistic society where everyone buys, buys, and buys some more. And that they get satisfaction out of it. Siddhartha then looked at me puzzled and said “ why do people want this they can’t mediate and be in touch with there inner self here, there is to much temptations and stimulation.” Siddhartha seemed to be getting aggravated, so we decided to leave and hopefully never come back. Siddhartha said he had to get going now and continue on his journey. He was extremely thankful that I showed him around and he was one his way.
Looking back on my brief time with Siddhartha I think that the Notch was the best place for him. He loved being outside and being in touch with himself and nature.It was quite and he could also mediate. There wasn’t and distraction's or temptations there like the holyoke mall. So if Siddhartha had to pick a place I think ten out of ten times he would pick the Notch
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