Siddhartha

I believe that to go on your own path you sometimes need to leave your friends behind.    Siddhartha and Govinda had grown up with each other and journeyed together to the Samanas but when they reached the Buddha Gotama, Govinda decided to stay behind with the Buddha without Siddhartha.  Govinda tried to make Siddhartha stay and declare allegiance to the Buddha.  He would not, so Siddhartha gave him a blessing and went on his way.  “Govinda, my friend, you have taken the step, you have chosen your path.  You have always been my friend, Govinda; you have always been a step behind me.  Often have I thought will Govinda ever take a step without me, from his own conviction?  Now, you are a man and have chosen your own path.”  They both had to go their own way to continue with their life.  In my life I had to leave my friends when I left my old school to come to Edina in ninth grade.  My good friend Tony who I had gone to school with from preschool was going to go to Lakeville.  We both had to go our different ways.  But Just as Govinda and Siddhartha met from time to time over the years me and Tony still keep in touch.