Buddha Volume 4 : the forest of Uruvela

by Osamu Tezuka

Paperback, 2006

Publication

New York : Vertical, c2006.

Call number

Graphic / Tezuk

Barcode

BK-07186

ISBN

9781932234596

CSS Library Notes

Buddha :

Physical description

370 p.; 21 cm

Awards

Eisner Award (Nominee — 2005)

Description

In this fourth volume of the award-winning graphic novel biography, Buddha slowly discovers that his destiny lies in a path not readily available to him. With fellow ascetics Dhepa, who has complete faith in the purifying quality of painful physical ordeals, and Assaji, who can predict everyone's death to the hour, Buddha travels through the kingdom of Magadha into the Forest of Uruvela, where the middle path and enlightenment wait beyond a series of death-defying trials.

Language

Original language

Japanese

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User reviews

LibraryThing member Arctic-Stranger
A delightful take on the life of the Buddha. I would not use it in a research paper, but the graphics catch the eye, and the plot keeps you reading.
LibraryThing member dmcolon
Volume four describes the Siddhartha's trials in the forest of Uruvela. His ordeals are rather harrowing and the illustrations really bring home this point. Tezuka also follows the fate of Assaji, Siddhartha's young follower. I still don't like the way he's drawn -- the perpetual snot-nose is just
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too much for me. Still, his story is moving. In fact, there are many such events narrated in this volume. The reader senses in poignant detail the suffering that Buddha sees around him. Buddha comes across as a very human figure who experiences doubts and uncertainties as to his purpose.
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LibraryThing member stephmo
In this volume, Siddhartha ultimately decides to give Dhepa’s version of enlightenment through suffering trials in the Forest of Uruvela. The various trials available expect monks to endure everything from hanging, drowning, exposure to the elements, starvation, crushing and even attempting to
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transform into a tree...but crossing the line and putting yourself in harm's way by helping a Pariah is unacceptable. This is the enlightenment one seeks through Dhepa's suffering. But it isn't a volume of judgment. Instead, everything that's been gathered in the first four volumes weaves its way cleverly throughout the story. Prophecies come to pass, a portion of the nature of the universe is revealed and time continues to splatter anachronistic bits everywhere (including a fun bit from Astro Boy!).

As always, Osamu draws a beautiful and amazing story that has as much character as anyone he's put in the book.
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LibraryThing member anannyadeb
Much much better than what we get in India via Amar Chitra Katha. Not that the value of an ACK is any less - their effort at retelling the stories are noteworthy. But Tezuka brings out the true struggle of the Buddha - the pain, the deep insights, the shift in the mind.
LibraryThing member poonamsharma
Story is bit slow for this one. Thatha, Migella, Dhempa, Prasenjit and Bimbasara are still here. Assaji true to his won prophecy is gone. Sujata was here as a girl who had crush on Siddhartha, but I used to think she was his mother.

Budhdha is finally enlightened.
LibraryThing member greeniezona
It should go without saying that everything I wrote in my review of the previous volume about Tezuka's writing and artwork should also be true here. That is, they are fantastic. And indeed, the storytelling is even better in this volume. The plot is gathering steam and reaching the more familiar
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ground of Buddha's enlightenment. There are fewer asides and introduction of new characters, and the one significant exception to this rule is already tied into the main storyline by this volume's end.

Also, in this book, the mirroring and contrast of the monks' self-imposed torments in the forest versus the horrible injustices committed in the name of the caste system contribute to a sense of moral urgency, a greater need for a relief from all this suffering, or at least some perspective on it. And that relief is provided within this volume as well. Yet so many volumes remain! Clearly, there is no choice but to continue the story...
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LibraryThing member BrandyLuther
An entertaining and enlightening quick read! A rewarding message that takes the reader on a journey of exploring deeper thought.

Rating

(118 ratings; 4.3)
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