ment. Samanas are wandering ascetics from ancient India. A samana abandons the home life for the wandering life, free of possessions and desires, purely focused on philosophy and religion. The book gives a great visual image of a Samana in the quote "Once, Samanas had travelled through Siddhartha's town, ascetics on a pilgrimage, three skinny, withered men, neither old nor young, with dusty and bloody shoulders, almost naked, scorched by the sun, surrounded by loneliness, strangers and enemies to the world, strangers and lank jackals in the realm of humans. Behind them blew a hot scent of quiet passion, of destructive service, of merciless self-denial."
             After initial disapproval of Siddhartha's request to join such a group, his father eventually accepts his wishes only asking that when Siddhartha finds enlightenment that he comes back and tells him about it. Siddhartha convinces his best friend Govinda who also is on the search of enlightenment to come join him. This is the second external source we see Siddhartha use while trying to find enlightenment. He expects enlightenment to be easily achievable by following the Samanas. In a way, he is forcing it. He does everything right the way a samana would. He throws a
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