Buddha, Volume 4: The Forest of Uruvela

I'm continuing the slow march through Osamu Tezuka's Buddha series, and while the three prior books were thought-provoking and engaging, it's in The Forest of Uruvela that we witness the emergence of Buddha from Siddhartha's years of study, travels, and trials.

This particular story focuses almost exclusively on the concept of suffering and its inescapable presence in our lives. Must we experience all forms of suffering in order to understand pain? Must we treat the body as an weakness, or worse yet, an enemy, to be conquered on the path to enlightenment? There's plenty of sadness, injustice, brutality, and flat out mean-spirited behavior to be found in The Forest, but all ends well with a beautifully inspiring panel of Buddha and the show more deer under the Pippala tree. You can't not smile and feel at peace when you see it. :-)

Can't wait to get Book 5 now... show less

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 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 show more 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... show less

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.

As Buddha already knows, the path to enlightenment is not easy. This book also shows that there are different ways, the way for one person is not the same as another. There is meditation, physical pain, self-sacrifice, helping others, and so on and so forth. The way to enlightenment is not so clear to Buddha, and he has to endure many trials in this volume. Another excellent volume in an incredible series!

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 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 show more 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. show less

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 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.

This series of eight graphic novels tells the story of Buddha's life through the stories of surrounding characters based both on actual historical figures and fictional ones. Told in the Japanese manga style it has a specific style and humour, and the themes are very mature including violence and nudity.