Fragment of the book "Siddhartha" by Herman Hesse
" ....The river knows everything; one can learn everything from it. You have already learned from the water that it is good to strive downwards, to sink, to seek the depths.....
....I do not yet quite understand,” said Govinda. “How do you mean?” Siddhartha said: “Once, O worthy one, many years ago, you came to this river and found a man sleeping there. You sat beside him to guard him while he slept, but you did not recognize the sleeping man, Govinda.”
Astonished and like one bewitched the monk gazed at the ferryman.
“Are you Siddhartha?” he asked in a timid voice. ‘“I did not recognize you this time, too. I am very pleased to see you again, Siddhartha, very pleased. You have changed very much, my friend. And have you become a rower now?” Siddhartha laughed warmly. “Yes, I have become a rower. Many people have to change a great deal and wear all sorts of clothes. I am one of those, my friend.....
....You know, my friend, that even as a young man, when we lived with the ascetics in the forest, I came to distrust doctrines and teachers and to turn my back on them. I am still of the same turn of mind, although I have, since that time, had many teachers. A beautiful courtesan was my teacher for a long time, and a rich merchant and a dice player. On one occasion, one of the Buddha’s wandering monks was my teacher. He halted in his pilgrimage to sit beside me when I fell asleep in the forest. I also learned something from him and I am grateful to him, very grateful. But most of all, I have learned from this river....."