The Ascetic's Hope

Finally, Siddhartha saw a peaceful, serene, wandering ascetic who had left behind worldly pleasures to find the cause of human suffering. After being deeply disturbed by the first three sights (aging, sickness, death), the sight of the serene monk gave Siddhartha hope that there was a way to overcome the sufferings of life. The ascetic represented a possible solution—renouncing worldly pleasures to seek the truth and spiritual liberation.