Siddhartha

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Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, translated by Hilda Rosner, is a philosophical novel that follows the spiritual journey of Siddhartha, a young Brahmin's son in ancient India. The narrative, published in 1922, explores themes of self-discovery, the limitations of prescribed knowledge, the nature of enlightenment, and the search for meaning in life.

Part One: The Brahmin's Son

The story begins with Siddhartha, a handsome and intelligent young Brahmin, growing up with his devoted friend Govinda. Siddhartha excels in the studies and rituals of his Brahmin upbringing, mastering meditation and understanding the concept of Atman (the universal soul). Despite the admiration and love he receives from his family and friends, Siddhartha feels a deep inner discontent and dissatisfaction. He questions the superficiality of religious rituals and the wisdom of his teachers, sensing that true understanding and fulfillment lie beyond learned doctrines and prescribed paths.

Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a restlessness of the soul, Siddhartha decides to leave his privileged life and join the Samanas, wandering ascetics who practice extreme self-denial, fasting, and meditation to conquer the Self. Govinda, loyal to Siddhartha, follows him.

With the Samanas

Siddhartha immerses himself in the ascetic life, enduring pain, hunger, and self-mortification. He learns various techniques to empty his mind and escape the Self, even experiencing states of non-being by identifying with animals and inanimate objects. However, he discovers that these methods, while offering temporary release, ultimately lead him back to the Self, reinforcing the cycle of desire and suffering. He realizes that the Samanas, like the Brahmins before them, are also seeking and have not attained true enlightenment. He concludes that "one can learn nothing" and that true knowledge comes from within, not from external teachings.

Gotama

The news of Gotama, the Buddha, reaches Siddhartha and Govinda. They hear reports of a man who has achieved Nirvana, transcended suffering, and discovered the path to salvation. Intrigued, they decide to hear the Buddha preach. They are deeply impressed by Gotama's serene presence, his calm demeanor, and his teachings on suffering, its cause, and the Eightfold Path to liberation.

Govinda, moved by the Buddha's message, decides to become his disciple, taking refuge in his teachings. Siddhartha, however, feels he cannot accept any doctrine, even one as profound as the Buddha's. He respects Gotama's achievement but recognizes that his own path to enlightenment must be unique and self-discovered. He tells the Buddha that true wisdom is not communicable and that each individual must find their own way to enlightenment. He leaves the Buddha and Govinda, embarking on his own path.

Awakening

After leaving the Buddha's grove, Siddhartha experiences a profound awakening. He realizes that he has outgrown the need for teachers and doctrines. He understands that he has been running away from his own Self and that true wisdom lies in embracing, understanding, and learning from his own experiences. He resolves to learn from himself, to become his own teacher, and to understand the secret of Siddhartha. He sees the world with new eyes, appreciating its beauty and inherent reality, no longer viewing it as an illusion to be transcended. He understands that meaning is not hidden behind things but is present within them. This realization marks a significant shift in his life, a rebirth into his true self.

Part Two: Kamala

Kamala

Siddhartha enters the world of ordinary people, seeking new experiences. He encounters Kamala, a beautiful and intelligent courtesan. He is captivated by her and, drawing on his learned ability to "think, wait, and fast," he resolves to win her favor. He sheds his ascetic appearance, acquires fine clothes, and learns the "art of love" from Kamala.

Amongst the People

Siddhartha becomes a successful merchant through his association with Kamaswami, a wealthy businessman. He learns the ways of commerce, gaining wealth and status. His life becomes one of sensory pleasures, material possessions, and social engagement. He enjoys the company of Kamala, his lover, and learns the art of love and the art of living amongst the people.

Sansara

Years pass, and Siddhartha becomes wealthy and comfortable. However, the initial joy of his worldly life begins to fade, replaced by weariness, boredom, and a growing sense of emptiness. He realizes he has become entangled in Sansara, the cycle of earthly desires and attachments, and that the inner voice that once guided him has fallen silent. His pursuit of pleasure and wealth has become a chain, and he feels trapped by his own vices, particularly gambling. He experiences disgust and self-loathing for the life he is living.

By the River

Overwhelmed by his spiritual emptiness and the realization of his decay, Siddhartha experiences a profound crisis. He dreams of Kamala's songbird dying, symbolizing the death of his inner vitality. In despair, he considers suicide by drowning himself in the river. However, the sound of "Om," the sacred word, reaches him, awakening his soul and reminding him of the indestructible nature of life and the divine within. He falls into a deep, restorative sleep.

Upon awakening, Siddhartha feels renewed and transformed. He encounters Govinda, his old friend, who is now a humble monk in the Buddha's order. Govinda, now aged and still seeking, does not initially recognize Siddhartha, who is dressed in the fine clothes of a wealthy man. They part ways, but Siddhartha's encounter with Govinda reaffirms his commitment to his own path.

The Ferryman

Siddhartha decides to stay by the river, seeking wisdom from its perpetual flow. He meets Vasudeva, an old, wise ferryman, who had once taken him across the river in his youth. Siddhartha becomes Vasudeva's apprentice, learning the simple tasks of ferrymanship and, more importantly, the art of listening to the river. He learns that the river represents the unity of all things, the constant flow of time and life, and the interconnectedness of all beings. He realizes that true wisdom is found in listening to the world itself, rather than through doctrines or teachers.

The Son

Siddhartha's past catches up with him when Kamala, on her way to see the dying Buddha, visits the ferry with her son, who is Siddhartha's son. Kamala is bitten by a snake and dies, leaving her son in Siddhartha's care. Siddhartha's love for his son becomes a source of great pain and attachment, as the boy is spoiled, rebellious, and resists Siddhartha's gentle love. Siddhartha suffers deeply, realizing the power of human love and its capacity for both joy and sorrow. Vasudeva patiently guides Siddhartha, helping him understand that he cannot shield his son from his own path and that his love, though painful, is a necessary human experience. Eventually, the boy runs away, taking the ferryboat, forcing Siddhartha and Vasudeva to pursue him. Siddhartha's pursuit leads him to confront his past and the cycle of life and karma.

Om

Siddhartha continues his life by the river, finding peace and wisdom in its constant flow. He recognizes the divine in all things and in all people, including the "ordinary" people he once scorned. He understands that wisdom is not communicable through words or doctrines but is an inner realization of the unity of all existence. His own wound of love for his son begins to heal as he embraces the present moment and accepts the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth.

Govinda

Years later, Govinda, still a seeker, visits Siddhartha, now an old ferryman. Govinda, still attached to doctrines and seeking a definitive path, fails to recognize Siddhartha at first. Siddhartha, having found his own unique wisdom, shares his understanding that true wisdom is not found in seeking a goal but in embracing the present moment and loving the world as it is. He tells Govinda that all things are interconnected and that perfection exists in every moment.

Govinda, though his mind struggles to grasp Siddhartha's seemingly paradoxical ideas, is deeply affected by Siddhartha's profound peace and the saintliness that radiates from him. In a transformative moment, Govinda kisses Siddhartha's forehead and experiences a vision of unity, seeing all the faces of life and time reflected in Siddhartha's smile. Govinda realizes that Siddhartha has achieved the enlightenment he has been seeking. Govinda bows to Siddhartha, acknowledging his wisdom.

The novel concludes with Siddhartha having achieved a state of inner peace, harmony, and understanding, having learned that true wisdom comes from experiencing life fully, embracing all its contradictions, and loving the world unconditionally.