The more he obtains in the material world, the less it satisfies him, and he is soon caught in a cycle of unhappiness that he tries to escape by engaging in even more gambling, drinking, and sex. He understands that the material world is slowly killing him without providing him with the enlightenment for which he has been searching. One night, he resolves to leave it all behind and departs without notifying either Kamala or Kamaswami.
Sick at heart, Siddhartha wanders until he finds a river. He considers drowning himself, but he instead falls asleep on the riverbank. While he is sleeping, Govinda, who is now a Buddhist monk, passes by. Not recognizing Siddhartha, he watches over the sleeping man to protect him from snakes. Siddhartha immediately recognizes Govinda when he wakes up, but Govinda notes that Siddhartha has changed significantly from his days with the Samanas and now appears to be a rich man.
Siddhartha responds that he is currently neither a Samana nor a rich man. Siddhartha wishes to become someone new. Govinda soon leaves to continue on his journey, and Siddhartha sits by the river and considers where his life has taken him. Siddhartha seeks out the same content ferryman he met years before. The ferryman, who introduces himself as Vasudeva, radiates an inner peace that Siddhartha wishes to attain.
Vasudeva says he himself has attained this sense of peace through many years of studying the river. Siddhartha expresses a desire to likewise learn from the river, and Vasudeva agrees to let Siddhartha live and work beside him. Siddhartha studies the river and begins to take from it a spiritual enlightenment unlike any he has ever known.
One day Kamala the courtesan approaches the ferry along with her son on a pilgrimage to visit Gotama, who is said to be dying. Before they can cross, a snake bites Kamala. Siddhartha and Vasudeva tend to Kamala, but the bite kills her. Before she dies, she tells Siddhartha that he is the father of her eleven-year-old son.
Siddhartha has a son, who is also named Siddhartha. The enlightened ferryman who guides Siddhartha to a transcendent understanding of himself and the universe. Vasudeva is spiritually and socially flawless, and he ferries true seekers of wisdom to enlightenment. Siddhartha achieves enlightenment only because of his association with Vasudeva.
Like Siddhartha, Govinda devotes his life to the quest for understanding and enlightenment. He leaves his village with Siddhartha to join the Samanas, then leaves the Samanas to follow Gotama. He searches for enlightenment independently of Siddhartha but persists in looking for teachers who can show him the way. A courtesan who instructs Siddhartha in the art of physical love. Just before she dies from a snakebite, she reveals that Siddhartha is the father of her son.
An enlightened religious leader with many followers. Also known as the Buddha, Gotama is said to have attained Nirvana. Already he has learned one of these: to strive downwards like a stone.
Vasudeva cannot tell Siddhartha what the other thing to be learned will be, for it is a form of intuitive experience which defies verbalization. Vasudeva then tells Siddhartha about the job of ferryman, his task being to take people across the river and to give them directions once they get across.
Symbolically, his task is to show men the way to salvation. He can only show the way, however. Men must attain salvation themselves. The conversation continues through the evening and into the night and, at its end, the narrative lapses into indefinite time.
One of the outstanding conversations of the entire novel occurs when Siddhartha asks Vasudeva about time. The ferryman tells him of the transcendent timelessness of the river, which brings Siddhartha to the realization that life is also a river and that past, present, and future are all one.
Childhood, adulthood, and old age are separated only by shadows, not by reality. But for me, fifty years ago, founded in learning and philosophy, it was the Quest for Being amidst its opposing indecent insult by the world.
The real outside world offered no help. So I took my struggle within. For years, and when I say years it is actually more like decades, I have seen this classic book from time to time but I have never read it. It's not a very long book, but I just never took the time to try it out.
One of my Goodreads groups is reading it this month, so I figured that now is as good a time as any to give it a go. I decided to listen to it and it kind of felt like I was listening to a story around the campfire. The biggest thing it reminded me of was when I was a kid at the museum For years, and when I say years it is actually more like decades, I have seen this classic book from time to time but I have never read it.
The biggest thing it reminded me of was when I was a kid at the museum in Cincinnati hearing Native American legends about how the constellations got in the sky. I am not sure how close to any actual lore Hesse's version is, but it was interesting to listen to. I saw some comments out there about this book being slow. It certainly isn't action packed and there are many philosophical digressions that move away from the story into a spiritual realm.
These parts of the narrative can be slow, but they do add to the atmosphere of Siddartha's journey. Do I recommend it? If you are really into stories about philosophy and spirituality, yes. If you are into reading all the classics, yes. Otherwise, maybe or maybe not - I can't say for sure. View all 8 comments. Set on the Gangetic Plain some 2, years ago, Siddhartha is about one man's search for enlightenment. Siddhartha, son of a Brahmin, even in the presence of Gautama Buddha himself, is unable to find a way if it depends on the teachings of others.
There is, Siddhartha comes to believe, no single illuminated path for all men and women to follow. We must each of us make our own mistakes. We must all suffer, and no warning against it will ever help us. For to live some kind of bizarre life of comfo Set on the Gangetic Plain some 2, years ago, Siddhartha is about one man's search for enlightenment. For to live some kind of bizarre life of comfort that prevents suffering also prevents our finding peace. The novel's especially illuminating if you have some understanding of Vedic Religion and how it fed developments in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism.
The writing style is very honed, lean, without abstruse digressions. It fulfills for me the fundamental requirement of all good fiction: that it reveal a fully imagined world. I much prefer it to Steppenwolf. View all 24 comments. Jan 16, Fabian rated it really liked it. The world is Westernized by the wise writer, and his easy prose is easy to follow, although the concepts take a while to sink in I mean, how can a person really be devoid of love?
How can possessions, even the indispensable ones, be so discardable? Two guests of mine have already left me a copy of this--such a tradition for literary geeks to be a part of. View all 5 comments. Lately, even before I read this book, I was noticing some book opinion that "I-would-like-this-book-better-at-my-younger-age", especially Cecily's review about The Alchemist that I couldn't agree more.
I cannot help myself comparing this book with The Alchemist , although Siddharta is the better one. I believe if I read this ten years ago, I could appreciate more about the plot. But there is a Catch situation: ten years ago, I don't know enough to appreciate the Vedic jargons on the book.
The Lately, even before I read this book, I was noticing some book opinion that "I-would-like-this-book-better-at-my-younger-age", especially Cecily's review about The Alchemist that I couldn't agree more.
The plot is obviously the journey of spiritual enlightenment. Of course I have no issue with The Buddhism and other Vedic in general philosophies in the story. If readers interested with the philosophy discussed on this book, there are non-fiction books that discuss them for real. But the ending, I don't like it.
Majority of the book is struggling with philosophy and then the ending It was such a magical ending without enlightening experience for readers view spoiler [similar with The Alchemist, reminding me how hide spoiler ] I felt cheated.
I could get more revelation reading a pulp fiction of a murder mystery fiction. PS: I have an opinion. The plot of Siddharta is basically YA fiction. How come publishers never publish this book as YA fiction with catchy cover art?
View all 13 comments. Theme-wise this book is right up my alley - combining psychological development with spiritual path of Buddhism - sign me up. I would like to attempt some of his other books again to test those theories. Especially Siddartha's relationship with Govinda displayed inequality, as Govinda always was a subordinate, bland, and unspecial character.
I, in contrast to Govinda, didn't project numinous characteristics onto Siddharta, my feelings were more similar to this statement: But he, Siddhartha, was not a source of joy for himself, he found no delight in himself. Glad we agree on this Siddharta. Maybe that is also the point, that the meaning of life is reachable not in the continuity but only in small fragments of time, as these moments are worth being alive for. I would say I like the whole narrative if all of the other characters are regarded as symbolic, representing inner archetypes in Siddhartha.
Alas, and nobody showed this way, nobody knew it, not the father, and not the teachers and wise men, not the holy sacrificial songs!
Different concepts are not pushed into the character or readers , as Siddartha discovers them from his own experience rather than an understanding of others. So the path that we follow should always be just ours, personal, individual, as there is no teaching in this world that can give us true wisdom without authentic intrapersonal transformational process.
Subjective truth acquainted by experience is valued more than memorized knowledge containing the insight of others. Wisdom which a wise man tries to pass on to someone always sounds like foolishness. It can be found, it can be lived, it is possible to be carried by it, miracles can be performed with it, but it cannot be expressed in words and taught.
He experiences an existential crisis facing the reality of life that returns to him in circles. Traditionally Buddhist attempt to eliminate ego and desire is transformed in acceptance and integration of wholeness of oneself, as all parts have an important role in attaining self-knowledge and wisdom, more of a Jungian and Nietzschean viewpoint.
I am also fond of the fact he explored vastly different aspects of himself - dark, vein, lustful sides, in order to reach his ultimate, true Self. The good and bad experiences, progression and regression both play an immense part in enlightenment and the big cycle of life.
No stage in life is futile or isolated, and no person is merely evil or virtuous. I can see myself reading this book 10 years ago and being completely fascinated with it, and I would say then the book would have a much greater impact on me. But in this day and age, I already read a lot of material of this kind so the ideas are not new to me.
But I will humble myself and admit this book is still a great accomplishment and a lot of people would benefit from it greatly! Be aware of too much wisdom! View all 9 comments. Jan 31, Dr.
Appu Sasidharan rated it it was amazing. This book will spiritually enlighten you and teach you to identify love and love the world with certitude. View 2 comments. Aug 28, Jonathan Ashleigh rated it liked it Shelves: recent. Hermann Hesse writes as though his words are god's perspective, but I don't believe in god And, for the most part, I think god is boring.
I believe most people like this book because they think they will look dumb if they don't. View all 4 comments. May 23, Dan Schwent rated it it was amazing Shelves: , oldies. Siddhartha rejects his life as a Brahman's son and goes out into the world in a quest for enlightenment, to live as an ascetic. After meeting Buddha, Siddhartha rejects the ascetic life for a more material one, the life of a merchant, learning the ways of love from a courtesan, and in time leaves that life behind as well.
Will Siddhartha ever find what he is looking for? Normally, a Nobel prize winning book wouldn't get a second look from me. I'm more into people getting pistol whipped and big mo Siddhartha rejects his life as a Brahman's son and goes out into the world in a quest for enlightenment, to live as an ascetic.
I'm more into people getting pistol whipped and big monsters. I kept seeing this book on my girlfriend's bookshelf and finally decided to give it a shot.
I'm glad I did. Siddhartha is the story of one man's quest for meaning and it's a good one. It was a breeze compared to what I was picturing. The first couple of paragraphs were a little rocky but I started digging it right away. The story mirrors the life of Buddha but isn't a retelling. This Siddhartha has his own road to travel. He goes from having nothing to having everything, including a woman was eager to teach him to be the best lover she'd ever seen, back to having nothing and living as a ferryman, learning life lessons every step of the way.
While it's a novel, it's also pretty inspirational. There are nuggets of wisdom to be mined from it. My favorite is that wisdom can't be taught but it can be learned. I highly recommend this book to those interested in Eastern Philosophy and Buddhism and those needing a little more than gun play and werewolf attacks.
View all 6 comments. Nov 17, Sheila rated it it was amazing. For one issue, at the suggestion of my journalism teacher, I asked teachers to name a book that changed their lives. I think if I read this after my high school graduation I would have stopped after a certain page. I think if I read this on some breaks from college I would have tired of some of its overwrought philosophical pretenses.
But for various reasons, now was the right time for me to read it. Then he suddenly saw clearly that he was leading a strange life, that he was doing many things that were only a game, that he was quite cheerful and sometimes experienced pleasure, but that real life was flowing past him and did not touch him.
Jun 27, Duane rated it really liked it Shelves: book-challenge , german , rated-books , reviewed-books. What is the meaning of life? I don't know, and you're not going to find the answer in this book, although I've read some reviews of readers who claim it changed their lives, so there you go. Nov 07, Megha rated it liked it Shelves: just-like-that. Old pre-read review Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers.
Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics.
Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves.
Choose your future But why would one need to do that anymore when one has found enlightenment. View all 14 comments.
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