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Siddhartha
(1922)
In the shade of a banyan tree, a grizzled ferryman sits listening to the river. Some say he's a sage. He was once a wandering shramana and, briefly, like thousands of others, he followed Gotama the Buddha, enraptured by his sermons. But this man, Siddhartha, was not a follower of any but his own soul. Born the son of a Brahmin, Siddhartha was blessed in appearance, intelligence, and charisma. In order to find meaning in life, he discarded his promising future for the life of a wandering ascetic. Still, true happiness evaded him. Then a life of pleasure and titillation merely eroded away his spiritual gains until he was just like all the other "child people," dragged around by his desires. Like Hermann Hesse's other creations of struggling young men, Siddhartha has a good dose of European angst and stubborn individualism. His final epiphany challenges both the Buddhist and the Hindu ideals of enlightenment. Neither a practitioner nor a devotee, neither meditating nor reciting, Siddhartha comes to blend in with the world, resonating with the rhythms of nature, bending the reader's ear down to hear answers from the river.
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In a very simple prose Herman Hesse has conveyed a very profound message for all seekers. This is a story of a brahmin boy who follows his heart and goes through various lives to finally understand what it means to be enlightened. Siddhartha experiences life as a pious brahmin, a Samana , a rich merchant, a lover, an ordinary ferryman to a father--each life bringing a new awakening, bringing him closer to the truth till he finally is one with Buddha. --Submitted by Payal Koul
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Inner Voice in Siddhartha
Hi, The inner voice is featured prominently in several stages of Siddhartha's life. While functioning as a motif, what exactly is this inner voice?
Posted By georginac at Wed 1 Apr 2009, 1:22 AM in Siddhartha || 0 Replies
allegory
I understand that Siddhartha is an allegory for buddhism but why would Hess use this as a model if he rejects the concept?
Posted By meghanl05 at Sun 22 Mar 2009, 11:43 PM in Siddhartha || 0 Replies
Words of wisdom like siddhartha
If any of you have seen the forbidden kingdom you might remember this little speech. Kung Fu... Hard work over time to accomplish skill. A painter can have kung fu. Or the butcher, who cuts meat everyday with such a skill that his knife never touches the board. Learn the form, seek the formless. Hear the soundless. Learn it all, and forget it all. Learn the way, and then find your own way. The musician can have kung fu, or the poet, who paints pictures with words and makes emperors weep. This too is kung fu. But do not name it, my friend. For it is like water. Nothing is softer than water, yet it can overcome rock. It does not fight, it flows along the opponent. Formless, nameless. A true master dwells within. Only you can free him. Little duo-monologue from Jackie Chan and Jet Li. The kung fu stuff doesn't really fit but I thought the whole "Learn the way, and then find your own way." part was basically siddhartha. anyways awesome read, liked it, maybe ill go read some more hesse. shame i'll prolly never get to visit india :(
Posted By rin at Mon 5 Jan 2009, 12:22 AM in Siddhartha || 1 Reply
Need Help Understanding Siddharta
Maybe this book was just not an attention getter for me, but I passively read Siddharta and did not find the fullfilment that I usually do reading other books. To me, everything was described clearly, but I did not find a satisfying ending. What realizations were made by Siddharta in the end? Or was it something that Govinda realized? To me, it just doesn't seem like the last chapter. Can anyone help me understand the last of Siddharta so I can possibly make a connection to the rest of the book? *edit: Does anyone see any types of symbolism in the book? I really want to pull meaning out of this book, but I can't find any symbolism! --tabby123
Posted By tabby123 at Fri 11 Jul 2008, 2:27 PM in Siddhartha || 7 Replies
Siddhartha by Herman Hess
I didn't see an actual thread devoted to it and it really does deserve it's own. If you've read Siddhartha, and if you haven't I strongly suggest you do, I'd like to know what you felt the most important messages or overtones were to you. One of my favorites was his thinking about language, where he stated language was only transportation for ideas, or something along those lines.
Posted By Adopt at Mon 9 Jun 2008, 4:07 PM in Siddhartha || 4 Replies
Siddhartha's beauty
Hesse describes Siddhartha's beauty. What is the importance of it? and community wise?
Posted By curious_azn at Tue 5 Feb 2008, 10:14 PM in Siddhartha || 2 Replies
Waiting, fasting, thinking. What's so special about these?
Siddhartha claims these attributes were his best; waiting, fasting, thinking. Why is this so?
Posted By RichardRR at Sun 27 Jan 2008, 3:49 PM in Siddhartha || 4 Replies
Cycle Themes
How is cycle demonstrated in this book? I know life reincarnation is one and becoming innonce and child-like again.
Posted By animeblood at Fri 7 Dec 2007, 8:34 PM in Siddhartha || 1 Reply
does siddhartha love anyone?
although Siddhartha says he cannot love anyone i believe he loves his son and possibly Kamala? feedback would be wonderful thank you!
Posted By wo0dy at Sun 23 Sep 2007, 1:26 PM in Siddhartha || 8 Replies
thank you
hey friends .. can u please send me some of your personal responses about Siddartha . i will be waiting ..
Posted By Sahil Parikh at Thu 21 Jun 2007, 10:00 AM in Siddhartha || 7 Replies