Siddartha

[Lara]

***Possible Spoilers***

I read this story last weekend. As far as novels go, in my opinion, it breaks every rule of writing. It is all tell, highly narrative. It was, however, written in 1922. It was not what I expected. I thought it would be about the Buddha's path to enlightenment. The story was about Siddartha, yes, and about attaining peace and enlightenment, but it portrayed Siddartha and the Buddha as two different people, two seperate lives. It is my understanding that the man named Siddartha Gautama is the man who became the Buddha, but in this novel, Siddartha meets the Buddha, speaks with him and then chooses his own path. It was interesting
nonetheless.

Here are two quotes from the book that I found interesting:

"Opinions mean nothing; they may be beautiful
or ugly, clever or foolish, anyone can embrace or reject them."

"When someone is seeking, it happens quite easily that he only sees the thing that he is seeking; that he is unable to find anything, unable to absorb anything, because
he is only thinking of the thing he is seeking, because he has a goal, he is obsessed with his goal."

Anyone else thoughts and opinons would be interesting to hear.

Cheers,
Lara

[simon]

In my opinion opinions mean nothing because they are not usually the truth and the human condition is an eternal search for truth, opinions just bar sight of truth.

[emily655321]

I liked the book. I spent the first couple of chapters trying to resolve the "Siddhartha" name to myself (i.e. is he the Buddha), but I finally just decided he was a completely separate individual, (maybe the name was a common one, like Tim or John); Hesse named him "Siddhartha" simply to make reference to the theme of spiritual journey. If someone else has put more thought into it, or read a more educated explanation, I'd appreciate your thoughts.

What I found especially interesting about it was that at an early stage he seemed to have really found enlightenment, and I could relate to his spiritual experiences up to that point, and kind of flattered myself that, "I've kind of got this life thing figured out." Then as he continues onto something else, and keeps going and changing and discovering, I realized what youthful ignorance that "enlightenment" actually was.

I was impressed by Hesse's ability to depict each stage of Siddhartha's development in such a sympathetic and accurate manner (I assume, not being there yet myself). To hit the nail on the head with his memory of a young person's philosophy, and then again with a man in mid-life crisis, and in the end a tired sick old man, and everything in between. He seems to have known what each is like, yet not treat his previous ways of thinking with scorn or dismissiveness, as people tend to do.

[SPOILER]
I think my favorite aspect of the book is how Siddhartha talks with the Buddha and rejects the organized religion developed from his philosophy, which the Buddha seems almost more a follower of than a founder or teacher. Yet in the end, as the ferryman, he finally comes full circle and yet with a completely opposite view of the philosophy -- following the rules and rituals of religion obscured his vision of the path, and only when he lost his sense of direction and purpose did he become truly enlightened.

[piquant]

Lara, what do you mean when you say that the book was "highly narrative"? Do you mean that the plot (what happens next) was dominant over psychology, character developement, and theme? If so, I disagree with you. The book struck me very deeply in a way that a "plot-driven" novel never could have. Granted, he is on a journey, but that journey is spiritual and drives the physical/temporal journey. Not until he has exhausted a location and lifestyle and come to some sort of epiphany about what is lacking in that lifestyle does he move on to another one.

Otherwise, my favorite part of the book was when his son got angry and ran away from him. Not because I thought that it was a happy event, but because Siddhartha was never truly enlightened after he experienced and came to terms with this pain. I think that this makes an important point about how pain is necessary as a step towards enlightenment.

I don't know who Siddhartha is supposed to be, but the "origional" buddha was a prince. His parents shielded him from old age, starvation, and illness, so that he thought everyone was young, healthy, and beautiful. Then, one day, for some reason I can't remember, he got outside the palace walls and saw a starving man, an old man, and a sick man. When he saw these he decided to live like the monks in the woods, and began his own path to enlightenment which he eventually tought to others. Maybe the Siddhartha of Hesse's novel is supposed to be a reincarnation of this buddha?

[Lara]

I mean highly narrative, because I find there is little show and all tell. The author is telling the story. Rules can be broken, but is is my understanding that the one 'divine' rule of writing is show, don't tell. I see the spiritual journey but little else. That is okay, that was his point. It is just a difference from how most novels are written today.

Recently though, someone pointed out to me a style of writing called, stream of conciousness, which relates only to what is experienced by a character's mind from moment-to-moment, presenting life as thought process, or interior monologue. Perhaps this novel could be considered this style. It is refreshing learning something new.

[Koa]

Yay finally somewhere where I can insult this book
I read it twice and hated it both times... Too much of a 'good feeling'. I don't even remember much about it but the feeling I was left with was like 'oh dont worry everything's so wonderful cos you'll meet your enlightment eventually'. And too much cheap philosophy. Too much sugar hurts your teeth...

[subterranean]

Understand "Budha" as the highest truth the highest consiousness. So Sidharta eventually arrived at that highest truth and became a Budha. So it's like meeting your self, but this is a different "self", which by some ways, was already enlightened. And everyone can be a Budha. Through certain steps (meditation, deserting your passions and human ambitions etc) people can arrive at the gate of truth and be a Budha.

and of course when you already become a Budha, you wouldn't use ur human name. You're just a Budha.

[emily655321]

I thought there was just one Buddha? I know it means "enlightened one," but I thought that was just the name given to Siddhartha Gautama because he was the first one to find the way. Then everyone else who becomes enlightened just sort of melts into Nirvana with him.

[subterranean]

Well I don't know, as far as I know everyone can be a Budha, eventually...I mean first you may be a Budhist, but if you finally reach the higest truth and consiousness, then you become a Budha..

Well it's best if theres's a Budhist around here to give clearer explanation