Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
Siddhartha is a short story by Herman Hesse. It recounts the life of Buddha, and it’s full of analogies and meaning.
The reader follows Siddhartha, first as a young man fed up with his sheltered lifestyle, then later as an old one wizened by time, experience, and loss.
Siddhartha must go through various phases of life to become wise, however. Each phase brings him to a new starting place where he is ignorant and naive.
At first, Siddhartha marshals his body and thoughts with discipline. He is a master of self-control. He leaves his home with a close friend, Govinda, to look for the meaning of life.
Having lived among the Ascetics and meeting Guatama, the Buddha, he sets out again to find his own answers. He leaves his friend behind as a disciple of the Buddha.
Seeing Kamala, a beautiful woman, Siddhartha tries to please her. She tells him that he must dress well, make money, and bring her presents. Then she will school him in the ways of pleasure.
Thus begins a more hedonic chapter of Siddhartha’s life. He learns to do business and enjoy his body. Siddhartha’s hedonism goes on for many years until one day it all seems hollow.
Again, Siddhartha leaves everything behind on the search for wisdom.
By the side of a river Siddhartha falls into a depression and nearly ends his life by jumping in. But the river ‘speaks’ at the last moment, and he returns from his dark mental anguish.
Near the talking river, Siddhartha begins a practice of meditation, humility, and observation. He apprentices the ferryman Vasudeva.
The flow of the river is as the flow of time and life.
Siddhartha learns not to hold on too dearly to the objects of life that will ultimately leave him. He sees the oneness of all things when comparing his son’s departure to that of his own flight from his father.
Everyone is thus a seeker. The cycle repeats.
Finally, Siddhartha is left marked by wisdom. He finds peace and becomes content and blissful.
Again Govinda crosses paths with Siddhartha. They get to bid each other goodbye. When Govinda does, he recognizes thousands of faces in the face of his friend. He sees that all is one and that Siddhartha has attained enlightenment.
It is a long life Siddhartha lives in this short book. Hopefully, yours and mine will be as full and varied.
Salient themes include the search for meaning in life, the oneness of all things, grief, love, wisdom vs. knowledge, and time.
I’ve read this book a few times, and I’m sure I’ll read it a few times more. A light and undaunting book that nevertheless leaves the reader pondering the big questions.
Like with other good Hesse books, be prepared to live a full life between its covers.
Have you read Siddhartha? Are you a fan of Hermann Hesse’s writing? Please leave a comment.