Evaluation Of Siddhartha

Set six centuries before the birth of Christ in ancient India during the time of the great Gotama the Buddha, is the book Siddhartha. Written by Herman Hesse, and was his most famous novel it tells of a young Brahmin, handsome and well learned, and was a prince among his caste members. He had mastered all the rituals and wisdom of his religion at a very early age. His father, who was also part of the Brahmin class, was a religious leader and well thought of in his community. Siddhartha and his best friend Govinda study the ancient Hindu wisdom and believe they have achieved enlightenment. The rituals and mantras have taught him seem more of a custom than a path to true enlightenment. Siddhartha feels that he can not question the methods of his teachers. This upsets Siddhartha greatly and he longs for something more.

After meditating one evening Siddhartha tells Govinda that he will follow a group of Samanas, which is a group of wandering priests. They are starved, half-naked and must beg for food. They feel that true enlightenment can be reached through rejection of the body and physical desire. Govinda is frightened by Siddhartha because he knows that he is taking his first step into a world that he himself must now follow.

As Siddhartha and Govinda begin to wander with the Samanas and adopt their ways. They dress in the rags and take to the only barest sustenance. Siddhartha's only goal is to become empty of everything including wishes, dreams, joys and passions.

During this time he becomes the protÐ"©gÐ"© of the eldest Samana. Both Siddhartha and Govinda enjoy substantial spiritual advancement while with the Samanas, but they feel that this is not their path to Nirvana. Siddhartha confides in Govinda that have the Samanas had no more success than the Brahmins. Govinda argues that they have made great progress but this does not sway Siddhartha's opinion.

After being with the Samanas for three years a rumor reaches them that the enlightened one, Gotama the Buddha has brought his chain of karma, or rebirth to an end. This news excites Siddhartha and Govinda yearns to follow this new leader. When they go to leave the Samanas the Siddhartha hypnotizes the Samna with his gaze, silencing him and rendering him speechless which facilitates their departure. The gaze also seems magical and suggests something very real and human. It demonstrates Siddhartha's strength of will and unwavering determination to reach enlightenment.

Govinda and Siddhartha journey to the camp of Gotama's followers and are welcomed and spiritual pilgrims. Govinda quickly decides to give himself over completely to this practice and lifestyle, while Siddhartha still has his own doubts and troubles accepting some of Gotama's teachings. One day Siddhartha meets Gotama unrepentantly in a grove and speaks boldly of his doctrines. He points out a contradiction to Gotama; how can one embrace the unity of all things if they are also told to over come the physical world? Gotama tells him that his goal is to not give a perfect mathematical understanding of the universe but to achieve a freedom from suffering. Siddhartha decides to leave Govinda behind and begins yet another search for the meaning of life.

After Siddhartha leaves the grove and Gotama behind he is done with teachers and teachings. He wants to learn himself, and understand himself. He feels that he is seeing the world for the first time. Siddhartha feels that he can awaken while learning more about himself. He is suddenly infused with a powerful certainty in his own powers of self-realization; he feels he has become a true man. Siddhartha feels sure that his path to enlightenment will come from within himself.

Siddhartha wanders aimlessly and sees the physical world with fresh, new eyes. He spends his first night as a new man in a ferryman's hut. The next day Siddhartha asks the ferryman to take him across the river. The ferryman continues to tell Siddhartha that he has learned much from the river and prophesies that Siddhartha will return to the river in the future and give him a gift at the time.

When Siddhartha enters a small village a young woman appears and attempts to seduce him. He resists but the next women in a different city that he sees he can not resist; showing that he is allowing the world to influence him. Her name is Kamala and she is a beautiful courtesan. She is amused that Siddhartha wants to learn and be taught about the act of love. She exchanges a kiss for a poem but will not exchange more until he can return bearing fine clothes and bearing gifts. When Siddhartha becomes Kamala's lover he is making a conscious choice to enter the world of desire and he becomes attached to it. Although he has rejected spiritual teachers, he is anxious to accept a teacher of desire.

Kamala then tells him to find her friend Kamaswami who is a wealthy businessman. She tells Siddhartha to become his equal not his servant. Siddhartha learns much about the physical act of love and about patience and self-respect. Though they share great intimacy and a feeling of connection, they are not in love. Siddhartha is interested in the relationship because it provides him with deeper insights into the world of love that might make him better enable to achieve enlightenment.

Kamaswami takes Siddhartha in and is suspicious about that he can do for him. Siddhartha follows Kamala's advice and does not beg for work but instead, acts in a manner that requires Kamaswami to treat him respectfully. Kamaswami is impressed and offers to take Siddhartha as a protÐ"©gÐ"©. Siddhartha handles the business world as a laughing matter. Siddhartha works hard with Kamaswami in order to afford the clothes and gifts necessary to court Kamala.

While working for Kamaswami, Siddhartha becomes very wealthy and enjoys Kamala's intimate company. At first business is a game and he feels superior. However, he too falls under the spell of possessions. He looks and acts like a wealthy merchant and finds that the spiritual voice within him has died. After twenty years upon his arrival to the small village he notices that the inner voice that had prompted him to become a Samana, is now gone. He leaves the city without telling anyone. From that day on, Kamala accepts no more lovers and discovers she is pregnant with Siddhartha child.

Siddhartha leaves