Animestan

[ryu_shotokan_master]

Siddhartha
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Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha, published in 1922, is a simple yet moving tale of a young man’s journey to enlightenment. Inspired highly by Hesse's experiences during his visit to India in 1911, the book is a rich portrayal of India circa, 6BCE. Originally written in German, the tale has been translated into many languages and remains a top-seller.

Despite its title, the book is not about the Siddhartha, Gautama Buddha, but a gifted, well-meaning, popular Brahmin boy. Siddhartha has grown tired of the Hindu way of sacrifice and strict prayers. He and his friend Govinda renounce their families and set out to find their place in the world. They travel with other spiritual seekers for three years and eventually join a group of Buddhist monks after hearing a sermon by Gotama, the Buddha. Govinda settles for a life as a Buddhist, but Siddhartha is not satisfied. Holding true to his belief that only by personal experience can one achieve true salvation, he re-enters the world to discover his true self.

Siddhartha rediscovers the worldly pleasures he had once denounced. Driven by his love for a rich courtesan Kamala, Siddhartha moves farther away from his earlier detachment from the materialistic problems of the ‘child-people’. Slowly, he gets embroiled in a web of greed, negativity, and everyday problems.

Eventually, Siddhartha is again disillusioned with society and returns to the journey of enlightenment he began years ago and finds peace in life as a ferryman. He attains salvation and enlightenment through a life of contentment unbound by strict codes, detachment or worldly desires. But neither does he follow someone else’s footsteps—his life can be his alone. The book ends with a meeting between Siddhartha and Govinda, with Govinda acknowledging Siddhartha's oneness with the world.

Siddhartha is a lucid exploration of how what we call nirvana and the pursuit of truth is a different journey for each individual. For Siddhartha, the way was to embrace a simple life and be one with nature. For Gotama, the illustrious one, it was the path of ascetics. As Siddhartha says to Govinda at the end, too much searching can hide the goal from the traveller. The relentless following of codes and teachings can blind the inner eye of a person.

This well-crafted story remains fresh even 85 years after it was written, and is an inspiring read for people of all ages. For those who would rather watch, Siddhartha was made into a movie in 1972 by director Conrad Rooks and is easily available on DVD.



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[srivikas]

i liked that book as well. ur review is so well constructed that i have nothing else to add but second it.

i am Hindu by birth but a Buddha follower therefore the postulates advocated in the book resonated with me very well.
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www.mklix.com
FIGHTING DREAMER

[Yummy Lingo]

u are a hindu by birth but buddh at heart....

funny, it's exactly the same case as buddh.

he too was hindu. cool eh?
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[Dante]

Nicely written Ruy! Will read it once i'm done with my exams!
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In Love with the Dark Side!!

[Dante]

Well, after a delay of more than a year, i finally got round to read this one! And what an exceptional tale it is! Hesse has done an excellent job at weaving a fable around what are essentially existentialist ideas! And they shine out all the more through because of the richness and the warmth of the storyline! This book is definitely one of those which have left indelible imprints on my mind!
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In Love with the Dark Side!!