Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse
Ranked #628 in Books, Poetry & Writing, #29,799 overall
My Review
Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, is a novel of spiritual striving set in ancient India.
In the novel, Siddhartha, a young man living at the time of Buddha, is drawn to the spiritual lifestyle. To his father's dismay, he chooses to become a Samana - a traveling ascetic beggar with spiritual aspirations.
He and his best friend, Govinda, engage in the Samana life together - until they encounter Gotama (The Buddha) and His devotees. At that point Govinda becomes a Buddhist monk and Siddhartha, after a private meeting with the Buddha, leaves to find truth through himself and to engage in a mundane, hedonistic life.
The novel quickly progresses through several phases in the life of Siddhartha. He is the story's first-person narrator. Through him we see the rise and fall of spiritual striving juxtaposed with backsliding that leads to an even greater understanding of life. Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha is a novel of spiritual experience.
Do you love this novel?
...tell me how you really feel!
The First Line
...I collect first lines!
In the shade of the house, in the sunshine of the riverbank near the boats, in the shade of the Sal-wood forest, in the shade of the fig tree is where Siddhartha grew up, the handsome son of the Brahman, the young falcon, together with his friend Govinda, son of a Brahman.
Siddhartha's father wanted him to remain a Brahman, but Siddhartha cast that aside to become an ascetic pauper on a spiritual quest. Later he became a hedonist - one who finds his pleasure in things of the world.
A few definintions:
Asceticism - a lifestyle of abstinence and poverty
Brahmans, or Brahmins - the highest caste in Hinduism; Brahmans are considered to be pure and wise.
Samana, or Shramana - wandering Hindu monks in search of enlightenment through self-deprivation.
Your opinions on Siddhartha's journey through hedonism..
...a philosophical question.
Was Siddhartha's journey through hedonism and the experience of life the better path?
Yes, one must experience the follies of life to truly learn from it. One cannot benefit from the rise from hedonism if one never experiences it.
No, Govinda's decision to become a monk was better as he bypassed the misery Siddhartha went through and remained pure and spiritual.
greenspirit says:
Either: I have always felt that the book showed two equally valid paths.
More Hermann Hesse books
...he wrote more than just Siddhartha!
Steppenwolf: A Novel
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 06/04/2012)
Hermann Hesse - An Official Website
...worth visiting!
- Das Hermann Hesse-Portal
- The Hermann Hesse Portal is a comprehensive resource for information on this outstanding, much-loved German author.
Herman Hesse on eBay
What is your life like?
...Siddhartha's story inspires introspection.
Siddhartha links
- Siddhartha
- Wikipedia page
- Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse - Project Gutenberg
- The Project Gutenberg Book Catalog.
Siddhartha on eBay
Have you read this book? Did it touch your life?
...your comments are welcome, as always!
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dotsonr
Aug 5, 2011 @ 7:53 am | delete
- I loved this book, too! I had a similar experience in discovering it when I was a teenager. Now you've inspired me to dig out my old paperback copy!
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fluffyclouds
Mar 25, 2011 @ 12:55 pm | delete
- I have not read this book - yet. You have inspired me to give it a try. I am very interested in Buddhism and Taoism. And I love the retro high school photo - gorgeous!!
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greenspirit
Jan 19, 2011 @ 5:38 am | delete
- Reading Hesse changed my life in my early twenties; I read everything he ever wrote over a couple of years. The Glass Bead Game was my favourite then, along with Steppenwolf; maybe I'll read them again and see how I feel many years later. Thanks for the reminder...and a great lens.
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LoKackl
Oct 4, 2010 @ 12:07 pm | delete
- I enjoyed reading about the impact of the book and its principles on your life! Thanks
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foovay
Sep 28, 2010 @ 3:56 pm | delete
- I became a fan of Hesse's writing when a dear friend whose opinions I respected handed me Steppenwolf - since I have also read Underneath The Wheel and Narcissus and Goldmund. Now I am looking forward to reading Siddartha! Thank you for sharing this information - I don't think young people these day are aware of Hesse and he is a great writer.
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a_willow
Sep 27, 2010 @ 2:57 am | delete
- It's good book. Still my own favorite is Steppenwolf. Maybe because that one touched my life :)
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More books by Hermann Hesse
Vote for your favorites, or add any I missed.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
Quality paperback edition of Hermann Hesse's class more...0 points
The Fairy Tales of Hermann Hesse by Hermann Hesse
A collection of twenty-two fairy tales by the Nobe more...0 points
Demian by Hermann Hesse
"An Existentialist intensity and a depth of u more...0 points
Siddhartha: Eine Indische Dichtung (Dodo Press) (German Edition) by Hermann Hesse
Hermann Karl Hesse (1877-1962), er schrieb auch un more...0 points
Steppenwolf: A Novel by Hermann Hesse
With its blend of Eastern mysticism and Western cu more...0 points
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Siddhartha
...the movie!
Siddhartha
Amazon Price: $28.00 (as of 06/04/2012)
Movie released in 1972 - with beautiful on-location filming of Northern India. Wonderful! Follows the book fairly closely, for the most part.
Siddartha
...a reading of the book, with visuals.
Siddhartha
Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 06/04/2012)
This DVD is like an audiobook reading with visuals of the text along with some illustrations. The narrator is Harish Bhimani; I have listened to this and enjoyed it.
The Buddha
...documentary on Buddhism
The Buddha: The Story of Siddhartha
Amazon Price: $12.37 (as of 06/04/2012)
This is a very good documentary on Buddhism - both in modern times and at its inception. It has nothing to do with the novel, Siddhartha... but still, very much worth watching if you want to know basics about Buddhism especially as it is practiced today.
