I fell in love with this sentence from the book by myself:

"Every sin that you will commit in the future already exists in you now."

The translation by Servosh Habibi was not a good translation at all.

This sentence really makes me think deeply. It implies that our future actions and behaviors are somehow related to what is within us at the present moment. It makes me realize that we should be more aware of our thoughts, emotions, and intentions in the here and now, as they may potentially lead to our actions in the future.

Maybe we should take the time to reflect on ourselves and try to understand what kind of person we are becoming. By being more conscious of our inner selves, we can make better choices and avoid falling into the trap of committing sins or making mistakes.

This sentence serves as a reminder for us to be more vigilant and take responsibility for our actions, both now and in the future.

We closely follow Siddhartha's journey through life and learn along with him.

“ ‘Knowledge can be communicated but not wisdom. One can find it, be strengthened by it, perform wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.’” This profound statement makes us realize the limitations of knowledge transfer and the importance of personal exploration and experience in attaining wisdom.

“ ‘Everything that exists is good – death as well as life, sin as well as holiness, wisdom as well as folly. Everything is necessary...’” Here, Siddhartha's perspective challenges our traditional binary view of good and evil, and makes us understand that everything in the world is interconnected and has its own value and meaning.

“ ‘Time is not real..And if time is not real, then the dividing line that seems to lie between this world and eternity, between suffering and bliss, between good and evil, is also an illusion.’” This thought-provoking idea makes us question our perception of time and the boundaries we set in our minds.

Beautiful, utterly beautiful. Not a wasted word. This book is a precious gem that I will cherish for the rest of my life and keep among my most treasured books. I will make an effort to re-read it regularly to gain more insights and inspiration.

The very useful preface by Donald McCrory provides a biography of Hesse, focusing on the writing and meaning of Siddhartha. It also contains a bibliography and index of people, works, and influences on Hesse, along with an invaluable (for me) glossary of Sanskrit, Hindu, and Buddhist terms. The translation by Hilda Rosner is excellent, making the text accessible and engaging for readers.

**Title: The Wisdom of Living in the Present**

In our daily lives, we often find ourselves either dwelling in the past, filled with regrets and memories, or daydreaming about the future, with hopes and uncertainties. However, as the great Buddha said, "Não habite no passado, não sonhe com o futuro, concentre a mente no momento presente." This simple yet profound statement holds the key to a more fulfilling and peaceful life.

When we focus on the past, we may become trapped in negative emotions and unable to move forward. On the other hand, constantly obsessing over the future can cause anxiety and prevent us from enjoying the present moment. By concentrating our minds on the here and now, we can fully experience the beauty and wonder of life as it unfolds. We can appreciate the little things, such as the warmth of the sun on our skin, the sound of birds chirping, or the taste of a delicious meal.

Living in the present also allows us to be more productive and efficient. When our minds are not distracted by the past or the future, we can give our full attention to the task at hand and do it to the best of our ability. We can make better decisions and take more meaningful actions, knowing that we are acting in the present moment with clarity and purpose.

In conclusion, the wisdom of living in the present is a powerful tool that can help us to find peace, happiness, and fulfillment in our lives. Let us all strive to follow the teachings of the Buddha and focus our minds on the present moment, one step at a time.

"Não habite no passado, não sonhe com o futuro, concentre a mente no momento presente."
BUDA

A True Classic

A true classic is a work that has withstood the test of time and continues to have a profound impact on readers. For me, this classic has affected me differently every time I read it.

The first time I read it, I was captivated by the story and the characters. I was drawn into their world and felt their joys and sorrows as if they were my own. The second time, I noticed the themes and motifs that ran throughout the work. I began to understand the deeper meaning behind the story and how it related to my own life.

Each subsequent reading has revealed new layers of the classic to me. I have discovered new details, new interpretations, and new ways in which the work speaks to me. It is like a never-ending well of wisdom and inspiration, always offering something new and valuable.

In conclusion, this true classic has had a profound and lasting impact on me. It has taught me about life, love, and the human condition. It has inspired me to be a better person and to look at the world from different perspectives. I will continue to read and reread this classic, knowing that it will always have something new to offer me.

Sometimes in life, you come across the perfect book at just the right moment. It's as if that book effortlessly slots into a particular place in your mind, filling a void with such precision, much like a puzzle piece finding its rightful spot.

Siddhartha, the protagonist, possesses three remarkable talents: the ability to think deeply, the patience to wait, and the discipline to fast. When questioned about the significance of fasting, he responds with great wisdom.

It is very good, sir. If a person has nothing to eat, then fasting is the wisest thing he can do. If, for instance, Siddhartha had not learned how to fast, he would have to accept any service today, whether with you or someone else, for hunger would force him to do so. But now Siddhartha can calmly wait, he knows no impatience, he knows no plight. He can stave off hunger for a long time and he can laugh at it. That, sir, is what fasting is good for.

Hesse has truly delved to the core of the matter. Fear is indeed the nemesis of happiness. The paths chosen out of desperation seldom lead to true fulfillment. It is far better to be patient and make wise choices.

Siddhartha is a captivating story of discovery, of the arduous search for meaning and the journey to find one's true path in life. It is richly imbued with Buddhist mysticism. Despite my self-identification as a strict scientific rationalist, I found this book to be incredibly insightful and thought-provoking. It is not so much Siddhartha's mystical conclusions that hold significance, but rather the process of self-discovery, the pursuit of wisdom, the asking of profound questions, and the quest for what truly satisfies the human spirit.

Hermann Hesse is rapidly ascending to the ranks of my favorite writers. I adored Steppenwolf, and it's fascinating to note that the title characters in these two books couldn't be more distinct! Hesse writes with a simplicity that belies the profound depth of his thoughts. His characters possess a genuine internal life, yet they are not overly introspective or mired in endless analysis.

I taught this book to juniors, and when I first introduced it, I became frustrated with a particular student.

He blurted out to his classmates that he'd already read it and it was terrible. However, now that we've completed the book, I'm happy to report that his initial comments didn't seem to have a significant negative impact on the class's opinion.

In fact, that very student later said it was actually pretty good and that he'd only skimmed it the last time. Kids can be so unpredictable!

Another student said it was his favorite book among those we'd read so far, and it even made him want to quit school and start living differently. I guess that's a form of praise for the book.

The book is neatly divided into thirds, and that's how we approached it as a class. The first third focuses on the main character, a contemporary of Siddhartha Gotama, the Buddha, as a youth.

He is intelligent, talented, and well-loved. He's a prodigy in intellectual and religious matters, yet he's not satisfied or happy. So, he embarks on a spiritual path through extreme self-deprivation.

This part was relatively easy for my students to understand, as they are young and can relate to Siddhartha's journey of leaving home and finding his own path, much like they are starting to do.

The second portion of the novel is more challenging. Siddhartha abandons his ascetic lifestyle and indulges in all the pleasures he previously avoided.

He learns about sex from a courtesan, becomes a wealthy businessman, a connoisseur of fine food and wine, and even a heavy gambler. He loses himself in this life and eventually realizes his unhappiness.

His religious training had always taught him that these things were worthless, and he discovers that these comforts don't bring true happiness. I thought the students would have a harder time relating to this section than I did, but I was wrong.

By and large, they seemed to like this part as much as or even better than the first. Maybe it was the mention of sex (even though it wasn't graphic), or perhaps because many of them come from wealthy backgrounds and have some understanding of how wealth doesn't always lead to satisfaction.

Or maybe they've just heard the common saying that money doesn't buy happiness. In any case, they seemed to enjoy it.

The third section was almost certainly the hardest to sell. It was even difficult for me to fully embrace!

Siddhartha leaves his life of luxury, nearly commits suicide due to his unhappiness, and ends up becoming a simple (or not-so-simple) ferryman on a river.

This section is filled with more or less eastern thought and spirituality, with a touch of Nietzschean influence. It's tougher to truly understand or get into, but the essence is that one has to experience things for oneself to gain real wisdom, and that wisdom is difficult to communicate.

This is just a condensed version, and I probably shouldn't have given it because it's a distortion. You really need to read the book to understand it fully.

Anyway, in conclusion, I think the momentum from the earlier parts of the book carried us through, and the students seemed to like the book as a whole, including the more challenging third section.

"Siddhartha" is a human thirsty for knowledge, seeking absolute truth or the truth that makes him in harmony with the universe in order to achieve perfect peace or Nirvana.

The journey begins with the young Brahmin "Siddhartha" (and Brahmins are the priestly caste among Hindus, and this is one of the upper castes). He feels that the answer and truth are elsewhere, far from the rituals, sacrifices, and Hindu beliefs. So he turns to the "Samana" and lives with them as a wanderer, acquiring their experiences. But he soon leaves them and turns towards "Gautama" and the Buddhist teachings. However, these do not convince him either. In his return journey and new search, this spiritual stage ends. With his encounter with "Kamala" (it should be translated as Kamila to avoid confusion), he begins the material path of the search. "Kamala" introduces him to physical love of various kinds (and it seems she is an experienced courtesan), and introduces him to the merchant who takes him with him to teach him business. The material stage is divided into two parts: the first part where the spiritual still controls the material (not meaning wealth, appearance, women, loss, gain, and trade), then the material takes control and chokes the spiritual (he turns into a greedy, materialistic drunk...). This stage ends with his awakening due to a vision that stems from himself and that remained pure in its essence. The material path ends here, and he returns to nature intuitively and then gets to know the ferryman who guides (but does not teach) him the right path to enlightenment and reaching Nirvana.

This journey of search is amazing in its contradictions, but it forms a complete unity as a whole. There must be a gradual process in all these experiences to reach Nirvana. Thus, "Hesse" puts forward the positive concept of religion in the personal search for truth (p.167: "Wisdom cannot be imparted, and the wisdom which a great man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness!"), while giving the other example - that is, the negative or dogmatic religion - through "Govinda", a friend and companion of "Siddhartha".

The philosophical story has many symbols, the most important of which is "the river" which symbolizes life itself or the cosmic sound in another expression. Its water is the people who follow one another and the changing images (the water itself, not the same water that flows repeatedly) (p.56: "The meaning and the truth are not hidden behind the things... but in the things, in all of them"). The ferryman whose role varies between the teacher and the enlightened one, for he does not convey wisdom but only calls for it (calling them to listen to the river).

In conclusion, the story reminded me of the journey that Salman the Persian took from Persia to Iraq, Syria, and then to the Arabian Peninsula. I think it is much better and deeper than this fictional story.

The translation was very dry, and most likely it was bad and could not convey the language of "Herman Hesse" (because there is a huge difference between this novel and "Narcissus and Goldmund" for example). I wish Osama Munzirji would translate this story!

So there’s a rather unconventional fellow in India named Siddhartha. He is on a supposed journey to seek spiritual enlightenment. Instead of following the more traditional path of attending a good Christian church like what a typical person might do, he decides to wander around the woods for a while, accompanied by some other like-minded individuals who could be considered a bit of a wild bunch.

After crossing paths with Buddha, Siddhartha finally grows tired of living a life of poverty and homelessness. He then makes his way into town and manages to accumulate a significant amount of money. This is seen as a positive turn of events, as many believe that engaging in capitalism is the proper way to navigate through life. As an added bonus, he also encounters a beautiful woman.

However, just when he is enjoying himself thoroughly, engaging in business, drinking, gambling, and spending time with the woman, his hippie ideals resurface. In a rather unexpected move, he walks away from all of it. One can recall that famous Chris Farley routine on Saturday Night Live where he would loudly proclaim that someone would end up living in a van down by the river. Well, in Siddhartha’s case, he ends up living in a hut down by the river, which might seem even worse as at least in a van one could play the radio.

Finally, Siddhartha comes to the conclusion that the river is some sort of divine entity or has some profound significance. This might seem rather strange and perhaps a bit stupid to some. But in reality, this story is an elegant allegory. It depicts a man going through various phases as he embarks on a lifelong pursuit to shed his ego and achieve true peace and enlightenment. The writing is truly remarkable, and despite its brevity, it is intelligent enough to hold the attention of even someone who might consider themselves a bit of a doofus like me. I would definitely classify this as a book that everyone should read at least once.

Just kidding.

Well, not really. This is indeed a thought-provoking and beautifully crafted piece of literature that offers valuable insights into the human condition and the search for meaning in life.

This book masterfully presents the evolution of a man as he traverses the diverse and essential stages of his life.

Oh, how beautiful is the thought of Siddharta! With each page, she is refining, growing, and展现出独特的魅力. For us readers, it is an absolute joy to have had the impression of growing up right alongside Siddharta and realizing that oneself has also changed by the very end of the book.

The writing in this book is simply beautiful. Despite the profound message it conveys, the book appears to be accessible to a vast number of people.

So, embark without fear on this little philosophical tale. This spiritual journey has the potential to mark you forever, leaving an indelible impression on your soul and shaping your perspective on life in ways you may not have expected.

I have always believed that a good book is one that has the power to change a person's way of thinking and perspective on life.

It doesn't matter how big or small this change is. What matters is that when you reach the end of the book, you feel that you have gained new and valuable things that you previously ignored. You feel that you have taken a step forward and are no longer the person you were yesterday, that you have changed.

"Siddhartha" was one of these valuable and educational books for me. Hermann Hesse beautifully teaches you in this book how to look at life, how to listen carefully to the voices around you, and what to seek in this chaotic world.

The story of Siddhartha is the story of a Brahmin boy who leaves his home and family in search of the truth of life. Along the way, he gains and loses many things, but he never gives up on his search until he reaches his goal.

In life, we are all in a constant search for meaning. We yearn for something that can give us a purpose and, essentially, a reason to truly be alive. Nobody desires to reach the end of their journey only to realize that it was all in vain and that their days were completely wasted. So, the question remains: how do we find this meaning?

We must discover our own peace. Siddhartha initially followed the teachings of others, but it brought him very little happiness. When he met Buddha, or a figure resembling Buddha, he realized that the only way to achieve the same level of serenity was to find it within himself. The words of others, no matter how wise they may seem, are just empty air; they lack the essence of personal experience and the wisdom gained through trial and error. Therefore, he embarks on his own path, albeit an indirect one, and finally awakens his mind to a state of enlightenment.

However, in order to do so, he must first recognize the true state of emptiness. And to understand emptiness, one must first experience temporary fullness. Thus, he ventures into the world of the ordinary man. He indulges in their pleasures, acquires possessions, and takes a lover. He forms attachments and builds a household of servants and wealth. Through these experiences, he learns that they are shallow and transitory, incapable of creating a lasting sense of happiness within his soul. With this full realization, he walks away once more, understanding that peace can only come from one place: himself.

He experiences a sense of oneness with his own thoughts, with everyone else, and with everything that exists in nature. He becomes enlightened, but only after emerging from the darkest of times. Suffering exists and will always exist, and it is how we deal with this suffering that defines us. It is how we pick ourselves up afterwards, without allowing it to ruin our lives and those of the people around us, that makes us stronger. In this, Hesse captures something extremely difficult to express in words, something that the novel frequently acknowledges.

How does one accurately define these vague concepts of belief? He doesn't. Instead, we rely on allegories to teach us these ideals, to make us understand that happiness is not synonymous with materialism, and to make us realize that seeking something too passionately may cause us to miss it entirely. The search for the meaning of life is not the answer; living life, a life of peace and compassion, is. Siddhartha follows the vibrations of his soul, the sound of the river, and it leads him exactly where he needs to go.

As a student of Buddhism and a struggling practitioner, I found this book to be extremely helpful. It cuts through all the rhetoric, arguments, and debates, and gets to the very core of the matter. This is a book that I will carry with me throughout my life, a book that has so much wisdom to impart. It is now the third book to have a truly profound impact on me as an individual.

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"Nothing was and nothing will be: everything is, and everything is present and has existence."

I find myself in a strange state of ambivalence towards this book. It's not that I had a strong like or dislike for it. I simply read it, but I can't say it had a profound impact on me. Siddhartha's decision to seek enlightenment through asceticism is something I struggle to understand. He endures years of harsh conditions, freezing in the icy rain, going without sleep, and experiencing intense hunger. His mind and body become desensitized to the world around him. Then, his life takes a complete turn. He abandons the woods and asceticism, and spends the next few years indulging in a life of luxury, meeting a beautiful woman, amassing great wealth, only to lose it and regain it again. Feeling empty, he decides to return to the spiritual path.

The book contains many beautifully written passages. For example, the description of a gilded bird being set free and the portrayal of the beauty and life force of the river. These parts spoke to me on some level. However, they were not enough to make me feel any warmth towards the story as a whole. It was just too esoteric and beyond my comprehension.

At least I can now check this book off my reading bucket list! Nevertheless, I am eager to read his last work, "The Glass Bead Game," as it is clear that he is a very talented writer. I believe this book would be more interesting and better suited to my tastes.