On the surface, this seems to be a harmless fable of a man's struggle through life and his eventual peace with the universe. It's lovely, gentle, and comfort food spiced up with mysticism, making it a suitable bedtime read.

However, the problem lies in the fact that it's supposed to be a book that explains the origins and teachings of Buddhism. As Keely points out in his review, when a foreigner attempts to write a story about a country and religion he knows very little about, he will always get it wrong.

Everything in this book feels so posed and exotified. We are invited to gawk at the characters and their "different" lives, as if they were colorful birds in a zoo. The narrative is obsessed with "strange" sights such as mango groves, fig gardens, clay huts, animal sacrifices, and meditation, as if Siddhartha were a stranger in his own country. It's like an American driving around his normal world and being amazed by strip malls, the sizes of the roads, and the plethora of car brands.

In just the first chapter, a bunch of foreign terms are thrown at us without any rhyme or reason. It feels as if Hesse was trying to impress us with his research, but it comes across as flat and immature. Another analogy would be that it's as realistic as an American wondering about the meaning of life by contemplating the Declaration of Independence, The Scarlet Letter, and the Twilight Saga.

Moreover, the character's skin tones are compared to exotic foods, which is infinitely annoying. Just as Americans don't obsess over Pepsi, CNN, or George Washington in their daily lives, a person living in this time period in India wouldn't obsess over mango trees or the Vedas.

Furthermore, there is a "simple but noble savage" vibe that undermines the whole story. The prose is saccharine, simplistic, and in a Winne-the-Pooh style, glossing over any complexity in thoughts or feelings. The characters have superficial emotions and spend the whole book posturing. I can't count how many times "happiness erupted" or "sadness grew" in someone's heart or breast.

In conclusion, I'm sure there are more complex and less exotified portrayals of Buddhism out there. You really won't be missing out on anything if you skip this one. And if you do want to read Siddhartha, find a good translation because the standard one by Hilda Rosner is terrible. The writing is atrocious, and the grammar is horrible. It's not worth your money or time.

While the simple writing style may not be overly remarkable and the philosophical underpinnings seem to lean towards reductionism, I am still inclined to rate it 5 stars due to all the warm and fuzzy feelings it evokes.

Slowly, in Siddhartha, the realization and knowledge gradually blossomed and ripened. He came to understand what wisdom truly was and what the goal of his long search had been. It was not just an ordinary awareness but a special state of the soul, an ability, and a secret art. It was the capacity to think the thought of oneness in every moment of his life, to be able to feel and inhale the essence of oneness.

This profound understanding brought a sense of peace and fulfillment to Siddhartha. It made him see the world in a different light and appreciate the interconnectedness of all things.

Although the writing may have its limitations, the power of the message and the emotions it elicits are truly remarkable. It is a story that touches the heart and makes one reflect on the deeper meaning of life.

Siddhartha (1922) by Hermann Hesse

Siddhartha, along with the entire body of work of the German author Hermann Hesse (winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1946), presents a critical observation of consumer society (then as a response to the industrial revolution). The novel posits that there is an imbalance between an abundance of the material and the spiritual, and that the human search consists in finding an equilibrium between the two.

Written in 1922 in the style of Hindu poems, the story of Siddhartha initially coincides (almost analogously) with the story of the Buddha Siddhārtha Gautama (who appears during the course of the work symbolically represented as the last master that our protagonist pursues).

For example, in Siddhartha, it is posited that it is not necessary to be a member of a religion to have a sense of spirituality or transcendence. The notion that in the search for a master, one avoids becoming one, and finally the notion that wisdom cannot be taught, as it is the result of the total experiences of an individual and only belongs to him or her.

Although Hermann Hesse's work witnessed a resurgence during the hippie era in the 1960s because the values of his books (including Siddhartha) seem to coincide with the reactionary values of that movement, it is important to note that the author does not suggest that spirituality is a solution to unhappiness. Rather, he invites us to discover that reality is sufficient, that fullness is not found in the longing for the future but in the contemplation of the present.

**Siddhartha: A Journey of Self-Discovery**

Hermann Hesse's "Siddhartha" is a profound exploration of the human condition. The story follows Siddhartha, a Brahmin's son, on his quest for inner peace and enlightenment. He leaves behind his privileged life, including his family and friends, in search of a deeper understanding of the world and himself.

Siddhartha tries various paths, such as joining the Samanas and studying under Gotama, the Buddha. However, he realizes that true wisdom cannot be taught but must be discovered within oneself. He then embarks on a journey of sensual experiences, learning the art of love from Kamala. Through these experiences, he gains a new perspective on life but also realizes the emptiness of worldly pleasures.

Eventually, Siddhartha returns to the river, which symbolizes the flow of time and the unity of all things. There, he listens to the voice of the river and achieves a state of inner peace and enlightenment. He realizes that everything in the world is interconnected and that the key to happiness is to accept and embrace the present moment.

The characters in the story are well-developed and each represents a different aspect of the human experience. Siddhartha is a complex and dynamic character, constantly evolving and changing throughout the story. Vasudeva, the ferryman, is a symbol of wisdom and patience, while Gotama represents the path of enlightenment through teachings. Kamala, on the other hand, represents the allure of worldly pleasures.

Themes such as the search for meaning, the nature of wisdom, and the importance of self-discovery are explored in-depth. Hesse's writing style is beautiful and poetic, making the book a pleasure to read despite its complex themes. Overall, "Siddhartha" is a timeless classic that offers valuable insights into the human psyche and the pursuit of happiness.

  



SPOILER ALERT



What makes a person nervous? What is that sound that is always in a person's head, like the whistle of a train that won't stop? Maybe right now, as you are reading this text, there is a place in your mind where you are thinking about how many likes you got on Instagram :). Do you think it's twenty or thirty? Maybe you are thinking about your shoes and clothes..! Do you think they are not stylish? Maybe they are so stylish that they catch someone's eye! Is your car an old model? Maybe you don't even have a car? Do you want a new car? Or the latest model of an iPhone!?! Do you know what it is? I'm asking myself.. I'm always thinking about the next thing. One after another, and as Patrick Mc Kibben said in his book "The Butcher's Apprentice": I still haven't finished a thought in my head, and another one comes along and says I'm a better thinker, what do you think? :D What do you think..? And one day you come to the conclusion that everything you have is a burning fire that cannot be extinguished with any water. You still remain a seeker of something new, and one day it comes to your mind that happiness is the time when you don't want more happiness! But in the end, when will you be happy with the things you have?? This is exactly what Hermann Hesse wants to tell you in this book. Siddhartha tries to show you the right way. Siddhartha, the main character of this book, has come to the belief that happiness and inner peace can only be found by having a sufficient understanding of the world and the world around us, and this old fire will finally be silenced. Siddhartha is exactly one of those books that makes you think and study the world a little. Not because this book is a masterpiece. Not because it is extraordinary. But it creates a longing and makes the reader think for a few minutes. As Sohrab Sepehri said: We were under a willow tree. I plucked a leaf from the branch above my head and said: Open your eyes, do you want a better sign than this?






The statue of Siddhartha today



But the summary of the story:



First, let's see what Siddhartha means. Wikipedia says that Siddhartha in Sanskrit means: someone who has reached his goal. Well, now what should we summarize this book? :D Siddhartha is the son of a Brahmin and has a friend named Govinda. One day, he gets tired of the emptiness he feels in his heart. The teachings of the Brahmins do not satisfy him. He asks his father for permission to become a Samana. He goes and becomes a Samana, but still is not satisfied. Finally, he realizes that these teachings cannot be taught. That is, they can be taught, but wisdom cannot be taught to anyone. To learn wisdom, he must learn it from himself. Siddhartha also gets to know a beautiful woman :D They have an affair and then actually experience life with their five senses. He suffered hardships. He had joy. He saw joy. And he came to a point where when he listened carefully to the sound of the river, he understood that everything is connected to each other. The image of the past, present, and future passed before his eyes, and he understood that: sounds, goals, pains, desires, good and bad, all are the same world. The music and melody of life. Siddhartha understood that he himself is only a part of the whole and must go alone.



“You will grow tired, Siddhartha.”
“I will grow tired.”
“You will fall asleep, Siddhartha.”
“I will not fall asleep.”
“You will die, Siddhartha.”
“I will die.”
I will also remain awake and have my eyes open.
Siddhartha, you will get tired.
I will get tired.
Siddhartha went to sleep sometimes.
I will not go to sleep.
You will die, Siddhartha.
I will die. Page 14






  The characters of the story:




Siddhartha:
I have given a lot of explanations about Siddhartha.. But if you want to know more, I have to say that Siddhartha has a strange behavior. Even the way he laughs is different from others. For his dreams, he even abandons his most loyal friend. He abandons his teachers. He abandons his father and family. But when he has to abandon his own son, he sees how difficult these abandonments have been for others. And as it is said, it is Siddhartha who has never been able to love anyone. He doesn't know how to show his love.






A charming painting of Siddhartha on the wall of a Hindu temple



Vasudeva:
The old ferryman who rarely speaks, but when he does, he says amazing things! This man is a symbol of wisdom and longevity. His unique ability to listen to and give to the river has led him to acquire knowledge.



Gautama:
Or the Buddha, the first person to reach the deep understanding and peace that Siddhartha is also seeking. Gautama is a reminder of Siddhartha's future. Gautama has reached inner light and peace and presents his answers with a calm soul. Although Siddhartha has a good relationship with Gautama and loves him deeply, he never accepts him as his teacher. Siddhartha believes that the path to knowledge must be taken personally and without the help of anyone. The reader never knows whether Gautama also took this path with the help of a teacher or personally overcame the obstacles in his way. But since no other name has been mentioned before Gautama and Gautama himself agrees with Siddhartha's idea to some extent, it can be concluded that Gautama also took this path without the help of a teacher.







Kamala:
She is the one who leads Siddhartha to another path and the troubles of the world. Kamala is a symbol of the goddess of love and beauty. She is the one who received love with her five senses and also taught this art to Siddhartha. Siddhartha left a child to her. Kamala helped Siddhartha to reach inner peace. The child of Kamala was also Siddhartha's last and hardest test, and Siddhartha was able to overcome the last ties of the world and unite the different voices within him.



Analysis of the structure of the book



Genre of the book:
Quest and philosophical literature.



Setting:
The setting or place where the story takes place is probably around 625 BC in India, at the same time as Buddha.



Point of view of the story:
Third-person omniscient, with more focus on Siddhartha. Because we only enter the world and thoughts of Siddhartha and are only observers of the world of other characters.






  Symbolism:




The river:
It is a symbol of ancient wisdom and the passage of time. According to Hafez: Sit on the lip of the stream and see the passage of time. The most important symbol of the story is also this river. The river unites the thoughts and world of Siddhartha in such a way that it merges his past, present, and future like a curtain in front of his eyes. The lesson that the river teaches is listening. This listening to the inner voice and nature is what opens the way for Siddhartha and thoughtful people.



The smile:
This calm smile is a symbol of the spiritual awakening that is taking place in Siddhartha. When he listens to the voice of the river, gradually his soul finds a deep peace. All the characters in the story, from the old ferryman to Gautama, also have such a smile on their faces. A smile that springs from inner peace and spiritual awakening.



Om:
Om is not just a word, but a reference that has deep meanings within it. Om is a sound that, like a music from behind the ages and eras, has passed through cultures and civilizations and also beings. There is a belief that all the sounds existing in existence originate from this sound. This word is naturally a mantra or in other words a remembrance that if pronounced and repeated with the right sound, it will resonate throughout the body; it invites the soul and body to peace and tranquility. The harmony of existence, peace and forgiveness, the main and hidden philosophy of this remembrance. As yogis confirm, the vibrations that are raised from the well of Om calm the mind. Om is a symbol of all existence: past, present, and future that have been mixed within Siddhartha, and this inner unity leads to the eternal peace of Siddhartha.



And finally I read the translation of this book by Mr. Parviz Daryush, and I don't know what the original text of Hermann Hesse was like. This book was full of difficult words and structures that made reading it difficult for the reader. I even had to look up words in Dehkhoda's dictionary several times. But overall, the book was sweet and charming, and I enjoyed reading it.

**Siddharta**

My profound love for Hesse intensifies with every book I read of his. While delving into "Siddharta," I found myself in a state of utter helplessness. There were moments when I wanted to shed tears, yet at the same time, I felt a strange sense of lightness.

I couldn't stop thinking about my own life, constantly reflecting on the choices I've made and the path I've traversed. Simultaneously, I was deeply engrossed in Siddharta's life, his struggles, his quests, and his spiritual journey.

This book is truly spiritual, honest to the core, and beautifully written. It presents a balanced view of life, encompassing both the good and the bad. It is unique in every conceivable way.

"Siddharta" is a book about a boy's arduous attempt to discover his true self. It explores themes of sins and regrets, as well as sacred thoughts, acts of love and kindness, and even acts of hatred.

I not only loved this book but adored it with all my heart. I felt a deep connection with the characters and their experiences. I wholeheartedly recommend this masterpiece to everyone. ❤️

Uber popular and widely read in high schools and colleges all over the US, Siddhartha is truly a goldmine of profound and indescribable philosophy. It presents a continuous string of meditation and an unending search through a dense forest of abstraction. The wise writer has Westernized the world in this work, and his easy prose makes it accessible, though the concepts require some time to be fully understood. For example, how can a person truly be without love? How can essential possessions be so disposable? And how can life be so neatly and artfully circular? Among these novels about an ordinary person overtaking their destiny, this one ranks above "The Alchemist" (it's clear that Coelho was well aware of the conventions that构成 these types of stories), but it is not superior to "The Life and Times of Michael K." by Coetzee. And it is definitely not as fun, rambunctious, random, or bafflingly surreal as the French classic "Candide." Students should be encouraged to read Voltaire. In this case, although not in all, French literature seems to undermine the German type.

P.S. Two of my guests have already left me a copy of this. It's such a tradition for literary geeks to be a part of.

Never in my life have I delved so deeply into researching a book after completing it. I scoured every possible source, hoping to find even the slightest indication that someone else shared my thoughts on this particular work. Ironically, it was on Goodreads that I discovered two others who felt the same way I did. This finding gave me the confidence to pen this review.

While reading Siddhartha, there was an itch that persisted. This itch can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, the perception that Siddhartha accurately represents Buddhism or Eastern philosophy. Secondly, the fact that it is not an accurate representation at all. Although perhaps well-researched to some extent, it bothered me that a book discussing the philosophy, history, teachings, and virtues of Buddhism was written by someone who was not Buddhist. I don't necessarily have a problem with a person writing about something outside their personal or lived experience. However, without that lived experience, there is a high likelihood of misrepresentation or misinterpretation.

Furthermore, Siddhartha is packaged in a way that makes it perfect for non-Buddhists to read without feeling challenged in their worldview or perspective. The values and rhetoric it promotes still fit within the Western values framework, despite centering on Eastern philosophy. It seems to be written to satisfy those who feel a cultural void in their lives and seek a dose of something that is otherwise unobtainable and easy to consume. In essence, Siddhartha is a self-help book for the unenlightened.

The writing style also irked me. Hesse's prose comes across as how ignorant people appropriate and commodify foreign cultures to make themselves seem more cultured. He goes to great lengths to make the prose sound as spiritual and exotic as possible. This style creates a divide between the subject matter and the reader, deliberately alienating the reader so that they can view Siddhartha's life as an outsider. This reinforces the idea of how foreign and intrinsically different everything is, from the trees and people to the way of life. It is an exotification of the Other, and the Other is everything we read about in Siddhartha. I take issue with this because it is inherently dehumanizing. The characters are not treated as complex individuals with depth, flaws, and real personalities, but rather as caricatures of an Orientalist fantasy.

Despite my qualms with Siddhartha, if I step back and consider it not as a book about Buddhism, there are some passages that I can appreciate. Hesse does write beautiful imagery that is both vivid and sublime.

Light and shadow ran through his eyes, stars and moon ran through his heart.

However, what resonates with one person may not resonate with another. Despite my criticisms, if Hesse had written about something else, something not inherently related to Buddhism, perhaps I would have a greater appreciation for his writing.

If you do choose to read Siddhartha, read it for its narrative and allegory. Do not go into it thinking that it is an accurate portrayal of Buddhism. If you can overlook its inherent flaws and its attempts to be pseudo-spiritual, there are indeed nuggets of beauty to be found within this book. It may speak to you in ways that it did not for me.

-

Review can also be found on my book blog, Read, Think, Ponder!

Hesse's most renowned novel is a beautiful parable, yet at times it can be a bit too pitiable. It is also a 'Bildungsroman': all the stages and experiences of human life are touched upon in a quest that is essentially a self-discovery.

The central message to us Westerners is counterintuitive: "searching is not finding". Among all his novels, this one clearly is the one in which Hesse has most incorporated his fascination with Eastern spirituality. And by that, I don't mean only Buddhism, because in the end Siddhartha more or less distances himself from the Buddha.

Hesse's message seems to be that everyone has to find his own way, not just copy a model. It is recommended to read this in German to fully appreciate the nuances and the beauty of the language in which it was originally written. Reading it in the original language can provide a deeper understanding of Hesse's thoughts and the cultural context in which the novel was created.

Taking one thing, taking one society, taking one huge country, without any concept, only such sloppy writing is possible. It's like being in a state of panic. Even when going to talk about Buddha, this person has unconsciously fallen into the gateway of Greek philosophy, following the conversation of Heraclitus-Parmenides. With a very light description on the surface, the place could be India, it could be China, it could be Cyprus. Everyone just eats apples and the whole book is muddled. Only after learning to say Nirvana and Om, if one wants to talk about Indian philosophy, it won't work. Do people really say Om in everyone's ears in this country! I was hopeful after seeing the story of the fisherman, now I think something related to caste will come. If the author knew something about the caste issue. The Brahmin has been placed at the polar end, and never once has there been an attempt to know how bad the result would be in this part of the world. The Brahmin has been Brahmin from the beginning, meaning his Brahmins are Dronacharya and Durvasa-Narada, and the author completely gets lost in confusion and cannot find the answer. One very strange thing is that if this was written in the seventeenth century, I would understand, but this was written in the twentieth century, when T. S. Eliot is emerging and roaming around, the British have looted and dissected India and left nothing, the Passage to India has almost been written, and ten years later, Lawrence's Sons and Lovers will come, Orwell's Burmese Days will come. This book is coming to deceive the people of the world, both men and women, in the name of Indian philosophy, and it seems even stranger. And the strangest thing is that this is the favorite book of many Indians, many Bengalis, Punjabis, and Marathis. How, I don't even want to think about it. Hari Bol.

This is a very pretentious book.

Been wanting to read this book for a long, long time.
I had this desire lingering in my mind for ages, constantly looking forward to getting my hands on it.

And yes, I did it, read it on the first day of 2022!
It was a great accomplishment for me to begin the new year with this long-awaited read.

Well, there are many parts which are quotable and can be considered great advice and thought provoking.
The book contains numerous passages that are worthy of being quoted and offer profound insights and ideas that can stimulate deep thinking.

Well, that's fine. I got what I needed from this classic read.
I'm satisfied that I was able to extract the valuable lessons and inspiration that I was seeking from this literary classic.

However, I'm just not a big fan of either the characters, the plot or the writing style.
Despite its merits, I found myself not fully engaged with the characters, the storyline didn't grip me as tightly as I had hoped, and the writing style didn't quite resonate with me.

Well, a good start of the year nevertheless.
Overall, it was still a positive experience to begin the year with this book, even if it didn't completely meet all of my expectations.

In the time of the Buddha, another holy man emerged in India. Siddhartha, a name almost forgotten, was on a quest for wisdom. As the son of a Brahmin, he had every advantage in the long-distant past. However, he was plagued by boredom, feeling that nothing seemed consequential. Despite his wealth, his soul was poor, his brain in constant turmoil, driven by the need, the compulsion, to find answers to the mysteries of life.

A strange sadness filled him with great despair. He was certain there must be something else, for nothing in his father's luxurious house satisfied him. It was not a home that could quench his thirst. He embarked on the endless road to discovery on this dismal, glum Earth, in search of knowledge, truth, and maybe, if possible, something more.

Nevertheless, Govinda, his only friend from childhood, would travel his path no matter where it led, perhaps even to oblivion. Everywhere they looked, it was the same. The people endured misery and death, the bleakness was palpable, and millions of unloved wretches lived in filth, barely surviving. Only a few were contented, those who had wealth.

However, reality quickly became apparent. Most people weren't seeking Nirvana; they were just trying to find the next meal. Siddhartha realized, "but they are all falling leaves." The two friends joined the Samanas, a group of ascetic destitutes yet happy men in search of salvation, always elusive, just around the other side of the hill.

Gentle Govinda, after both heard the Illustrious One Gotama speak to the thousands, chose to follow him. This crushed the spirit of Siddhartha, but still, the wanderer continued. He couldn't go back. Over the years, his adventures made him wealthy. He met a quiet and beautiful courtesan, Kamala, who had money, and a merchant, Kamaswami, who taught him all the tricks of the trade. Naturally, he would again reject prosperity, for it was not what he wanted.

But slowly, too, he began to view nature's wonders. A pretty river's forever waters flowed, not caring if the human race existed. Hermann Hesse's famous novel, which influenced countless generations, poses many questions: Can happiness and humans be compatible? Will people always try but never reach Nirvana? This book has many questions that can be asked for eternity but may never be answered to the satisfaction of everyone. It is well worth reading.

I have always had a certain reluctance to reread my favorite books from my youth. The risk of disappointment would weigh heavier in this case than with first readings. Like many others, Hermann Hesse was at the top of my favorite authors list during my school days, especially since my German literature teacher rigorously rejected him, which was already a reason in itself to like Hesse as a form of resistance. What still fascinates young people today about Hermann Hesse? I think it lies in his line of making a bildungsroman out of each work. In life phases where self-discovery and personality exploration are highly valued, Hesse's characters are simply inspiring. Whether one is suffering under the burden of guilt like in "Under the Wheel", whether one wants to discover the world with an open heart and all senses like Goldmund, whether one sees oneself more as an intellectual thinker like Narcissus, as a loner like the Steppenwolf or as a spiritual seeker like Siddhartha.

What fascinated me especially 31 years ago when I first read it was the beginning, how Siddhartha, as a young Brahmin, gets the best school of life in every respect and yet still runs away from home to embark on the search for the meaning of life (he calls it the Atman, which is in every human being). And now, what does the book tell me after all these years? Basically, I have gone a similar way as Siddhartha, I have joined religious communities, left them again and lived among the "child people", that is, in an everyday life with work, family and the striving for all kinds of earthly things. But now I stand at a turning point like Siddhartha, like he was in front of the river with the ferryman Vasudeva, I have left many things behind and am learning to live mindfully in therapies. Amazingly, how much Buddhism is found in all the coaching and therapy programs today. One of the central statements of the book is that one cannot learn wisdom. Knowledge, yes. But wisdom one has to experience and live through. No books can help there. One has to do it. But one needs companions on the way who lead one to this doing. And such a companion on the way is this classic by Hermann Hesse, which was published over 100 years ago. I am glad that I have read it again and even liked and understood it more than many years ago. Hermann Hesse wrote not only for the youth, but especially for old age. Because how else should one judge how it feels when beloved life segments end and new segments also contain a magic.