Hesse invites us to immerse ourselves in a spiritual journey led by a young man who pursues illumination as his sole goal. To achieve it, he will have to meet various masters, renounce certain doctrines, experience both renunciation and the fever for the carnal before being able to achieve his ascent towards divine peace.

Siddhartha, the title character of the novel, is a young man born into the core of a Hindu family with a destiny mapped out for him from birth. Amidst prayers and sacrifices, in which he stands out, he has been cultivated and guided with the hope that one day he will be a Brahman, a priest, like his father. However, eager for a wisdom that he does not believe he can find in that way of life, he renounces the path determined for him and becomes a samana, a pilgrim with no possessions.

From this path of material deprivations, focused on fasting, thought, and waiting, he will also end up detaching himself to plunge into the world of carnal passion, the accumulated goods, and the vices that corrode the spirit until he renounces that version of himself once again to embark on the journey anew until he encounters a singular master. Siddhartha is, above all, a man who refuses the word and doctrine and seeks illumination in experience, accumulating many and very diverse experiences.

The journey in which we are allowed to accompany him is a simple but spiritually relevant chronicle about awakening to the world, the truth of it, and the truth of oneself. It is a reading that, although short and light, hides a message that should not be underestimated.

This novel presents a captivating story of a man named Siddhartha who devotes his entire life to the pursuit of ultimate enlightenment. The narrative is set during the era when the Buddha is still alive. One might assume that after encountering the Buddha, there would be no further need to seek enlightenment. Siddhartha is convinced that the Buddha has achieved the highest level of enlightenment. However, he realizes that the Buddha's experience cannot be effectively communicated to others solely through teachings.

Consequently, Siddhartha embarks on a journey filled with diverse experiences in his quest for the meaning of truth. He lives as an ascetic beggar, engages in sexual relations with a woman, indulges in a luxurious life of wealth, leads a simple life as a ferryman, experiences the love and care of a son, and endures the pain of his son leaving. Finally, on his deathbed, Siddhartha attains enlightenment. When his friend asks him what he has learned from life, Siddhartha replies with profound wisdom.

He states that the most important thing is to be able to love the world, not to despise or hate it, but to look upon it and all beings with love, admiration, and great respect. His friend responds by suggesting that this is similar to what the Buddha taught and questions why Siddhartha doesn't simply become a follower. In reply, Siddhartha emphasizes that he is in agreement with the Buddha. He respects the Buddha's actions and life more than his words and thoughts. He sees the greatness of the Buddha not in his speeches or opinions but in his actions and the way he lived his life. This, in essence, is the essence of enlightenment.