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Title: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, Hilda Rosner ISBN: 0-8112-0292-5 Publisher: New Directions Publishing Pub. Date: June, 1951 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.4 (319 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A Modern Sutra
Comment: The title character of Siddhartha is an exceptionally intelligent Brahman, the highest caste in Hindu society, with a bright future mapped out ahead of him. Nevertheless, he is plagued by a sense of hollowness that cannot be quelled by conventional success. As with the legendary story Gotama Buddha (from which Hesse no doubt draws heavily), Siddhartha embarks on a journey of self-discovery that takes him through a period of asceticism and self-denial followed by one of near hedonistic sensual indulgence. However, neither asceticism, an encounter with Buddha, nor forays into love and business can satiate Siddhartha's quest for spiritual enlightenment. He continues the search, ultimately finding peace and enlightenment by a river, under the guidence of a humble ferryman. Although the narrative of Siddhartha's life parallels the legendary Buddha's in many ways, the form and content of Siddhartha's enlightenment are unique, differing greatly from that of the Buddha. Rather than merely extrapolating from the tenets of Buddhism, Hesse provides his own unique contribution to the living tradition - his own sutra, if you will - and the result is amazing. A profoundly important and beautiful little book that will fundamentally change you worldview for the better.
"He saw all these forms and faces in a thousand relationships to each other, all helping each other, loving, hating, destroying each other and become newly born. Each one of them was mortal, a passionate, painful example of all that was transitory. Yet none of them died, they only changed, were always reborn, continually had a new face: only time stood between one face and another."
Rating: 5
Summary: All Is Connected
Comment: Siddhartha is that most unusual of all stories -- one that follows a character throughout most of his life . . . and describes that life in terms of a spiritual journey. For those who are ready to think about what their spiritual journey can be, Siddhartha will be a revelation. For those who are not yet looking for "enlightenment," the book will seem pecular, odd, and out-of-joint. That's because Hesse was presenting a mystery story, also, for each reader to solve for herself or himself. The mystery is simply to unravel the meaning of life.
As the son of a Brahmin, Siddhartha would naturally have enjoyed access to all of the finest lessons and things of life. Knowing of his natural superiority in many ways, he becomes disenchanted with teachers and his companions. In a burst of independence, he insists on being allowed to leave home to become a wandering Shramana (or Samana, depending on which translation you read). After three years or so, he tires of this as well. Near the end of that part of his life, Siddharta meets Gotama, the Buddha, and admires him greatly. But Siddharta continues to feel that teachers cannot convey the wisdom of what they know. Words are too fragile a vessel for that purpose. He sees a beautiful courtesan and asks her to teach him about love. Thus, Siddhartha begins his third quest for meaning by embracing the ordinary life that most people experience. Eventually, disgusted by this (and he does behave disgustingly), he tires of life. Then, he suddenly reconnects with the Universe, and decides to become a ferryman and learn from the river. In this fourth stage of his life, he comes to develop the wisdom to match the knowledge that direct experiences of the "good" and the "sensual" life have provided to him.
Few will find Siddhartha to be an attractive character until near the end of the book. Hesse is trying to portray his path towards balance and understanding by emphasizing Siddhartha's weaknesses and errors. But, these are mostly errors that all people fall into. Hesse wants us to see that we make too much of any given moment or event. The "all" in a timeless sense is what we should seek for.
There is a wonderful description of what a rock is near the end of the book that is well worth reading, even if you get nothing out of the rest of the story. The "mystery" of what Gotima experiences when he kisses Siddhartha's forehead will provide many interesting questions for each reader to consider.
I recommend that you both listen to this book on tape and read it. Hesse's approach to learning is for us to observe and feel. You will do more of that while listening than by simply reading. I was able to find an unabridged audio tape in our library for my listening. I encourage you to go with an unabridged tape as well. You will get more out of Siddhartha that way. I read the Hilda Rosner translation, and liked it very much.
After you finish listening to and reading the book, I suggest that you think about what you have not yet experienced that would help you get a better sense of life. If you have tried to be a secular person, you could try being a spiritual one. If you have focused on being a parent, you could focus on being a sibling. If you have focused on making money, you could pay attention to giving away your time. And so on. But in each case, give yourself more opportunities to experience and learn from nature. That is Hesse's real message here.
Ommmm
Rating: 5
Summary: Lovely, Quaint Read
Comment: This book reads easily, like a fairytale. It has the appropriate denouments and rising action and the reader never has to backtrack. Words are not wasted and everything flows. Great story and meaning. Only one word of caution: remember that this is written by a middle-aged German man in the 20s about India. His representatioons of Eastern religion are inaccurate, but its not enough to detract from any overall meaning from the book.
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Title: The Alchemist: A Fable About Following Your Dream by Paulo Coelho ISBN: 0062502182 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: 10 May, 1995 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: The Magus by John Fowles ISBN: 0440351626 Publisher: Dell Publishing Pub. Date: 01 April, 1985 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Dirt Music : A Novel by Tim Winton ISBN: 0743228480 Publisher: Scribner Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression by Studs Terkel ISBN: 1565846567 Publisher: New Press Pub. Date: November, 2000 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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