Siddhartha Inward Journey Essay, Research Paper
Siddhartha’s Inward Journey Siddhartha was written by Hermann Hesse, as a
fictional adventure for the body and soul. Siddhartha was once an intelligent
boy who dared to think of something more. Siddhartha is now an enlightened
man, who dared to think of something more. Siddhartha traveled though life
the best he knew how, and many times he did all he could. Siddhartha’s
inward journey, from innocence to guilt and despair, then finally to destruction
or salvation, and how the book reflects this and the decisions that Siddhartha
makes. Siddhartha as an innocent boy was very smart. He would love arguing
with the men of his village. He also knew that many of the Brahmins were lazy
and they disgraced the title. His father was very intelligent and was the image
of the ideal Brahmin: loving and caring, intelligent, wise beyond his years,
hard working and loved by all. Siddhartha loved his father and their
discussions. He would play advanced games and win; he would excel at almost
everything he tried. He knew no harm and loved games, for he was only an
innocent little boy. “In the shade of the house, in the sunshine on the river
bank by the boats, in the shade of the sallow wood and the fig tree,
Siddhartha, the handsome Brahmin’s son, grew up with his friend Govinda.”
(P. 3) This would all change one day. He told his best friend that he would go
to the Samanas and learn about life. His father didn’t want him to go but, after
seeing his conviction, his father agreed. After joining the Samanas he was not
so innocent, but still a boy. He and Govinda, his best friend, traveled and
visited Gotama Buddha. Govinda left with the Buddha; Siddhartha left on his
own. Now, he was a man. Later he went forth and learned the worldly
pleasures of money, positions, sex, love and greed form Kamala and
Kaqmaswami. After only knowing worldly pleasures for decades Siddhartha
had lost his way. He no longer had his high and mighty lifestyle. He had
learned so much, been so serious, but after years of knowing nothing but
gambling, drinking and lovemaking, he could not return to his previous life. He
felt horrible and he had a suddenly desire to leave. He left his home, his job
and his love because of a dream. He stood before a river and wished all the
hurting to stop. He had lived a life that disappointed him so much; he needed
to forever end the misery that was his life. He wished to simply fall into the
water and drowned, end all of this life which he hated so much. Suddenly from
a forgotten place deep within himself Siddhartha thought, knew and felt Om!
This small word, idea saved him from ending his life. His despair and wish for
destruction began to fade and he fell sleep after years of a hard and tiring life.
“With a distorted countenance he stared into the water. He saw his face
reflected, and spat at it; he took his arm away from the tree trunk and turned a
little, so that he could fall headlong and finally go under. He bent, with closed
eyes-towards death.” (P. 89) Guilt came, but not after leaving his best friend,
not even after leaving Kamala the one whom taught him of worldly pleasures
for decades. He had a son with Kamala. After his son left him Siddhartha was
devastated! He suddenly realized that he had left his father with little warning
at a young age and never saw or spoke to him again, the same way his son
was doing now. “He saw his father, lonely, mourning for his son; he saw
himself, lonely, also with the bonds of longing for his faraway son; he saw his
son, also lonely, the buy eagerly advancing along the burning path of life’s
desires; each one concentrating on his goal, each one obsessed by his goal,
each one suffering. The river’s voice was sorrowful.” (P. 134) He begins to go
into a downward spiral. This despair is great but not as the despair from
before. He feels horrible but knows that he must continue. Siddhartha’s
salvation from immediate destruction comes from, Om. This calms his entire
body and he lives through the experience that might have killed him. But really
salvation comes from going back to the ferryman. He returns to work for him.
He learns many things from Vasudeva, the ferryman. He learns of nature and
how to find true enlightenment and peace. He studies works and learns many
things with Vasudeva. Finally Vasudeva guides Siddhartha to the end of
samsara. He has reached Nirvana, and is total peace. “From that hour
Siddhartha ceased to fight against his destiny. There shone in his face the
serenity of knowledge, of one who is no longer confronted with conflict of
desires, who has found salvation, who is in harmony with the stream of events,
with the stream of life, full of sympathy and compassion, surrendering himself
to the stream, belonging to the unity of all things.” (P. 136) After almost every
temptation, sidetracks, and everything else bad or harmful Siddhartha has
experience and surpassed. He finally reached peace when Govinda had not.
This is strange because the stuck up one finds peace and harmony, and the
nice, helpful one doesn’t. But at the end Govinda reaches enlightenment in an
emotional display. As young men they were best of friends, innocent and free.
As old men they are best of friend, enlightened and peaceful.
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