I have always thirsted for knowledge; I have always been full of questions.
― Herman Hesse, Siddhartha
Siddhartha, a spiritual and religious novel written by Hermann Hesse, is about the spiritual journey of self-discovery of Siddhartha's himself. He searches for the state of perfect happiness, Nirvana.
If you have asked yourself what total spiritual enlightenment is and how it is attained, reading this book would surely help you.
Siddhartha is the handsome and respected son of a Brahmin. He lives with his father in ancient India. He performs all the rituals of religion, and he does what religion should bring him happiness and peace. However, he feels something is missing and is secretly dissatisfied.
Siddhartha then decides to leave home in hopes of gaining spiritual enlightenment. His best friend, Govinda initially joined him. Siddhartha experiments with different teachings and approaches to Nirvana.
Siddhartha and Govinda learned the teachings of the Samanas- a group of wandering ascetics who practices severe self-discipline and abstention, as well as the teachings of a holy man named Gotama-now known as Buddha.
Siddhartha, however, is still somehow dissatisfied with both.
He eventually part ways with Govinda, who has joined Gotama and his followers.
Siddhartha then continued his spiritual journey and even dabbled in the body's pleasures and the material world.
Siddhartha detached himself to property, clothing, sexuality, and all sustenance except those required to live to gambling, drinking, dancing, having sex, and enjoying anything that can be bought in the material world.
What would going from living as a respected individual to renouncing all possessions while meditating intensely and essentially being homeless to having a luxurious lifestyle do to a man?
Did Siddhartha reach Nirvana? If yes, how?
What religion´s teaching gave him spiritual enlightenment?
Join Siddhartha in his passage and learn the lessons he acquired by reading this book
