Finding Your Inner Siddhartha: Insights from Hermann Hesse’s Timeless Character
As I prepare for the India launch of my book, “Being & Belonging: A Journey of Curiosity and Imagination,” I must acknowledge the influential thinkers and activists I have quoted throughout its pages. While many have contributed to shaping my thoughts, three fictional characters have had a significant impact: Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Santiago from “The Old Man and the Sea,” and Siddhartha from the novel of the same title by Hermann Hesse. In this article, I will focus on Siddhartha, who should not be confused with Gautama Buddha. By the end of this piece, I hope to explain why Siddhartha serves as a North Star for those seeking to embark on their own journey of curiosity and imagination.
Siddharth is a novel about a man’s spiritual journey towards self-discovery and enlightenment during the time of Gautama Buddha. The story follows Siddhartha, the son of a Brahmin, as he explores various philosophies and life experiences in his quest for wisdom and meaning.
Siddhartha’s path takes him from a life of spiritual asceticism to one of material excess, love, and finally, inner peace. Throughout his journey, he learns valuable lessons from various characters, including his best friend Govinda, a merchant named Kamala, and a wise ferryman named Vasudeva.
The primary moral of “Siddhartha” is the importance of finding one’s own path in life and understanding that wisdom comes from personal experience. Siddhartha’s quest teaches us that life’s meaning cannot be found by blindly following established doctrines or through material wealth. Instead, it is attained by being present in the moment, embracing both joy and suffering, and gaining knowledge from one’s unique experiences.
Vasudeva, the wise ferryman, plays a pivotal role in Siddhartha’s journey towards enlightenment. When Siddhartha meets Vasudeva, he is at a low point in his life, having experienced the emptiness of material wealth and pleasure. Vasudeva advises Siddhartha to listen to the river, emphasizing that it holds the key to understanding life’s mysteries.
Vasudeva teaches Siddhartha that the river represents the continuous flow of life, encompassing all experiences, emotions, and wisdom. By listening to the river, Siddhartha learns to embrace the unity of all things and the cyclical nature of existence. He also discovers that true wisdom comes from within, and that one must embark on a personal journey of self-discovery to attain enlightenment.
Vasudeva’s guidance helps Siddhartha recognize that the quest for knowledge and inner peace is a lifelong process, and that each individual must forge their own path. Ultimately, it is through Vasudeva’s advice that Siddhartha attains the wisdom and serenity he had been seeking throughout his journey.
Additionally, Siddhartha’s ultimate realization that everything is connected and that all existence is cyclical serves as a powerful metaphor for the nature of human existence and our constant search for meaning and contentment.
In alignment with Siddhartha’s journey, as you delve into the wisdom within this book, remember that it’s not about seeking an author as your Sherpa to guide you. Recall Siddhartha’s decision not to follow even the great Buddha, opting instead to forge his own path. In a conversation with his friend Govinda, Siddhartha shared his wisdom:
“I will become a Samana. I will leave behind the ascetic Siddhartha, who has become weary of his struggle against himself. And now that he has seen that everything is one, that nothing else exists other than that oneness, he will go on his way knowing that all the wisdom in the world will not bring him any closer to understanding this one thing that matters.”
As you embark on your journey of curiosity and imagination, take inspiration from Siddhartha’s determination to find his own truth and recognize the power of personal experience in shaping your path.
