Siddharta (1922) | Herman Hesse

It tells the story of Siddharta, a young man born out of a rich caste, who then decides to be an ascetic, and then meets briefly, Gotama. After which, he goes his way and meets Kamala; whom he perishes under the pleasures of the flesh; and Kawamasmi, where he learns the ways of rich. After realization that he had become what he didn’t sought out to be, he finds himself lost and disillusioned. After passing out by a river; he finds himself back, enlightened. He then spends time with the ferryman by the river, and he meets Kamala again with their son. Only to be left right away, as she is bit a black snake. He then soon finds out that his son is not accustomed with his current ways and they drift apart. He watches as the ferryman succumbs to death and his son leaves him. He then meets his old friend, Govinda, where they speak about the thoughts they have come to learn through out the time.


It is one linear story spanning years and decades. I had thought of reading this as some sort of a window to peek in to Buddhism; but now it seems it may not be a complete representation of the belief.  The concepts spoken in the book are interesting, the self, the duality of things among others.

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