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Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
The ultimate spiritual journey of a man.
Siddhartha, the rich and popular son of a Brahmin, lives a fortunate and easy life. He follows all the rules of his Hindu religion, which are supposed to bring him peace and happiness, but feels dissatisfied with his existence. Feeling that something is missing, his life changes one day when he sees a group of people passing through town. They are called Samanas, and starving and naked, they believe that enlightenment can be achieved through asceticism, a rejection of the physical and desire. Siddhartha, who has never seen this sort of living, believes that this might be the answer he was looking for. Against the wishes of his father, Siddhartha and his friend Govinda go to join the Samanas. Renouncing the pleasures of the world, he finds himself improved morally, but still remains dissatisfied. Soon he hears talk about a holy man named Gotama the Buddha, who is said to have reachrd total enlightenment called Nirvana. Siddhartha and Govinda leave once again, continuing their search.
Taken in by Gotama and his followers, Siddhartha is initially pleased, but soon his doubts reemerge. He notices contradictions in Gotama's teachings and decides to embark on a new search, one not dependent on religious instruction. The spiritual journey eventually separates Siddhartha and Govinda. Finding the enlightenment they desired takes many years and is not easy. It all becomes worth it in the end, and so is reading this beautiful and inspirational story.
Siddhartha is written as an allegorical novel, lyrical and simple in style. First written in German and published in 1922, it was finally published in the U.S. in 1951. The powerful journey of a simple man’s quest to find salvation, this novel defies all religious boundaries. It can easily be read, understood and appreciated by anyone who has ever contemplated the point of life.
Title: Siddhartha
Author: Hermann Hesse
Publisher: Bantam Classics
ISBN: 0553208845
Review written by: Jennifer Kneisley
Reviewer's Rating:10
Reader's Rating: 5.00
Reader's Votes: 2
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