Siddhartha – by Hermann Hesse

I recently read the acclaimed book ‘Siddhartha – by Hermann Hesse’. This is a story of the spiritual journey and growth of Siddharth who as a young man goes in search of meaning becoming a monk only to return to the worldly life of comfort and suffering Samsara to give it up again in frustration. The story keeps moving between characters not knowing whether it’s a spiritual book of wisdom or about a character and the changes it undergoes. So it is filled with profound allegorical messages hidden between plots that aren’t well formed too. Therefore it doesn’t satisfy either the seeker of wisdom or of thrill, leaving the reader confused, much like its main character Siddharth. A profound but confused book.

Nevertheless, there were a lot of words and sentences in this book that the reader is left with. I have collected some of the ones that resonated with me. Here they are, reproduced below:

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The word Siddhartha is made up of two words in the Sanskrit language, siddha (achieved) + artha (meaning), which together means ‘he who has found meaning (of existence)’ or ‘he who has attained his goals’.

One had to penetrate that far into the self, into myself, into the Atman— was there some other way, however, a search which still yielded worthwhile results? When Siddhartha sat down, ready to speak the Om, he murmured and repeated the verse: “Om is the bow; the arrow is the soul, The Brahman is the arrow’s goal That one should continuously hit.”

When every shred of his self had been conquered and put to death, when every longing and every inclination of the heart had been silenced, then the Ultimate had to awaken, that which was innermost had to come into being, that which was nothing less than the ago, the great secret.

The thing that we call ‘learning’ is, in truth, nonexistent! It is inherent, oh my friend, in a knowledge that is everywhere, that is Atman; it is in me and in you and in every essence. I am starting to believe that this knowledge has no more aggressive enemy than learning and the desire for knowledge.”

“You are wise, oh Samana,” said the venerable one. “You know how to talk wisely, my friend. Be wary of too much wisdom!”

Neither Yoga- Veda shall teach me any more, no Atharva- Veda, nor the ascetics, nor any kind of teachings. I want to learn from myself, want to be my student, want to get to know myself, the secret of Siddhartha.” Out of this moment when the world melted away all around him, when he stood alone like a star in the sky, out of this moment of cold and despair, Siddhartha emerged, more himself than before, firmer in his resolve.

He saw mankind going through life like a child or an animal that he both loved and despised at the same time. He saw them toiling, suffering, and becoming gray- haired for the sake of things which seemed to him entirely unworthy of this price. He saw them scolding and insulting each other for money, for small pleasures, or for some small encomium; he saw them complain about pain at which a Samana would only smile, and suffering because of deprivations which a Samana would not feel.

Siddhartha lost his equanimity when he lost a game, he became impatient when he was not paid promptly, he was no longer kind towards beggars, and he was no longer disposed to give away or even loan money to those who petitioned him.

Their vanities, desires for possessions, and ridiculous traits were no longer laughable to him. They became comprehensible, lovable, and even worthy of veneration to him. His goal was nothing more than a readiness of the soul, an ability and secret method of thinking the thought of unity every moment of his life, and being able to feel and inhale the unity.

‘When someone is searching,” said Siddhartha, “then it can easily happen that the only thing his eyes see is that for which he is searching. He is then unable to find anything or let any thought enter his mind because he always thinks of nothing but the object of his search. He is obsessed by a goal; searching means having a goal. But finding means: being free, open, and having no goal. You, oh venerable one, are perhaps indeed a seeker, because, in striving for your goal, there are many things that you don’t see, even though they are right in front of your eyes.”

Knowledge can be transferred, but not wisdom. It can be found and lived, and it is possible to be carried by it. Miracles can be performed with it, but it can’t be expressed and taught with words.

I had to learn how to leave the world as it is, to love it, and to enjoy being a part of it.

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