Siddhartha

Von Hermann Hesse

Im Schatten des Hauses, in der Sonne des Flußufers bei den Booten, im Schatten des Salwaldes, im Schatten des Feigenbaumes wuchs Siddhartha auf, der schöne Sohn des Brahmanen, der junge Falke, zusammen mit Govinda, seinem Freunde, dem Brahmanensohn. Sonne bräunte seine lichten Schultern am Flußufer, beim Bade, bei den heiligen Waschungen, bei den heiligen Opfern. Schatten floß in seine schwarzen Augen im Mangohain, bei den Knabenspielen, beim Gesang der Mutter, bei den heiligen Opfern, bei den Lehren seines Vaters, des Gelehrten, beim Gespräch der Weisen. Lange schon nahm Siddhartha am Gespräch der Weisen teil, übte sich mit Govinda im Redekampf, übte sich mit Govinda in der Kunst der Betrachtung, im Dienst der Versenkung. Schon verstand er, lautlos das Om zu sprechen, das Wort der Worte, es lautlos in sich hinein zu sprechen mit dem Einhauch, es lautlos aus sich heraus zu sprechen mit dem Aushauch, mit gesammelter Seele, die Stirn umgeben vom Glanz des klardenkenden Geistes. Schon verstand er, im Innern seines Wesens Atman zu wissen, unzerstörbar, eins mit dem Weltall.

• Sprache: Deutsch
• Herausgeber: Interactive Media
• Erscheinungsdatum: 4. Dez. 2020
• ISBN: 9781787362086

Hermann Hesse

Hermann Hesse was a highly acclaimed German author. He was known most famously for his novels Steppenwolfand Siddhartha and his novel The Glass Bead Game earned Hesse a Nobel prize in Literature in 1946. Many of his works explore topics pertaining to self-prescribed societal ostracization. Hesse was fascinated with ways in which one could break the molds of traditional society in an effort to dig deeper into the conventions of selfhood. His fascination with personal awareness earned himself something of a following in the later part of his career. Perceived thus as a sort of “cult-figure” for many young English readers, Hesse’s works were a gateway into their expanding understanding of eastern mysticism and spirituality. Despite Hesse’s personal fame, Siddhartha, was not an immediate success. It was only later that his works received noticeable recognition, largely with audiences internationally. The Glass Bead Game was Hermann Hesse’s final novel, though he continued to express his beliefs through varying forms of art including essays, poems, and even watercolor paintings.

Buchvorschau

GOVINDA

ERSTER TEIL

ROMAIN ROLLAND DEM VEREHRTEN FREUNDE GEWIDMET

DER SOHN DES BRAHMANEN

Im Schatten des Hauses, in der Sonne des Flußufers bei den Booten, im Schatten des Salwaldes, im Schatten des Feigenbaumes wuchs Siddhartha auf, der schöne Sohn des Brahmanen, der junge Falke, zusammen mit Govinda, seinem Freunde, dem Brahmanensohn. Sonne bräunte seine lichten Schultern am Flußufer, beim Bade, bei den heiligen Waschungen, bei den heiligen Opfern. Schatten floß in seine schwarzen Augen im Mangohain, bei den Knabenspielen, beim Gesang der Mutter, bei den heiligen Opfern, bei den Lehren seines Vaters, des Gelehrten, beim Gespräch der Weisen. Lange schon nahm Siddhartha am Gespräch der Weisen teil, übte sich mit Govinda im Redekampf, übte sich mit Govinda in der Kunst der Betrachtung, im Dienst der Versenkung. Schon verstand er, lautlos das Om zu sprechen, das Wort der Worte, es lautlos in sich hinein zu sprechen mit dem Einhauch, es lautlos aus sich heraus zu sprechen mit dem Aushauch, mit gesammelter Seele, die Stirn umgeben vom Glanz des klardenkenden Geistes. Schon verstand er, im Innern seines Wesens Atman zu wissen, unzerstörbar, eins mit dem Weltall.

Freude sprang in seines Vaters Herzen über den Sohn, den Gelehrigen, den Wissensdurstigen, einen großen Weisen und Priester sah er in ihm heranwachsen, einen Fürsten unter den Brahmanen.

Wonne sprang in seiner Mutter Brust, wenn sie ihn sah, wenn sie ihn schreiten, wenn sie ihn niedersitzen und aufstehen sah, Siddhartha, den Starken, den Schönen, den auf schlanken Beinen Schreitenden, den mit vollkommenem Anstand sie Begrüßenden.

Liebe rührte sich in den Herzen der jungen Brahmanentöchter, wenn Siddhartha durch die Gassen der Stadt ging, mit der leuchtenden Stirn, mit dem Königsauge, mit den schmalen Hüften.

Mehr als sie alle aber liebte ihn Govinda, sein Freund, der Brahmanensohn. Er liebte Siddharthas Auge und holde Stimme, er liebte seinen Gang und den vollkommenen Anstand seiner Bewegungen, er liebte alles, was Siddhartha tat und sagte, und am meisten liebte er seinen Geist, seine hohen, feurigen Gedanken, seinen glühenden Willen, seine hohe Berufung. Govinda wußte: dieser wird kein gemeiner Brahmane werden, kein fauler Opferbeamter, kein habgieriger Händler mit Zaubersprüchen, kein eitler, leerer Redner, kein böser, hinterlistiger Priester, und auch kein gutes, dummes Schaf in der Herde der Vielen. Nein, und auch er, Govinda, wollte kein solcher werden, kein Brahmane, wie es zehntausend gibt. Er wollte Siddhartha folgen, dem Geliebten, dem Herrlichen. Und wenn Siddhartha einstmals ein Gott würde, wenn er einstmals eingehen würde zu den Strahlenden, dann wollte Govinda ihm folgen, als sein Freund, als sein Begleiter, als sein Diener, als sein Speerträger, sein Schatten.

So liebten den Siddhartha alle. Allen schuf er Freude, allen war er zur Lust.

Er aber, Siddhartha, schuf sich nicht Freude, er war sich nicht zur Lust. Wandelnd auf den rosigen Wegen des Feigengartens, sitzend im bläulichen Schatten des Hains der Betrachtung, waschend seine Glieder im täglichen Sühnebad, opfernd im tiefschattigen Mangowald, von vollkommenem Anstand der Gebärden, von allen geliebt, aller Freude, trug er doch keine Freude im Herzen. Träume kamen ihm und rastlose Gedanken aus dem Wasser des Flusses geflossen, aus den Sternen der Nacht gefunkelt, aus den Strahlen der Sonne geschmolzen, Träume kamen ihm und Ruhelosigkeit der Seele, aus den Opfern geraucht, aus den Versen der Rig-Veda gehaucht, aus den Lehren der alten Brahmanen geträufelt.

Siddhartha hatte begonnen, Unzufriedenheit in sich zu nähren. Er hatte begonnen zu fühlen, daß die Liebe seines Vaters, und die Liebe seiner Mutter, und auch die Liebe seines Freundes, Govindas, nicht immer und für alle Zeit ihn beglücken, ihn stillen, ihn sättigen, ihm genügen werde. Er hatte begonnen zu ahnen, daß sein ehrwürdiger Vater und seine anderen Lehrer, daß die weisen Brahmanen ihm von ihrer Weisheit das meiste und beste schon mitgeteilt, daß sie ihre Fülle schon in sein wartendes Gefäß gegossen hätten, und das Gefäß war nicht voll, der Geist war nicht begnügt, die Seele war nicht ruhig, das Herz nicht gestillt. Die Waschungen waren gut, aber sie waren Wasser, sie wuschen nicht Sünde ab, sie heilten nicht Geistesdurst, sie lösten nicht Herzensangst. Vortrefflich waren die Opfer und die Anrufung der Götter—aber war dies alles? Gaben die Opfer Glück? Und wie war das mit den Göttern? War es wirklich Prajapati, der die Welt erschaffen hat? War es nicht der Atman, Er, der Einzige, der All-Eine? Waren nicht die Götter Gestaltungen, erschaffen wie ich und du, der Zeit untertan, vergänglich? War es also gut, war es richtig, war es ein sinnvolles und höchstes Tun, den Göttern zu opfern? Wem anders war zu opfern, wem anders war Verehrung darzubringen als Ihm, dem Einzigen, dem Atman? Und wo war Atman zu finden, wo wohnte Er, wo schlug Sein ewiges Herz, wo anders als im eigenen Ich, im Innersten, im Unzerstörbaren, das ein jeder in sich trug? Aber wo, wo war dies Ich, dies Innerste, dies Letzte? Es war nicht Fleisch und Bein, es war nicht Denken noch Bewußtsein, so lehrten die Weisesten. Wo, wo also war es? Dorthin zu dringen, zum Ich, zu mir, zum Atman,—gab es einen andern Weg, den zu suchen sich lohnte? Ach, und niemand zeigte diesen Weg, niemand wußte ihn, nicht der Vater, nicht die Lehrer und Weisen, nicht die heiligen Opfergesänge! Alles wußten sie, die Brahmanen und ihre heiligen Bücher, alles wußten sie, um alles hatten sie sich gekümmert und um mehr als alles, die Erschaffung der Welt, das Entstehen der Rede, der Speise, des Einatmens, des Ausatmens, die Ordnungen der Sinne, die Taten der Götter—unendlich vieles wußten sie—aber war es wertvoll, dies alles zu wissen, wenn man das Eine und Einzige nicht wußte, das Wichtigste, das allein Wichtige?

Gewiß, viele Verse der heiligen Bücher, zumal in den Upanishaden des Samaveda, sprachen von diesem Innersten und Letzten, herrliche Verse. Deine Seele ist die ganze Welt, stand da geschrieben, und geschrieben stand, daß der Mensch im Schlafe, im Tiefschlaf, zu seinem Innersten eingehe und im Atman wohne. Wunderbare Weisheit stand in diesen Versen, alles Wissen der Weisesten stand hier in magischen Worten gesammelt, rein wie von Bienen gesammelter Honig. Nein, nicht gering zu achten war das Ungeheure an Erkenntnis, das hier von unzählbaren Geschlechterfolgen weiser Brahmanen gesammelt und bewahrt lag.—Aber wo waren die Brahmanen, wo die Priester, wo die Weisen oder Büßer, denen es gelungen war, dieses tiefste Wissen nicht bloß zu wissen, sondern zu leben? Wo war der Kundige, der das Daheimsein im Atman aus dem Schlafe herüberzauberte ins Wachsein, in das Leben, in Schritt und Tritt, in Wort und Tat? Viele ehrwürdige Brahmanen kannte Siddhartha, seinen Vater vor allen, den Reinen, den Gelehrten, den höchst Ehrwürdigen. Zu bewundern war sein Vater, still und edel war sein Gehaben, rein sein Leben, weise sein Wort, feine und adlige Gedanken wohnten in seiner Stirn—aber auch er, der so viel Wissende, lebte er denn in Seligkeit, hatte er Frieden, war er nicht auch nur ein Suchender, ein Dürstender? Mußte er nicht immer und immer wieder an heiligen Quellen, ein Durstender, trinken, am Opfer, an den Büchern, an der Wechselrede der Brahmanen? Warum mußte er, der Untadelige, jeden Tag Sünde abwaschen, jeden Tag sich um Reinigung mühen, jeden Tag von neuem? War denn nicht Atman in ihm, floß denn nicht in seinem eigenen Herzen der Urquell? Ihn mußte man finden, den Urquell im eigenen Ich, ihn mußte man zu eigen haben! Alles andre war Suchen, war Umweg, war Verirrung.

So waren Siddharthas Gedanken, dies war sein Durst, dies sein Leiden.

Oft sprach er aus einem Chandogya-Upanishad sich die Worte vor: Fürwahr, der Name des Brahman ist Satyam—wahrlich, wer solches weiß, der geht täglich ein in die himmlische Welt. Oft schien sie nahe, die himmlische Welt, aber niemals hatte er sie ganz erreicht, nie den letzten Durst gelöscht. Und von allen Weisen und Weisesten, die er kannte und deren Belehrung er genoß, von ihnen allen war keiner, der sie ganz erreicht hatte, die himmlische Welt, der ihn ganz gelöscht hatte, den ewigen Durst.

Govinda, sprach Siddhartha zu seinem Freunde, Govinda, Lieber, komm mit mir unter den Banyanenbaum, wir wollen der Versenkung pflegen.

Sie gingen zum Banyanenbaum, sie setzten sich nieder, hier Siddhartha, zwanzig Schritte weiter Govinda. Indem er sich niedersetzte, bereit, das Om zu sprechen, wiederholte Siddhartha murmelnd den Vers:

Om ist Bogen, der Pfeil ist Seele,

Das Brahman ist des Pfeiles Ziel,

Das soll man unentwegt treffen.

Als die gewohnte Zeit der Versenkungsübung hingegangen war, erhob sich Govinda. Der Abend war gekommen, Zeit war es, die Waschung der Abendstunde vorzunehmen. Er rief Siddharthas Namen. Siddhartha gab nicht Antwort. Siddhartha saß versunken, seine Augen standen starr auf ein sehr fernes Ziel gerichtet, seine Zungenspitze stand ein wenig zwischen den Zähnen hervor, er schien nicht zu atmen. So saß er, in Versenkung gehüllt, Om denkend, seine Seele als Pfeil nach dem Brahman ausgesandt.

Einst waren Samanas durch Siddharthas Stadt gezogen, pilgernde Asketen, drei dürre, erloschene Männer, nicht alt noch jung, mit staubigen und blutigen Schultern, nahezu nackt von der Sonne versengt, von Einsamkeit umgeben, fremd und feind der Welt, Fremdlinge und hagere Schakale im Reich der Menschen. Hinter ihnen her wehte heiß ein Duft von stiller Leidenschaft, von zerstörendem Dienst, von mitleidloser Entselbstung.

Am Abend, nach der Stunde der Betrachtung, sprach Siddhartha zu

Govinda: "Morgen in der Frühe, mein Freund, wird Siddhartha zu den

Samanas gehen. Er wird ein Samana werden."

Govinda erbleichte, da er die Worte hörte und im unbewegten Gesicht seines Freundes den Entschluß las, unablenkbar wie der vom Bogen losgeschnellte Pfeil. Alsbald und beim ersten Blick erkannte Govinda: Nun beginnt es, nun geht Siddhartha seinen Weg, nun beginnt sein Schicksal zu sprossen, und mit seinem das meine. Und er wurde bleich wie eine trockene Bananenschale.

O Siddhartha, rief er, wird das dein Vater dir erlauben?

Siddhartha blickte herüber wie ein Erwachender. Pfeilschnell las er in Govindas Seele, las die Angst, las die Ergebung.

O Govinda, sprach er leise, "wir wollen nicht Worte verschwenden.

Morgen mit Tagesanbruch werde ich das Leben der Samanas beginnen.

Rede nicht mehr davon."

Siddhartha trat in die Kammer, wo sein Vater auf einer Matte aus Bast saß, und trat hinter seinen Vater und blieb da stehen, bis sein Vater fühlte, daß einer hinter ihm stehe. Sprach der Brahmane: Bist du es, Siddhartha? So sage, was zu sagen du gekommen bist.

Sprach Siddhartha: "Mit deiner Erlaubnis, mein Vater. Ich bin gekommen, dir zu sagen, daß mich verlangt, morgen dein Haus zu verlassen und zu den Asketen zu gehen. Ein Samana zu werden ist mein Verlangen. Möge mein Vater dem

Rezensionen für Siddhartha

[neverstopreading-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

My first experience with Hermann Hesse came in the fall of 2005 when I took Anthropology of Religion in my senior year at Texas A&M. We read an excerpt from The Glass Bead Game and I was deeply moved by the beauty of Hesse's writing, as were many people, thus earning him the Nobel Prize in 1946.I don't remember when or where I purchased Siddhartha, but the appeal of the story of a spiritual journey and my desire to read more of Hesse's works were too tempting to deny. That being said, I don't know why I've held onto the book for so long without reading it, especially since it is not a very long novel.Siddhartha is beautifully written and mirrors my own spiritual journey. I am of a different faith than the characters in the book, but that is irrelevant to my appreciation of the story. There is much wisdom in the story, and "Wisdom," Siddhartha says, "is not communicable." A wise statement, yes, which then makes it foolish.Wisdom is communicable, but not always through pedagogical language. It is communicated through the sound of a river, a life lived, or a story. This book is a book of wisdom and it must be read carefully and reflectively to be received.

[razinha-1 · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

I seem to remember writing a book report for this in junior high or high school, but I don't recall that I ever actually read it. I wonder what the then me, being naive and impressionable, would have thought if I had read it. I know that I couldn't then, as now, read into a book and pull out what the author was thinking - or at least make up some nonsense about what I think the author was thinking. Regardless, the current me found this to be rather simple and preachy...with yet another, "oh, please" ending.

[auntmarge64 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A well-to-do Brahman by birth, as a young man Siddhartha leaves home to pursue a spiritual satisfaction he hasn’t found in his father’s traditional teachings and practices. Throughout his life he follows his inner voice, learning from forest-dwelling ascetics, a brief stay with Gautama Buddha, friendships he forms with a courtesan and a wealthy businessman, and, finally, from an old ferryman, with whom he lives his own elder years. Slowly Siddhartha finds his own path to holiness, which he reaches only when he finally leaves teachings behind and simply recognizes the unity of all existence. What a beautiful tale this is, and one I’ll be revisiting again and again.

[nikg83 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A classic covering a man's journey in his discovery of the purpose of life. Easy to read and a most agreeable conclusion.

[rsplenda477 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This is quite possibly the most beautiful book I have ever read. It touched me emotionally, philosophically, spiritually, etc. Hesse really knocked this one out of the park about a man in search of truth and self-identity.

[nandakishore_varma-1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Most religions know of it as "Enlightenment" - when the individual transcends himself and sees himself as one with the ultimate reality. It can be theistic (the Aham Brahma Asmi - "I am the Brahman" or Tat Tvam Asi - "Thou Art That" of Hinduism) or atheistic (the Buddhist Nirvana, based on the Anatman - "non-soul"); but the person who achieves it, according to all sources, is caught up in profound rapture. To reach this stage, one has to tread an arduous path. Carl Gustav Jung called the process "individuation": Joseph Campbell called it "the hero's journey". Herman Hesse's eponymous protagonist of Siddhartha is a man who embarks on this enterprise.

Siddhartha, the handsome Brahmin youth who apparently has everything, is dissatisfied with life: with the whole pointlessness of it. He leaves home with his friend Govinda and joins a group of ascetics (the Samanas) who have made renunciation a way of life. However, the true seeker he is, Siddhartha finds that simple renunciation does not work for him: he joins the Buddha in pursuit of enlightenment. However, he soon understands that whatever knowledge he must possess, must be experiential.

Leaving Govinda to become a Buddhist ascetic, Siddhartha buries himself in the sensual world across the river, where Kamala the courtesan trains him up in the pleasures of the flesh and Kamaswami the merchant instructs him in the secrets of commerce. Siddhartha soon tires of these too: he returns to the river in penury (not knowing that his child is growing within Kamala), and is taken up by the aged boatman Vasudeva as a helper.

Here, ferrying people across the river, Siddhartha finally attains enlightenment - not from a great teacher, not from years of penanace and not even from the kindly Vasudeva (even though he points the way) - but from the river. Kamala's death and his son's abandonment of the stranger father completes his education, as distress turns to peace. Then it's time for Vasudeva, the mentor, to disappear - leaving his student alone with the river.

What the river told Siddhartha

The river flows, and becomes one with the ocean. The vapour from the ocean form into clouds, and descend on the mountains, becoming the river. The river keeps on flowing: it is inconstant, ever-renewing, never the same - yet it is eternal. The river flows, and the river is. On its surface, you can see the faces of all your loved ones: whether alive, dead or yet to be born. In the roar of the river, if you listen carefully, you can hear the sacred AUM - the first syllable outward, the second one inward, the third one silence...and the fourth one, the all encompassing silence which bears the sound of the cosmic ocean in its womb.

Highly recommended.

[thedivineoomba · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

A wonderful book about the happiness of taking your own path, of learning the world your own way. Its full of good messages, but is not preachy. Highly recommended, and a Book I intend to come back to.

[oacevedo-792047 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I enjoyed Siddhartha. It was a beautiful, inspiring read. Highly recommend it!

[tloeffler_3 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Siddhartha leaves his family as a young man to search for happiness. He travels, trying on and then discarding several different lives, until he ends up living on the river with a ferryman. What he finds is that happiness is a culmination of everything in life. Like the river, life is not only the now but what has come before and what is yet to be. I'm not explaining the philosophy very well, but it was very inspirational to me. Although the first part of the book moved slowly, the second half was fascinating, and I would recommend the book to anyone. It doesn't try to teach you a religion; it tries to show you that everything in your life is your religion.

[mwhel_1 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

I remember this being a mind-expanding book when I first read it as a teenager. That memory led me to reread it recently but, sad to say, it didn't deliver the same punch that I remember from earlier. Maybe that's because Siddhartha's journey to enlightenment seemed to offer a relatively little-known path to a harmonious, peaceful existence in my young impressionable mind. I think I now see that path as well-worn and less enticing. That jaded insight aside, the prose is very digestible, and the idea that true enlightenment is discoverable in the daily routine is a powerful concept. I'm glad I first read it at a more impressionable age since I think it helped to distill my lifelong values.

[nandadevi_1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Well there are over a hundred reviews of this in LT already. What I thought of it? A well told little parable of the process of seeking after (either) meaning and (or) contentment. As someone else mentioned it would have likely had a different impact on me 40 years ago. But as it stands with me today, I enjoyed the way it was put together, and the way it seemed to start and end and how it got from one to the other so economically. What does fascinate me though, is how Hesse came to be writing about this at all, and how much (if at all) this novel played a part (or was a reflection?) of Germany's 20th Century flirtation with Indian concepts. And what the Indians made of Hesse (and the Nazi's). So in the sense that some part of the worth of a book is the degree to which it opens up further interest I rate this a little higher than I might otherwise.

[nataliec7 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

This is quite low down on my TBR's but I wanted a quick read as I'm going on holiday soon and have a whole set of books to take with me but wanted to start them whilst I was away!I liked this book. It was very easy to get into, and I lost myself within it. I enjoyed the rather simple language, what it was about, the characters and the feel of the book in general.

[dreesie-1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

I liked this much more than I expected to. As a young man the Brahmin Siddhartha leaves his father to be a samana, a monk of sorts, searching for truth and enlightenment. He then begins to follow one man known as a Buddha. After much time with him, he decides he is ready for something else, knowing nothing of women or the ways of the world. He becomes a successful businessman and a lover--and years later realizes how much of his wisdom and skill has been lost (how to wait, how to fast...). He leaves his lover and business and becomes a ferryman, with the man who ferried him years before. There he gains happiness and wisdom, and knowledge of the cycle and sameness of all life and time.

[trotsky731 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A great, spiritual read. Tells the tale of Siddhartha, a young man with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, till he finally hears the answer from a river.

[supermanlver · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A very inspiring story about Siddhartha's transcendence to become the Buddha. This novel takes the reader through Siddhartha's entire journey starting from his decision, as a child, to trade in his life of luxury, for a more simplistic one as he sets off to reach enlightenment. A very intriguing book. I felt enlightened as i read it! Enjoy :)

[kristelh_15 · Bewertung: 3 von 5 Sternen]

LibraryThing predicted I would not like this one. The story is set in Nepal during the time of Buddha and tells the story of Siddhartha (achieved what was searched for). Siddhartha is a young privileged Brahmin youth. He spends his life searching. Really is is just a story of life stages; the arrogance of youth, the materialistic pursuits of middle age and the contentment of old age. It reminded me of Ecclesiastes. Hermann Hesse was the son of a missionary who served in India and his family wanted him to go into the ministry. His themes are self discovery and spirituality.

[morhavok · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Siddhartha is a life story, detailing a young mans journey through his life and spirituality. As a young man Siddhartha excels at everything and begins to question his beliefs. He sets out with his friend later and explores the world through many different frames of being. He becomes a Shramana, a merchant, a drunk, a beggar, a boatman, and finally as an old man enlightened. His journey through this is poignant because he believes you cannot achieve any meaningful spirituality in life without actually living life. The story of Siddhartha’s life is interesting in he does not take the easy route, but rather trail blazes his own life, and spirituality. Moving through a jungle of opinions and experiences he eventually reaches his destination of enlightenment. There are really only two important characters in Siddhartha, Siddhartha himself and Govinda. Govinda is Siddhartha’s shadow in the beginning in the book, but eventually decides to strike out on his own by following the Buddha’s teachings. His journey through life is in direct contrast to Siddhartha’s, but remains a shadow of Siddhartha, while not actually following him. Govinda, Instead of forging his own path to enlightenment, tries to follow the teachings of the Buddha. When they meet again at the end of their lives, and Govinda sees that Siddhartha has found enlightenment, and he has not you realize that simply complying, and following people will not lead you to a fulfilling life. One must think, experience, and become enlightened. It is not something you can just learn from a book or teaching.Herman Hesse’s writing style in Siddhartha is relatively easy reading. You shouldn’t read this when tired or distracted, as it would be easy to miss some very relevant points. But coming in a couple hundred pages you don’t get mired in a story so complex that you cannot remember the book. This is a big advantage for this text as it focuses more on getting to the point of the stages of his life. Siddhartha is definitely a book worth a read, probably a few times throughout one’s life, as it might ring differently each time.Favorite Quote:“…the river is everywhere at the same time, at the source and at the mouth, at the waterfall, at the ferry, at the current, in the ocean and in the mountains, everywhere, and that the present only exists for it, not the shadow of the past, nor the shadow of the future… I reviewed my life and it was also a river, and Siddhartha the boy, Siddhartha the mature man and Siddhartha the old man, were only separated by shadows, not through reality.”

[nx74defiant · Bewertung: 2 von 5 Sternen]

I am not that interested in Indian mysticism.

[arctic1stranger · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This is, and is not the story of the Buddha. It is Hesse's attempts to find sanity, and we are glad he takes us along with him.

[carmenere_1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

If you've come to this novella, you, like Siddhartha, may be a seeker. You, like Siddhartha, may be struggling to discover the meaning of life, looking for enlightenment. Perhaps, you may be required to read it, surely, there is a reason this story is assigned reading, right? Well, truthfully, you may not find all the answers here but consider Hesse's poetic prose as a continuation of your personal journey.Like Odysseus, there is much to lure Siddhartha off his path and which deter him from achieving his goal. Still, his associations with Kamala, Kamaswami and Govinda are not wasted moments in Siddhartha's life, rather they are a piece of his learning experience. Surprisingly, it is when Siddhartha struggles the most, when he is at his lowest, the moment he finds his love is not reciprocated that he finds the answer. This is a book to be read and reread and although each read may be different than the last it will surely leave its impression upon your journey.

[jimocracy · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

Nonsensical ideologies and philosophies aside, I really enjoyed this book. From a literary perspective, the author (and translator) did a masterful job of sucking me into the life and mind of Siddhartha. I felt like I was on a roller coaster of emotions and story lines and the protagonist journeyed through a life of seeking.

[mathmaverick-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

A thought provoking and inspirational novel. It has been 30+ years since I first (and last) read Siddhartha. I recall now just how influential and interesting it was for me. It is the story of the journey of an individual who is seeking his way. Along his trek he leaves his family, meets the Buddha, departs from a friend, finds (learns and experiences) love, learns "business", meets a true friend and discovers a son. From everyone, he learns and from him everyone is given the opportunity to learn (although not all gain from this opportunity). The book is short and its written very concisely (at least my translation was). Each paragraph has something to say, building on the general theme. This book can be read in a sitting, however I recommend reading a bit and then contemplating, playing it again in your mind. Siddhartha is certainly one of my favorites and I strongly recommend it to everyone.

[suzemo · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This is easily one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read.

Nothing new or amazingly thought provoking (dude leaves his promising life to find meaning as an ascetic, a wealthy and debauched merchant, and then back to a simple living ferryman), but everyone should read it.

[bookaldea · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This book cleared my path in my quest for the truth. I was 23, a great believer hidden behind a clueless "atheist." I have read it about eight times since then in various stages of my life. I have read it in Spanish and in English, but once I ventured to read it in the original German, one of my favorite languages. This is the book I always recommend to seekers.

[rmckeown_9 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

I read this back in the 60s when it was all the rage, and I failed to see the point. Of course, I have undergone countless changes since then, so I thought the time had come to give it another try. Good move. I have an enormous, new-found respect for this novel. It confirmed some things I believed and taught me quite a few new things. Every reader should bring something to the story and take away new insights.The Siddartha of the title, born into a Brahmin family around the time the Buddha first emerged in the 6th-5th century b.c.e., senses dissatisfaction with his life. Like Gautama Buddha, Siddhartha’s family had amassed great wealth and lived a privileged lifestyle. However, both young men decide to leave all that behind and explore the world. Siddhartha becomes an ascetic and encounters Gautama Buddha shortly after he achieves enlightenment. He reveres the Buddha but does not become a follower. Rather, he leaves on another journey that will have profound effects on his life. Siddhartha meets a number of teachers along his journey, and each one adds lessons to his life. Numerous passages struck me, but this one had particular significance. “One can convey knowledge but not wisdom. One can find wisdom, one can live it, one can be borne by it, one can work wonders with it, but one can neither speak it nor teach it” (111). This statement represents Siddhartha’s great discovery. He recognizes the achievement of Gautama Buddha, but he senses each person has to travel the path alone and discover -- for him or herself – Nirvana. This idea mirrors an identical idea of Krishnamurti, who became a great teacher, and then walked away from his followers telling them they did not need him. My version of the book has extremely helpful introduction and notes by Robert A. F. Thurman, who teaches Buddhist studies at Columbia University. These long endnotes provide explanations for some of the more esoteric philosophical terms and ideas expressed by Hesse. Do not skip them!We all meet people, learn things, gather insights, experience epiphanies, but assembling these into a coherent personal philosophy can be elusive for many of us. Knowing what to accept, what to reject, what to hold for further examination is a complicated process that requires an open mind and a great deal of patience. This central lesson of Hesse’s novel made my reading more than worthwhile. Deep down, I knew this, but seeing the effect it can have is an epiphany in itself. An inspiring and thought-provoking novel everyone can enjoy. 5 stars--Jim, 7/30/10

[amelia_smith-1 · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This book was a huge influence on me at one point, but years later I re-read it with better knowledge of Buddhism and life, and it was not as great as I remembered. Still, a classic.

[datrappert · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

This review is specifically for the audio version read by Geoffrey Giuliano. This is a pretty suitable book for audio. It is only about five hours long and the story is straightforward. The narrator does a good job, but whoever records the intro and outro sections sounds like a maniac. I almost stopped listening after a few seconds.As for the book, it is one I've had on my shelf for decades but never read. I read Hesse's Steppenwolf, when I was a teen or maybe in my early twenties; I remember liking it but don't remember anything else about it. I thought Siddhartha was about the Buddha, but in fact, it is about someone who meets the Buddha but, while appreciating his teachings, realizes that you cannot achieve nirvana through teachings. One line I particularly remember is that knowledge can be taught, but wisdom cannot. During the course of the story, Siddhartha tries out many lifestyles and can be said to succeed in all of them, but he is still finding. Which relates to another great quote, which is that those who seek cannot find, because they are too focused on what they are seeking. Meaning they miss out on all the other things around them. By the end of the book, Siddhartha seems to have found what he needs to find. Whether or not you as a reader can embrace his ultimate philosophy is up to you. The contradictory nature of the book is that Siddhartha would probably tell you not to--you have to find your own.

[vincentdarlage · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

This is one of the best novels ever written. Whenever I am deeply troubled, I re-read this book and find peace.

[steadfastreader · Bewertung: 4 von 5 Sternen]

First word that comes to mind. Transcendent. This is a fictional account of a man seeking peace and wisdom. Excellent book.

[jphamilton-1 · Bewertung: 5 von 5 Sternen]

Back when I was in college in the 1970s, I went on a serious, and predictable, Hermann Hesse reading jag ... and SIDDHARTHA was among those many, many titles. I have reread it many times in the years since then.. Presently, having just finished the book, I'm still glowing from the book's conclusion. Feeling a light and warm breeze, in a garden buzzing with bees, it was my favorite experience with a book in quite some time. These feelings are why I read.