Siddhartha

Rating:
Summary: A classic in its genre
Review:

Hermann Hesse is one of my favorite all-time authors. He died in 1966, but in his lifetime he wrote some stellar books, all with heavy metaphysical elements, of which Steppenwolf is probably the best known. Others were Demian and Magister Ludi (The Glass Bead Game.)

This is without doubt my favorite. Siddhartha is the tale of the spiritual journey of the protagonist, Siddhartha. It is no accident that he has the same name as the Prince of Gautama who became better known as The Buddha. For me to tell you about the story would spoil it for you, for it is the story that is important.

If you have any inclination to seek answers to the great metaphysical questions which have captured the attention of the world's greatest minds since the dawn of recorded history, then you should love this book. If you have no curiosity, no soul, you will probably just 'not get it.'

Siddhartha is, in my opinion, a genuine masterpiece.

It has been said that there are three types of people in the world: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and the vast majority, those who have no idea anything has happened.

Maybe it could be narrowed down to just two: those who seek, and those who just 'don't get it.'

Joseph H Pierre

Rating:
Summary: The Quest for Truth -- noble and impossibly tough...
Review: Overview:

The name "Siddhartha" which is a Sanksrit word is composed as "Siddha" + "Artha", Siddha meaning great achievement or perfectiom and Artha could denote wealth or meaning. All in all it conveys the idea of a man who is a seeker of Truth or even more accurately one who has actually acheived the ultimate wealth of the true meaning (of life). Herman Hesse's Siddhartha is one such soul who was born with an "unquenchable thirst" - in his own words - to know and realize the meaning of life. Even his early childhood years are spent with an acute suspicion and later - a deep belief that there is more to life than just what one sees, eternal Truth beyond the "Maya" or illusory world of sensory and sensual experience, or even differently put, that realization of the True Self is the ultimate goal of a human being.

What the author does is trace his spiritual journey, the years he spent in forests in self-denial practising the Shamana way of seeking the Self, his truly momentous meeting with the Englightened One (Gautama Buddha), and his subsequent conviction thereof that a full immersing experience in the real world is paramount to spiritual ascent, and then his wordly experiences, travails and tragedies, and ultimately of his finding peace and elusive existential bliss.

Synopsis:

Young Siddhartha's intellectual consciousness is uneasy and usatisfied in the mundane mantra-repeating Brahmin community, and the Upanishads unfailingly sow in him the seeds of passion to discover Atman or the Universal soul - knowing which all is known, and to attain Nirvana (in more conventionally popular terms),...The book traces his subsequent leaving of home and chronicles his years spent in self-denial with the Shamanas in the forest. The Shamanas' doctrine teaches that once the senses are conquered and their consciousness is transcended, the True Self can be effectively communicated with. What he did realize from his experiences was that such terrifyingly numbing "flights" from sense and reality did nothing but take him further away from his Self - which he was really seeking.

Siddhartha's time with the Buddha is very important since he (Siddhartha) realizes that True Knowledge cannot be communicated, and that it has to be experienced, that it cannot be taught by a teacher or written down in a book; it has to be a lone spiritual journey undertaken by the individual soul itself. Siddhartha spurns the Buddha's spirited following and embarks very determinedly to immerse himself in worldly experience. Firstly, discovering his sexuality by communing at all levels with Kamala - the courtesan, and then living for several years as a successful businessman and productive member of the community - but with the driving goal to still stay detached from material accretions and achievements, and even from egos and satisfactions derived from pure professional or solely intellectual successes. His gambling tendencies quite adequately highlight this very motivation of his - to stay afloat like a Lotus flower even while thriving in gutter water. But several years of prosperous worldly existence dilutes his intellectual acuity, numbs his senses, breeds tremendous ennui, and leads to a spiraling recrudescence of petty and diluting human emotions. His flight from that comfortable living, his meeting with his son (begottten of Kamala) who he is unable to relate to, the ensuing heartburn, and his finding of peace and tranquility by the shores of a river, form the remaining of this enthralling and thought-provoking tale.

Rating:
Summary: A parable
Review: Don't be fooled by the title: this book isn't about Siddhartha Gotama (Buddha); although Buddha is in the book, he serves a supporting role. The star role belongs to Siddhartha, a Brahmin's son who feels empty, a need to find himself. His Brahimn priests fail to appease his insatiable craving for the answers to myriad questions. The book chronicles his journies in search of masters that can guide him to edification, to the answers of the questions that have been plaguing and haranguing his soul. The book is written in simple sentances and uses an austere yet precise vocabulary to convey its simple message. This translation captures the simple language Hesse used in his original German edition. It is very well written and is an engaging story. We can all relate to the Siddhartha whitin all of us, the nagging spirit that questions all. We may make hasty assumptions and feel that we have the answers but after reading this book you will realize where the true answers lie...

Rating:
Summary: OF THE BOOKS/AUTHORS WHO MADE ME WHO I AM....
Review: I read "Siddhartha" when I was in my later 20's. It had a very large influence on me. Probably because it was the yin/yang opposite of my Ayn Rand influences. I have read "Siddhartha" several times since and I find myself identifying with a similar path in life. Only now, nearly 40, am I beginning to understand listening to the river as Siddhartha had done. I have also read different English translations and find that each one has a slightly altered meaning, perhaps giving me a better sense of the original writings. All of Hesse's books have astounded me, though "Magister Ludi" also titled the "Glass Bead Game" I find to be a much deeper book on the ways of the society, whereas Siddhartha is more about the search for meaning of our inner self. Magister Ludi likewise has given me an insight into the nature of our world and our place in society. "Journey to the East", a simple book of a man trying to find his right path is often in my mind as I follow what sometimes seems a lost path, only to find that it was my right path all along.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but a little confusing
Review: While I did enjoy the concept of this book, i wasn't sure that I completely understood what was supposed to be said.

I am a student of religion and literature, therefore I have been looking into buddhism and cocepts of it. This book tells us about the life of Siddhartha, who is the buddha. Yet somehow I was confused about who this Siddhartha really was. he lives a life of searching for the meanings and during this time he encounters "buddha". i was confused on whether "buddha" was Siddhartha or if Siddhartha is seeing himself. It is very existential i think.

I was confused so you might be confused as well. I suggest you read this more than once to get the true meaning of it. If you are looking more for a book to learn about buddhism, try some other book like basic buddhist cocepts or others.

Rating:
Summary: Very odd, Yet intriguing
Review: I had to read this book for a class and found different from anything else I've read. It tends to be confusing and sometimes rather troubling. I would probably not have read it unless i had to. I am not saying you shouldn't read this book but it just didn't pertain to my interests.

Rating:
Summary: Rather hideous...
Review: I was assigned this book by my literature teacher, and just by the name I quickly assumed that it would be a slightly tedious religeously motivated book about some fellow from Asia looking for answers. After reaching chapter 5 I didn't find it boring as much as disturbing. The main character, Siddhartha, seems to be soul searching, though his soul searching doesn't seem to involve morals. I was reading out loud to a friend of mine and was quickly shocked to realize that I was reading out loud Hesse's rather graphic description of a somewhat erotic dream of Siddhartha in which his best friend turns into a female. Aside from the fact that Siddhartha is an egotistical snob, he's also rather permiscuous. His constant speaking on how wonderful he is compared to the rest of the "common ignorant people" is rather tedious to read. Perhaps it's because I had to read it all in Spanish, though this still isn't a book I'd like to read again.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing insights into the life of Siddhartha
Review: Siddhartha is a well used subject for Eastern writings, however, Hesse gives quite a new view on his search for enlightenment. Hesse shows us the path Siddhartha takes, and the insights he gained, that change as he reaches different stages of life, as it happens with many people. However, unlike most people, Siddhartha reaches the final stage where he understands what it is that brings enlightenment and wisdom. It is not in the teachings of others, or certain lifestyles or other people, it is in everything, but only for those who can see it. Hesse's version of Siddhartha is much like many of his other books, it has a main character who is in search of the ultimate wisdom and happiness, but someone who, instead of joining the masses, finds his own way and achieves his goal.

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly good book
Review: This is one of those "deep" Eastern-oriented, religiously questioning 60s books that I read in college. They were read at a time when I was looking for something that I couldn't find in my Lutheran upbringing and I was "comparison shopping" for a new belief system, never thinking that I'd get anything concrete again. Many of these books I read and I gave away as deep life changing works only to revile my high opinion later on. I now find Starhawk and Richard Bach trite, and while I may still enjoy Robert Anton Wilson and Tom Robbins, I value their humor more than anything they say about religion.

This book is still good. Nominally Buddhist, but actually European existentialism it charts the struggles of a young man based on Buddha in coming to a spiritual place, losing it and then coming back through immersion in the society which he rejected at first. Maybe I'm still impressed because this mirrors my own spiritual struggle where I had reached a spiritual level in one area and couldn't go any farther and had to go elsewhere to find value. There are more questions than answers and where other authors have sermons, Hesse is actually writing a novel with religious overtones and not a religious text couched in the form of a novel.

So if you are interested in religion whether as a seeker or as someone wishing to be challenged in your own belief system, buy this book. It might not be life changing but it is certainly worth a read and it will give you something to think about.

Rating:
Summary: This is my favorite book
Review: This book is amazing there is nothing that will ever compare to it