Siddhartha’s journey is largely be broken into three phases. I would say, at the cost of inviting some criticism, that his journey is not an entirely spiritual one either. But that isn’t the promise Hermann Hesse or Siddhartha make at any point. Siddhartha Siddhartha’s journey through vices and virtuesĪ cursory read of Siddhartha’s story might make you feel that Siddhartha’s story is not the most exciting. It’s all just the half of it, lacking completeness. Everything that can be thought with the mind and said with words is one-sided. That is to say, any truth can only be expressed and put into words when it is one-sided. The opposite of every truth is just as true. From learning the art of patience and the ability to think with clarity, to meeting Gautama Buddha himself, losing his way to greed and materialism, and finally finding the meaning he had been looking for, in perhaps the most unexpected places. All except his loyal friend, Govinda.Īccompanied by Govinda, a young Siddhartha commits himself to a journey where he will experience more than what expects. Not only an unorthodox decision for the son of a Brahmana, but one that is sure to invite disproval and aversion even from the ones who loved Siddhartha.

And that, is when he decides to leave his home to become a Samana, a traveling ascetic. Discontent and restlessness slowly growing within him. Everything others loved about him meant little to nothing to Siddhartha himself. Siddhartha’s journey begins in an ancient Nepalese kingdom where he, the son of a Brahmana, loved by everyone around him, has so far has lived a relatively comfortable life. All of which play key roles in his search for wisdom, enlightenment, and above all, his search for himself. A discovery that introduces our protagonist to new places, new people, new joys and miseries, and new experiences. Inspired by Gautama Buddha and his wisdom, Siddhartha’s quest is one that is less of an adventure, and more of discovery. Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha is the story of one man’s quest for spiritual illumination.

Hermann hesse books