Brady Brantley

December 7, 2017

Philosophy 103

Siddhartha Essay

Over the course of humanity, there have been over 4000 different religions worshipped.

This alone shows how the mystery of our existence is something that drives humans to find and

grab onto any explanation possible. This isn't to discredit any religion or to say that any one

religion may be the absolute truth, but to emphasize at how driven we are to find our purpose.

Siddhartha’s journey is set in 625 B.C. and it's difficult to even fathom that humans existed like

us, over 2000 years ago. Even at this point in history, they were asking the same fundamental

questions, that I ask myself every day. What really is my purpose? Where did this all begin?

What happens when all of this is over? While reading Siddhartha, I found that I had many

revelations which made the world make some sort of sense to me. Not that it gave me any clear

or concise revelations about how the world came to be or my purpose but made me feel that

things are simpler. Seeing all the experiences that the characters in the book go through, all the

hardships and good times they experience, really makes me think about my own life. Would I be

happier if I dropped everything and went out to experience the world? What would I learn?

Everybody on this Earth experiences life through different eyes, with completely opposite

cultures, traditions, and societal norms. Though we all have basically the same questions about

life and despite how different our experiences may be, the answers we are given seem to be

universal. For example, the paths that Siddhartha and Govinda experience are very different for

the most part, but in the end they both reach that universal answer of nirvana.
 Out of all the main characters in the book, Siddhartha is the most driven. He is

completely consumed by his will to find spiritual enlightenment, not that it is a bad thing by any

means. Siddhartha is very true to himself, as well as very open minded. He doesn't just stick by

one single experience, religion, etc, instead he puts all biases aside and seeks only for the truth.

This strong will to find the truth even leads him to debating very iconic individuals like Gotama

the Buddha and the head of the Samanas. Even these individuals who are considered some of the

wisest, know that there is something almost special about Siddhartha. When he argues with

them, it's only out of the sake for logic. He sees flaws in the logic that the enlightened Buddha,

Gotama, and the head of the Samanas, present. Which makes his path so much different from the

other characters in the book.

I believe that the struggles that Siddhartha undergoes are absolutely necessary and

essential for achieving enlightenment or awakening. It’s similar to what we discussed in class

regarding whether or not suffering is something we should experience in life. Without

experiencing suffering and hardship, we wouldn't have a true understanding of what it's like to be

happy or like in Siddhartha’s case, enlightened. In the beginning of his journey, Siddhartha is

kind of stuck on the question of whether not he can achieve enlightenment through something

spiritual or something that involves only the material world. This path, regarding the material

world, is shown to him by the passing Samanas. These Samanas are known as ascetics. They

practice severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence. They believe they can

achieve enlightenment through a rejection of the body and physical desire. He sees what they

are experiencing and through persistence, gets his father's permission to follow them. Govinda

also shares the same interests as Siddhartha and joins in on this journey with the Samanas for
enlightenment. I found it very interesting how, despite Siddhartha's father being a respected

Brahmin, it seems even he knows he hasn't experienced true enlightenment and somethings

missing. His father doesn't say this specifically but it seems implied because once Siddhartha is

given permission to join the Samanas, his father asks him to come back and teach him what he

has learned.

I made the statement that all the struggles that he experiences are necessary for getting

closer and achieving enlightenment. As a samana he has to endure extreme physical conditions.

He only takes enough resources to keep him alive. This means only eating just enough and

wearing rags for clothing which leads him to being starved, sunburnt, and dirty. The experiences

he had before as a young Brahmin were essential to this next step in his path as a Samana. He

learned patience as a Brahmin which was absolutely essential for being with the Samanas.

After some time with the Samanas, Siddhartha starts to question the path he is on. He

starts to contemplate if this is really the way to enlightenment. This is where Siddhartha and

Govinda’s paths start to move in different directions. They both agree that they have made huge

advances in spiritual progress, but Siddhartha starts to notice something off. He sees how the

leader of the Samanas hasn't experience spiritual enlightenment, even though he is up around his

60’s in age. This is something that sticks with Siddhartha and leads him to questioning whether

or not the Samanas will ever reach enlightenment. It isn't until three years later that the word of a

Buddha, Gotama, is rumored. This instantly sparks an interest in both Govinda and Siddhartha.

Considering what Siddhartha has experienced, its understandable why he would start to question

his faith in teachers. Not only are they interested in the rumors of Gotama but Siddhartha starts to

notice a flaw regarding his path with the Samanas. He realizes that he has progressed spiritually
but in reality it isn’t getting him any closer to enlightenment. The Samanas don’t take into

account the physical/material world around them. He also realizes that ignoring the physical

world around him, just causes more suffering and confusion. The comparison that the Samanas

are like drunkards, is a very good analogy. They try to escape the physical world but it's only a

temporary escape from suffering. Through this understanding, he knows that he must leave this

path for another that will bring him closer to enlightenment. This leads him to confronting the

Samanas and letting them know he will not be traveling with them anymore. This is a very

important part of the story because after the leader of the Samanas didn't agree with his decision

to leave, Siddhartha gazes into his eyes with a sort of transcendental look. Not much is said

about this gaze but after the Samana blessed him and wished him well after the gaze, you know

that it's something special. It’s as if Siddhartha’s spirituality is somewhat superior to the

Samanas.

His experience with the Samanas wasn't for nothing, and this leads me back to my

statement about how all these experiences are essential for Siddhartha to achieve enlightenment.

Like the patience he learned as a Brahmin, the revelations he had with the Samanas play a vital

role. Without the revelation that he needs to progress in the physical world, Siddhartha may have

lived his life constantly trying to achieve happiness through only the spiritual world.

Govinda and Siddhartha make the decision to leave the next morning to travel to the

camp Gotama and all of his followers are at. When the two finally come to meet Gotama, it's as

if he radiates enlightenment. This had a very strong impression on them both, which leads to

them to dedicating themselves to Gotama's teachings. The buddha teaches Buddhism's Eightfold

path, Fourfold path, and practices that are somewhat similar to that of the Samanas. To Govinda,
these teachings seem to lead the path to enlightenment, so he gives himself over to the Buddha.

Siddhartha doesn't feel the same way though. He doubts the teachings and practices of Gotama

will lead him to enlightenment. He sees the flaw in Gotama’s teaching and practices. How can

one embrace the unity of all things, if they are told to overcome the physical world? Siddhartha

knows what he must do now. He needs to take a different path, even if it means leaving Govinda

behind. Through this understanding, Siddhartha has a sort of awakening. There is no teacher that

can simply talk to him, give him formulas, or explain certain things, that will lead him to

enlightenment. It must come from inside of him, through experience and understanding. Once he

leaves the camp, he experiences what he calls a, “rebirth”. Siddhartha starts to see the world for

it’s beauty and what it truly is. He knows he needs to make the transition from understanding the

spiritual world to understanding the physical.

After aimlessly walking and traveling around, Siddhartha comes across a ferryman who

he asks to bring him across the river, despite having any money. The ferryman doesn't seem to

mind and does it anyway. Little does Siddhartha know the extremely influential role that the

ferryman will eventually play. Once he crosses the river, he crosses a woman who attempts to

seduce him but he resists. It’s not until he enters the village, to find Kamala that he finds her to

be the temptation that he can't resist. Upon meeting each other, Kamala is shocked by how a

Samana wants to indulge in the physical world and experience love. She then has him go to a

merchant to learn the ways of business. This experience leads Siddhartha deep into the physical

world. He starts to learn the ways of business but Kamaswami, the one teaching Siddhartha the

ways of business, notices how he only treats business as a game. Siddhartha seems to be affected

by failure just as much as he is by success. He is still able to resist material things like money
and pleasure. It isn’t until he experiences love with Kamala that he starts to see life in a different

way. He indulges in the physical acts of love which leads him to buying material things for

Kamala to show his appreciation for her. Siddhartha and Kamala aren't truly in love, but they

understand each others use for one another. To Kamala, as a courtesan, sex isn't something new

to her and she kind of uses Siddhartha for financial gain. At the same time, he is really only

using her to get deeper insights into the world of love, to get closer to achieving enlightenment.

Siddhartha stays with Kamaswami and Kamala for a couple decades. He masters business and

becomes a very wealthy man. It doesn't take long for Siddhartha to fall under the spell of

possessions though. He wears the nicest of clothes, eats the richest food, likes to gamble and

enjoys getting drunk. He even starts to notice the wrinkles forming on Kamala's face and how his

own hair is starting to turn gray. Siddhartha starts to realize that he has become too attached to

the physical world, and despite living with Kamala and Kamaswami for a long period of time, he

must now move onto the next path. Without informing anyone, Siddhartha makes the decision to

leave. This wasn’t all for nothing either. Playing the physical game of life, he has learned for

himself that material possessions will only bring him temporary pleasure.

Siddhartha wanders aimlessly back through the path that he originally took to get to the

village. He eventually comes upon the river but because of the hopeless feeling he has, he

attempts to fall into the water ending his life. Before he slips into the water, the word, or sound,

“Om,” reverberates through his body. He looks up to find Govinda meditating next to him.

Govinda did not recognize him because of his wealthy features. Govinda is still a follower of

Gotama but the two don’t stay together because Siddhartha still believes that the buddhist will

not help reach enlightenment.

 It isn’t until Siddhartha meets back up with Vasudeva, the ferryman, that he has his next

rebirth. Vasudeva hires him as an assistant and introduces to him the concept of studying the

river. When Siddhartha starts to study the river he feels spiritual enlightenment on a level he has

never experienced. The river itself reverberates the sound of Om. After years of studying the

river, Siddhartha learns he has an 11 year old son birthed by Kamala. He truly loves his son and

invites him to study the river but because of his obsession with material things, his son leaves

one morning to go to the city he is familiar with. To soothe the pain of his son leaving, Vasudeva

encourages Siddhartha to listen and study the river again. After years of study he finally has a

revelation which leads him to true enlightenment. Vasudeva then retires and leaves Siddhartha to

be the ferryman.

You know that Siddhartha has achieved true enlightenment when Govinda returns to the

river to meet the wise man, who is Siddhartha. Siddhartha simply kisses Govinda on the head

which communicates to Govinda a vision of unity.

Suffering and experiences lead us to something bigger, as you can see in the story of

Siddhartha. I can say that Siddhartha's experiences ring true to myself. I've come to realize how

suffering leads us to furthering our self.