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Siddhartha by Herman Hesse is the story of Siddhartha s life-long journey to reach enlightenment. Throughout his life Siddhartha went through various stages of development to reach his goal of nirvana. These stages in his development support that Siddhartha is a Bildungs Roman and depicts the maturing of the protagonist, Siddhartha. As Siddhartha grows into an adult his curiosity about life and his beliefs questions him. He has lived a lavished life so far and has not seen the world and its people.
He knows that he is destined to find more than what he knows already about his life. Acting in defiance of his father s wishes Siddhartha chooses to persevere and prove that he is ready to further his knowledge and begin his journey. His father was impressed with Siddhartha s dedication and perseverance and tells Siddhartha. You will go into the forest, and become a Samanas (page 12 2 nd par. ) Siddhartha leaves his home along with his friend, Govinda, to start a new life among the Samanas. Its is this step that begins his search towards enlightenment. The next realization Siddhartha makes is that knowledge comes from many people and takes patience to be acquired.
While Siddhartha was with the Samanas he learned about meditation and other ways that help to reach enlightenment. Though, at first, he thought that the practice of meditation with the holy men was a direct route to nirvana, he realizes this is not true. He knows that to truly reach enlightenment one must take it upon their selves to reach this state and not count on a group or just be a follower. Siddhartha tells Govinda.
Govinda, my friend, you have taken the step, you have chosen your path. You have always been my friend, you have always gone a step behind me. Often I have thought: will Govinda ever take a step without me, from his own conviction? Now, you are a man and have chosen your own path.
May you go along it to the end, my friend. May you find salvation. (page 30 par. 1) So Siddhartha parts from his friend Govinda and chooses to find his own way instead of following Gautama. The next phase in Siddhartha s life involved his true distinction between wants and needs. After leaving the Samanas life Siddhartha enters a new life through his friend Kamaswami s merchant lifestyle.
This phase of Siddhartha s life shows the material world and how it can change and taint people s intentions and beliefs. Siddhartha make the realization that he was not meant to be involved in the material world of business because it stressed wants and not needs. It was Kamaswami who described Siddhartha the best in the material world. This Brahmin, is no real merchant and will never be one; he is never absorbed in the business. But he has the secret of those people to whom success comes by itself He always seems to be playing at business, it never makes much impression on him, it never masters him, he never fears failure, he is never worried about a loss.
This statement reflects Siddhartha s ideals of life and needs. He knows that business should not be a major concern in anyone s life. It was also through Kamaswami that Siddhartha meets Kamala Kamala is the love of Siddhartha s life. He does love Kamala and after her death he faces the complication of life that is unavoidable. The confrontation between father and son after the loss is a very complex and unavoidable situation. This event leads Siddhartha to the conclusion that some things in life are uncontrollable and cannot be eased over so simply.
The final phase of Siddhartha s life is his realization that he cannot control life but life controls you to an extent. He realizes that some things in life are very difficult to face and that by accepting the simplicity and happiness of his life he can reach enlightenment. The final realization in my opinion is that we aren t able to comprehend this life because we are too involved in petty and wanton things. I believe that the majority of peoples goal is to simplify their lives and become happy. (the modern way of reaching enlightenment is doing what you want to do and having a simple life) Many people keep themselves busy and pretend to do work because they truly don t have anything really important to do.
Free research essays on topics related to: enlightenment, friend govinda, siddhartha, material world, things in life
Research essay sample on Things In Life Friend Govinda
