SIDDHARTHA
May 26, 2020
POST
LECTIO : A
True Eye-Opener
Title : Siddhartha
Author : Hermann Hesse
Year : 1922
Genre : Philosophy/Fiction
Summary : A young
man, named Siddhartha, renounces his current lifestyle, leaves home and becomes
an ascetic to achieve self-enlightenment.
DISCLAIMER: NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH THE STORY OF GAUTAMA BUDDHA,
WHOSE BIRTH NAME WAS ALSO SIDDHARTHA.
People who have read this novel,
claim that this book has changed their perception of their lives. It may sound
exaggerated but only after the experience of reading this book can we come to a
conclusion. And now I agree, this is a remarkable work of philosophical
fiction. It is truly a rare piece of philosophy that reverberates with our
lives.
“Wisdom
cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds
like foolishness to someone else ... Knowledge can be communicated, but not
wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot
communicate and teach it.”
Siddhartha, along with his friend Govinda,
embarks on a journey of self-discovery. Along the way, they meet Gautama
Buddha( Gotama in this book). Siddhartha through the course of the story, goes
one full circle in his life. He starts his journey on the path of knowledge,
goes off course for a period of time, and comes back to his original path and
attains illumination, with a help from a wise ferryman. The experience and
lessons he learnt during his journey on and mainly off the path serve as the
means for his enlightenment.
“.
. . gentleness is stronger than severity, water is stronger than rock, love is
stronger than force.”
The prose is simple and very
beautiful. Each written word has absolute clarity. When the true understanding
of the wisdom becomes apparent it hits you like a huge truck. The wisdom has
always been there but when it becomes visible, the exhilaration is immense. The
author makes you understand the basic explanation, so it becomes easy to grasp
the overall meaning.
“He has robbed me, yet he has given me something of greater value . . .
he has given to me myself.”
Even though the book
deals with philosophy, it is never boring. The book is very small is size and
yet it conveys the message very effectively. There are very less number of
characters, but they play their part to perfection. After reading this book,
people may become a huge fan of the philosophy genre.
“Words do not express thoughts very well. They always become a little
different immediately they are expressed, a little distorted, a little
foolish. . . . what is of value and wisdom to one man seems
nonsense to another.”
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