Path to Enlightenment Siddhartha, a novel written by Herman Hesse, recognized by many as his most influential literary work. Siddhartha depicted the life of a noble young Brahmin, Siddhartha, journey to find spiritual enlightenment. Living in both spiritual world and the material world of is an essential component in Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment. One may not notice it from a surface, but with a keen observation, the novel will reveal common elements in Abraham Maslow, “Hierarchy of Needs.” From a perspective one can define Maslow’s theory as a template to Siddhartha quest to find enlightenment. In Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs,” Maslow suggest that certain aspect of a man’s behavior are driven by different needs. Through his observations,
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This marks a milestone in Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment as it is an important component in the process of attaining Nirvana. In Samsara, he learned the art of Kamasutra from a beautiful courtesan. From head to toe, Kamala taught him every secrets of body. From Kamaswami, a wealthy businessman, he learned the to become a skilled merchant. Eventually over the years, Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment begins to stagnate and becomes more like the “child like” people in Samsara. He become obsesses with material things and physical desire, and his obsession of acquiring everything does not stop until he is finally consumed by it. In Maslow theory, this is considered the second level of the pyramid. The need to know and understand, and the aesthetics needs. In this …show more content…
. . Only Kamala was dear to him–had been of value to him–but was she still? Did he still need her and she still need him? Where they not playing game? . . . This game was called Samsara, a game for children, a game which was perhaps enjoyable once, twice, ten time–but was it worth playing continually? (Hesse 84)
One can recognized that Siddhartha has satisfied these needs. He knew and understood the joys and sorrows of the “child-like” people, he felt despair in his soul, he saw beauty and order in Kamala. But more importantly, Hesse drew importance in these chapters as it is necessary lesson for Siddhartha to learn in his path to enlightenment as it parallels Buddha’s four main doctrine. In an article written by Mark Kniclebine, “The Four Noble Truths” Kniclebine states that according to buddhist teachings, in reference to the cessation of suffering:
We can realize the futility of our craving for life to be other than it is, and let go of that craving. And as we let go, craving ceases, and we are free to cultivate a new way of life. (Kniclebine)
In other words, Siddhartha need to experience the endless cycle of suffering from the attachment to material things and physical desire in order for him to learn to love
This marks a milestone in Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment as it is an important component in the process of attaining Nirvana. In Samsara, he learned the art of Kamasutra from a beautiful courtesan. From head to toe, Kamala taught him every secrets of body. From Kamaswami, a wealthy businessman, he learned the to become a skilled merchant. Eventually over the years, Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment begins to stagnate and becomes more like the “child like” people in Samsara. He become obsesses with material things and physical desire, and his obsession of acquiring everything does not stop until he is finally consumed by it. In Maslow theory, this is considered the second level of the pyramid. The need to know and understand, and the aesthetics needs. In this …show more content…
. . Only Kamala was dear to him–had been of value to him–but was she still? Did he still need her and she still need him? Where they not playing game? . . . This game was called Samsara, a game for children, a game which was perhaps enjoyable once, twice, ten time–but was it worth playing continually? (Hesse 84)
One can recognized that Siddhartha has satisfied these needs. He knew and understood the joys and sorrows of the “child-like” people, he felt despair in his soul, he saw beauty and order in Kamala. But more importantly, Hesse drew importance in these chapters as it is necessary lesson for Siddhartha to learn in his path to enlightenment as it parallels Buddha’s four main doctrine. In an article written by Mark Kniclebine, “The Four Noble Truths” Kniclebine states that according to buddhist teachings, in reference to the cessation of suffering:
We can realize the futility of our craving for life to be other than it is, and let go of that craving. And as we let go, craving ceases, and we are free to cultivate a new way of life. (Kniclebine)
In other words, Siddhartha need to experience the endless cycle of suffering from the attachment to material things and physical desire in order for him to learn to love