As a selfish and self-obsessed young man, Siddhartha divulges his troubled thoughts to his lover Kamala that, “Perhaps people like us cannot love. Ordinary people can-that is their secret”(59). But after time passes and he learns he has a son by Kamala, and she perishes, he takes it upon himself to put his life on hold and raise his son, Siddhartha, to the best of his ability. At this point, Siddhartha is enlightened and despite his higher state of being, he is dragged back down to the status of an ordinary person, according to his younger self, because he is finally able to love not only himself, but his son. Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment had many ups and downs both in his consciousness states and with his emotions. When Siddhartha does finally stumble upon his own version of Nirvana, he does so by accident, intending to drown himself in the river, but sleeping by it, and instead, “He [found himself] remarkably awake, happy and curious”(73). Although he had come to end his life by the river, he had only just renewed it. Once he had given up teachers, and essentially his entire old life, he was able to find a new one, enabling him to reach his long sought after higher state. He, ironically, unconsciously reached Nirvana. Only through the dread and nausea of his past life, was he able to realize what happiness is and should feel like. With his mind open and his heart on his sleeve, Siddhartha leaves himself open to the world so it can mould and shape him however it pleases, in turn, leaving him in a previously unimaginable state, allowing him to experience life to the fullest, being able to love, and finally being able to achieve
As a selfish and self-obsessed young man, Siddhartha divulges his troubled thoughts to his lover Kamala that, “Perhaps people like us cannot love. Ordinary people can-that is their secret”(59). But after time passes and he learns he has a son by Kamala, and she perishes, he takes it upon himself to put his life on hold and raise his son, Siddhartha, to the best of his ability. At this point, Siddhartha is enlightened and despite his higher state of being, he is dragged back down to the status of an ordinary person, according to his younger self, because he is finally able to love not only himself, but his son. Siddhartha’s path to enlightenment had many ups and downs both in his consciousness states and with his emotions. When Siddhartha does finally stumble upon his own version of Nirvana, he does so by accident, intending to drown himself in the river, but sleeping by it, and instead, “He [found himself] remarkably awake, happy and curious”(73). Although he had come to end his life by the river, he had only just renewed it. Once he had given up teachers, and essentially his entire old life, he was able to find a new one, enabling him to reach his long sought after higher state. He, ironically, unconsciously reached Nirvana. Only through the dread and nausea of his past life, was he able to realize what happiness is and should feel like. With his mind open and his heart on his sleeve, Siddhartha leaves himself open to the world so it can mould and shape him however it pleases, in turn, leaving him in a previously unimaginable state, allowing him to experience life to the fullest, being able to love, and finally being able to achieve