Buddhism In Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha

In Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse shows and exemplifies the life and teachings of Buddhism by Siddhartha following his own path to enlightenment, living a life of simplicity, and using the Four Noble Truths to gain Nirvana; much like Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, did. Both of these men lead lives of agony and hardship to find their way to Nirvana or enlightenment. Siddhartha abandons his cast and Dharma, to gain his own way of enlightenment and make his own path in the universe. His father was a Brahman priest, much like the Buddha’s, and he was expected to go and continue in his father’s footsteps, but instead he entwines himself with the Samanas joining their way of life:
“only retained his loincloth and earth colored unstitched cloak. He ate only once a day and never cooked. He fasted fourteen days. He fasted twenty eight days. The flesh disappeared from his legs and cheeks… The nails grew long on his on his thin fingers and a dry bristly beard appeared on his chin.” (Hesse, 13)
His chance to fast and break off from his original religion shows his tremendous life transformation from being the wealthiest man to one of the most destitute and looked down upon people of his culture. His breaking off collapses the ideals of his village and what he was …show more content…
Siddhartha following his own path with the Samanas directly relates to The Buddha following the Asics in order to reach his own form of enlightenment. Just as The Buddha did Siddhartha moved around and found different lives within one to live through everything he could and reach enlightenment. He went through the stages of the noble truths to really understand and reach who he wanted to be. Even though The Buddha’s ways were not as broadcasted he followed them and moved through his teachings to reach his final enlightened stage of