The Oxford Dictionary defines Enlightenment as, “The action or state of attaining or having attained spiritual knowledge or insight, in particular (in Buddhism) that awareness which frees a person from the cycle of rebirth,” (Oxford Dictionary). In Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha, the novel explores Siddhartha’s expedition towards enlightenment. At first, Siddhartha was a powerful Brahmin that men aspired to become and women wanted to marry. “There was pride in his mother’s breast when she saw him walking, sitting down, and rising…” (Hesse 4). However, Siddhartha didn’t feel as if he possessed these feelings towards himself, therefore Siddhartha set off to evolve with the Samanas, “…the father realized that Siddhartha could no longer remain with
…show more content…
On his path to obtain enlightenment, Siddhartha meets Kamala, “Siddhartha saw how beautiful she as and his heart rejoiced,” (Hesse 51). He fell in love with Kamala and wanted to learn the art of love from her. Siddhartha would get, “…clothes, fine clothes, and shoes, fine shoes, and plenty money in his purse…” (Hesse 54). Siddhartha caught Kamala’s attention by reciting a poem he made off the top of his head, “’Your poetry is very good, brown Samana, and truly there is nothing to lose if I give you a kiss for it,’” (Hesse 56). One kiss and Siddhartha fell in love with Kamala, he wanted to be with her forever. Kamala had the same feelings about Siddhartha, “Someday, when I am older, I will have a child by you,” (Hesse 73). However, Siddhartha felt like he was losing himself within the rich life. He lost all of the great pleasures in life and he started to envy the people around him. Due to his pain, Siddhartha left Kamala all alone not realizing that she was pregnant with his kid. Kamala did not stop him, “When he left Kamala she had known that she would bear him a child, but she did not tell Siddhartha because she realized she could not and must not hold him back, that Siddhartha had to go his own way,” (Malthaner 4). Siddhartha had many dreams about birds that symbolized how he was throwing away his life, which cause him to leave Kamala. He felt terrible …show more content…
Siddhartha didn’t know what to do with Kamala therefore he went to the river to think. The inspired him to see the world around him, nature’s beauty, and the sounds of the forest. Siddhartha watches closely, “He looked up and was surprised to see the trees and the sky above him,” (Hesse 90). The river spoke to Siddhartha; it allowed him to respark his inner self, allowing him to become closer to enlightenment. The ferryman that guides people across the river accepted Siddhartha into his straw hut to sleep. Everyday Siddhartha would meditate by the river, and discovers his faith, “He perceives that only through faith, not by doing or by teaching, can man penetrate to the source of light, can he find God,” (Malthaner 3). Siddhartha thanks the fact that he did all those evil things, because now those evil things would have never led him to where he was now. He learns that the river is solely just the presence of life around him, “The river just is, for the river is no past, no future, no beginning, no end; for the river is only presence” (Malthaner 4). The river teaches Siddhartha’s way to enlightenment. Now that Siddhartha is close to enlightenment he meditates the word “Om” because it relaxes the mind, body, and brain. Siddhartha also had to suffer the pain of letting go of his son whom he finds late. Kamala goes across the river to see the teachings of the Buddha before he passes away,
On his path to obtain enlightenment, Siddhartha meets Kamala, “Siddhartha saw how beautiful she as and his heart rejoiced,” (Hesse 51). He fell in love with Kamala and wanted to learn the art of love from her. Siddhartha would get, “…clothes, fine clothes, and shoes, fine shoes, and plenty money in his purse…” (Hesse 54). Siddhartha caught Kamala’s attention by reciting a poem he made off the top of his head, “’Your poetry is very good, brown Samana, and truly there is nothing to lose if I give you a kiss for it,’” (Hesse 56). One kiss and Siddhartha fell in love with Kamala, he wanted to be with her forever. Kamala had the same feelings about Siddhartha, “Someday, when I am older, I will have a child by you,” (Hesse 73). However, Siddhartha felt like he was losing himself within the rich life. He lost all of the great pleasures in life and he started to envy the people around him. Due to his pain, Siddhartha left Kamala all alone not realizing that she was pregnant with his kid. Kamala did not stop him, “When he left Kamala she had known that she would bear him a child, but she did not tell Siddhartha because she realized she could not and must not hold him back, that Siddhartha had to go his own way,” (Malthaner 4). Siddhartha had many dreams about birds that symbolized how he was throwing away his life, which cause him to leave Kamala. He felt terrible …show more content…
Siddhartha didn’t know what to do with Kamala therefore he went to the river to think. The inspired him to see the world around him, nature’s beauty, and the sounds of the forest. Siddhartha watches closely, “He looked up and was surprised to see the trees and the sky above him,” (Hesse 90). The river spoke to Siddhartha; it allowed him to respark his inner self, allowing him to become closer to enlightenment. The ferryman that guides people across the river accepted Siddhartha into his straw hut to sleep. Everyday Siddhartha would meditate by the river, and discovers his faith, “He perceives that only through faith, not by doing or by teaching, can man penetrate to the source of light, can he find God,” (Malthaner 3). Siddhartha thanks the fact that he did all those evil things, because now those evil things would have never led him to where he was now. He learns that the river is solely just the presence of life around him, “The river just is, for the river is no past, no future, no beginning, no end; for the river is only presence” (Malthaner 4). The river teaches Siddhartha’s way to enlightenment. Now that Siddhartha is close to enlightenment he meditates the word “Om” because it relaxes the mind, body, and brain. Siddhartha also had to suffer the pain of letting go of his son whom he finds late. Kamala goes across the river to see the teachings of the Buddha before he passes away,