In our contemporary society, we believe there is no difference between knowledge and wisdom; we use both terms interchangeably to mean the process of acquiring intelligence. However, in the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse, we are exposed to a distinction between the two concepts; there exists a subtle yet critical difference between their true intentions. Siddhartha’s own life demonstrates wisdom more than knowledge as his life supersedes pursuing “facts” through a contrast with Govinda’s life to an internal conviction of the importance of the present moment, which leads to his final outcome of obtaining enlightenment as he blazes forth his own path. Wisdom is recognized in the novel as a clear recognition of the futility of restricting
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Siddhartha has lived through an entire journey of obtaining knowledge from the adept, the knowledge of Samsara, and finally the knowledge of the simple lifestyle of the ferryman. He has moved forward from materialism and endless seeking to finally be content with the voice of the river, and its indelible effect on him leads him to realize the truth of the present moment—“were not all difficulties in the world conquered as soon as one conquered time, as soon as one dispelled time?” (Hesse 88). Through the transient yet constant nature of the river, its paradox of being ever-present yet not suggests to Siddhartha that only the present matters. A unity exists between every person and the purpose for every individual is simply to exist. He theorizes that “all of them together was the stream of events, the music of life” and that if this is understood, there is little reason to remain displeased (Hesse 110). He developed his principle through his own means. Govinda did not impart this upon him, nor did the Buddha or his Brahmin teachers. He concluded this knowledge on his own, which makes it his in his own way, and leads to his own true happiness. He places upmost importance upon the importance of coming to these conclusions independently, such as when he says “a true seeker could not accept any teachings, not if he sincerely wished to find something” (Hesse 90). Consequently, he comes to his enlightenment near the end of the novel, as a reward for fulfilling his own
Siddhartha has lived through an entire journey of obtaining knowledge from the adept, the knowledge of Samsara, and finally the knowledge of the simple lifestyle of the ferryman. He has moved forward from materialism and endless seeking to finally be content with the voice of the river, and its indelible effect on him leads him to realize the truth of the present moment—“were not all difficulties in the world conquered as soon as one conquered time, as soon as one dispelled time?” (Hesse 88). Through the transient yet constant nature of the river, its paradox of being ever-present yet not suggests to Siddhartha that only the present matters. A unity exists between every person and the purpose for every individual is simply to exist. He theorizes that “all of them together was the stream of events, the music of life” and that if this is understood, there is little reason to remain displeased (Hesse 110). He developed his principle through his own means. Govinda did not impart this upon him, nor did the Buddha or his Brahmin teachers. He concluded this knowledge on his own, which makes it his in his own way, and leads to his own true happiness. He places upmost importance upon the importance of coming to these conclusions independently, such as when he says “a true seeker could not accept any teachings, not if he sincerely wished to find something” (Hesse 90). Consequently, he comes to his enlightenment near the end of the novel, as a reward for fulfilling his own