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In history, there have been many great teachers who obtained many followers. People like Aristotle, Pythagoras, and even Jesus were mentors for those wanting to learn. However, some things cannot be taught. They must be learned on an individual basis. This independent way of thinking can be seen in Hermann Hesse’s book Siddhartha. The novel follows a Brahmin’s son, Siddhartha, on his search for enlightenment after he bravely left his family. He met many teachers, but it was his time spent on the river with Vasudeva where he finally learned the meaning of life. Siddhartha had to make mistakes on his journey and follow paths that didn’t work, such as with the Brahmins, Samanas, and Kamaswami, to find that he could only rely on himself to gain knowledge. …show more content…
His entire life was spent with the same teachers, but Siddhartha desired more. In chapter one, the narrator states, “Siddhartha had begun to feel the seeds of discontent within him” (3). Siddhartha was not happy with his current life. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge that could not be quenched by staying where he was. This is the reason he left his family and home behind to start a new life. Before he left, he established what exactly it was he was going to do. The novel states, “Siddhartha had one single goal- to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die” (11). This was the first step in Siddhartha’s quest. As a Brahmin’s son, Siddhartha lived a fortunate life. His time with the Brahmins wasn’t effective, though, and he wanted to try something totally different. He wanted to deny himself of the pleasures in life in hopes of gaining
In history, there have been many great teachers who obtained many followers. People like Aristotle, Pythagoras, and even Jesus were mentors for those wanting to learn. However, some things cannot be taught. They must be learned on an individual basis. This independent way of thinking can be seen in Hermann Hesse’s book Siddhartha. The novel follows a Brahmin’s son, Siddhartha, on his search for enlightenment after he bravely left his family. He met many teachers, but it was his time spent on the river with Vasudeva where he finally learned the meaning of life. Siddhartha had to make mistakes on his journey and follow paths that didn’t work, such as with the Brahmins, Samanas, and Kamaswami, to find that he could only rely on himself to gain knowledge. …show more content…
His entire life was spent with the same teachers, but Siddhartha desired more. In chapter one, the narrator states, “Siddhartha had begun to feel the seeds of discontent within him” (3). Siddhartha was not happy with his current life. He had an insatiable thirst for knowledge that could not be quenched by staying where he was. This is the reason he left his family and home behind to start a new life. Before he left, he established what exactly it was he was going to do. The novel states, “Siddhartha had one single goal- to become empty, to become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow- to let the Self die” (11). This was the first step in Siddhartha’s quest. As a Brahmin’s son, Siddhartha lived a fortunate life. His time with the Brahmins wasn’t effective, though, and he wanted to try something totally different. He wanted to deny himself of the pleasures in life in hopes of gaining