The Concept Of Buddhism In Hermann Hesse's The Buddha

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The concept of Buddhism is focused upon a reflection of one’s self in the universe. Buddhists believe that there are an infinite amount of paths leading to enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama, the main protagonist in Hermann Hesse’s novel, Siddhartha, is characterized as searching for Nirvana. The desire of finding oneness with the universe is reflected in his journey. Siddhartha seeks enlightenment through other people and the areas surrounding him such as Kamala, his son, Vasudeva, and the river. Siddhartha desired a perfect relationship with the world, but realized he needed to make sacrifices to gain that satisfaction. Nirvana cannot be taught by the world, it is only mastered by one’s ability to find enlightenment within oneself. Siddhartha …show more content…

Existence is painful. The conditions that make an individual are precisely those that also give rise to dissatisfaction and suffering” (Britannica.com). Many people nowadays spend their time trying to be enlightened by other people and their accomplishments. Hesse relates Siddhartha to the audience by introducing Kamala, Siddhartha’s lover. In the material world, Kamala is successful and represents greed and power. Siddhartha approached her, believing that because he hadn’t found Nirvana traveling with ascetics he will find it as Kamala’s student. Speaking to Kamala, Siddhartha says, “I would like to ask you to be my friend and teacher, for I know nothing yet of that art which you have mastered in the highest degree." (Hesse 30). Kamala taught Siddhartha how to love and he became a successful man. In turn, Siddhartha remained unsatisfied since he had not yet achieved his ultimate goal. Hesse described, “At such times, he became aware for an hour or so that he was leading a strange life, that he was doing nothing but playing a mere game, that although he might be serene and might sometimes feel joy, true life was nevertheless passing him by not touching him” (Hesse 39). Siddhartha felt empty and believed the material world only offered him the chance to play …show more content…

Siddhartha recognized that in order to reach Nirvana he must give up the one thing he truly loves. Siddhartha had never put anyone else before him, “In truth, he had never been able to lose himself completely in another person, to give himself completely, to forget himself, to commit loving follies for the sake of another… Siddhartha, had totally become a child-person, suffering for someone else’s sake” (Hesse 66). The young Siddhartha discovered that he too must follow his own path, just as Siddhartha had in his early years. Therefore, he decided to run away from his father. Being a worried father, Siddhartha chased him to the outskirts of town when, “He realized that it had been a foolish longing that drove him to that spot, that he could not help his son, that he not attach himself to him” (Hesse 68). The pain of losing his son to the material world made him a stronger person, forcing him to look beyond everything else. Deep in thought, Siddhartha reflected upon his past and was able to come to the understanding that open wounds leave people stronger and allows one to acknowledge change.
Rivers represent eternity and the transitions of life. Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher, stated, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it 's not the same river and he 's not the same man”. In the concept of Buddhism, the river is a symbol of life cycles. One cannot leave

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