29/80
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
A gem of its own. A spiritual classic of the 20th century that inspired generations of readers. Hesse's brilliant offering to the human spirit, and the spiritual journey of Siddhartha, the brahmin's son, cannot go out of style. It is not sharp, but sweetly and naively eclectic.
First, let's get it straight, It's not the story of the real Gautama Buddha. It's a fiction, a story about a boy named Siddhartha who is from a Brahmin family and who lived in the times of Buddha. The story is about how the boy achieved his learning and spiritual divinity through following his path rather than going for someone's teaching. As it is mentioned at the end of the book is that knowledge can be expressed but not wisdom. It is expressing the point that one can achieve Nirvana in his way. It is not required once you need to follow someone's path.
Hesse's creation is still an eye-opening piece for the audience who believe blindly in faith and was unable to grasp knowledge outside their faith. This can lead to a lot of problems and people are devoid of happiness that can be found in small activities and situations. Even The Buddha never wanted to be a God. This novel shows the reader the beauty and intricacies of the mind, nature, and Siddhartha's experience on the path to enlightenment.
I would like this opportunity to quote some lines directly from the book:
- "When someone is searching then it might easily happen that the only thing his eyes still see is that what he searches for, that he is unable to find anything, to let anything enter his mind because he always thinks of nothing but the object of his search because he has a goal because he is obsessed by the goal. Searching means: having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, and having no goal. You, oh venerable one, are perhaps indeed a searcher, because, striving for your goal, there are many things you don't see, which are directly in front of your eyes."
- "Knowledge can be conveyed, but not wisdom. It can be found, it can be lived, it is possible to be carried by it, miracles can be performed with it, but it cannot be expressed in words and taught."
A well-crafted and beautiful spiritual novel by the author. I will recommend giving it a read.
My rating: 5/5
Until next read, Happy Reading!!
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