Siddhartha Reflection

Throughout Siddhartha, Herman Hesse demonstrations the different paths to enlightenment through the use of memorable characters such as Siddhartha and Govinda. Siddhartha and Govinda were the sons of Brahmins and thus grew up basked in the ways of religion. The boys were constantly praying and listening to teachings of the teachers in their town. Because of this, they are closer to enlightenment, or the knowledge of self, sought by everyone around them. Siddhartha believes that life has more to offer than praying and meditating like his father. Govinda, who is less of a leader than Siddhartha, believes that the only way to enlightenment is through following other teachers. Throughout the book it is shown the each person must find their own path to enlightenment.

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse discusses the many paths of teaching that relate to Hinduism that Siddhartha followed on his journey through life and how each path helped him realize what he wanted with his life. Siddhartha follows many teachings or paths in which to reach his spiritual destination, which at the beginning was to reach Nirvana.

After leaving Gautama, Siddhartha decides to experience the world of ordinary living. Siddhartha sees a beautiful young courtesan, Kamala, and begs her to teach him the art of love. She tells Siddhartha that he

Siddhartha’s relationship with his father was one that should be cherished. Fathers and son of the present should strive to have open, understanding relationships. Sons should show a deep respect for their fathers, both directly and by all of their actions. Both the father’s and son’s reputations can be judged by how the son

Siddhartha meets this beautiful woman named Kamala. He is intrigued by her and wants to get to know her. Kamaswami is also an involved character in the book that contributed with the way Siddhartha gains so much of his wealth. Siddhartha learns from the two of them to make money, and all is well for a little while, but

This change in character, though it is more dominant towards the end of the novel, is also seen in the second part of Siddhartha’s journey when he meets Kamala for the first time. It is very surprising when Siddhartha asks Kamala to be his teacher, especially after he relays to Govinda that he was not satisfied with the teachings of the Samanas. But even so, Siddhartha follows through and is a good student, “He visited the beautiful Kamala regularly, learned the art of love in which, more than anything else, giving and taking become one. He talked to her, learned from her, gave her advice, received advice. She understood him better than Govinda had once done. She was more like him” (Hesse 58). This shows that Siddhartha has made a much deeper connection with Kamala than he has anyone before. These connections then show us that Siddhartha has learned about attachment, something that he did not have as a Samana.

Siddhartha begins to deviate from his holy walk in life when he meets Kamala. In Siddhartha Kamala is a pleasure woman who owns a beautiful grove outside of a larger town. “Siddhartha saw how beautiful she was

When Gotama admits he has still not found peace, he suddenly has an inexpressible experience much like Siddhartha had when he met Vasudeva years before. Siddhartha then summons Govinda to kiss him on the forehead. Govinda feels as if he is touching perfection, the illustrious one, eternity, and gets a mystical transference from Siddhartha.

        Siddhartha reaches a town and is moved by the beauty of the courtesan Kamala as she enters her grove in a sedan.  This starts Siddhartha stage of the flesh.  He asks her to be his teacher in the arts of love, but Kamala laughs and says that she receives only those young men who approach her in fine clothes and shoes, with scent in their hair and money in their purses. When she learns that Siddhartha can read and write, she conducts him to the businessman Kamaswami, who will help him to acquire the tokens necessary for entrance into her garden of pleasure.  Kamala gives him a kiss in exchange for a good poem, and the amount of knowledge in that kiss amazes Siddhartha.

She insists Siddhartha should be friendly yet have a powerful voice. She tells him to not become his servant but rather Kamaswami’s equal for she will not take in Siddhartha as a student if he stoops below his position.

Similarly, McCandless and Siddhartha have a relationship with their family, only differing in the slightest way. Siddhartha wants to begin a journey to find himself and become

His next destination is a city near the river, once inside he is seduced by an elegant courtesan, Kamala, but she refuses to have relations with him until he becomes a rich man. Kamala introduced Siddhartha to a Kamaswami, a wealthy businessman, who teaches him the ways of the business world. Siddhartha is quick to become successful and in return Kamala teaches him about love. Gradually Siddhartha falls under the spell of worldly possessions and loses the spiritual voice inside of him. He realizes that in order to achieve enlightenment he needs to leave his city life behind. Siddhartha then wanders into the countryside and once again meets the ferryman, Vasudeva. He asks is he can live beside Vasudeva and be taught the ways of the river. Kamala reappears in his life once more when she is crossing the river with her son, she is bitten by a snake and dies but is able to tell Siddartha that he is the father of her son. Siddhartha’s son stays with him for a while but then runs away because the simple life that Siddhartha leads is not enough for the son, who grew up surrounded by material goods. Siddhartha meditates for many days on the loss of his son, he finds comfort in the river and talks to Vasudeva about his revelations. After listening to the river together Siddhartha finds enlightenment and the ferryman claims he has been waiting for this moment then departs into the forest. The novel ends with Govinda

He finds the sensuality of love from the beautiful Kamala. She teaches him everything that he knows about love. She is his first experience with a woman. "He learned many things from her wise red lips. Her smooth gentle hand taught him many things. He, who was still a boy as regards love and was inclined to plunge to the depths of it blindly and insatiably, was taught by her that love cannot have pleasure without giving it, and that every gesture, every caress, every touch, every glance, every single part of the body has its secret which can give pleasure to one who can understand." (53-54) Once he has discovered love, he decides that it isn't the right path for him then leaves. Later, he discovers that while playing the game if love, he had planted the seed for a son, before he left.

Siddhartha first meets Kamala after he has just decided that he no longer wants to be an ascetic, and that he needs to try a new way of life. He meets

While we see Kamala’s relationship with Siddhartha as mutual love, the two never truly love each other. Siddhartha only sees Kamala as a teacher of love and an object of desire, Kamala sees Siddhartha as a skilled