Siddhartha Essay

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Siddhartha Essay One of the precepts of the Hindu religion is Karma, or fate. Hindus believe that people must follow their Karma through many lives or reincarnations until they can be united with the universal soul. Siddhartha follows his own Karma on his quest for total peace in many incidents. Siddhartha’s life had started out as a Brahmin’s son. He was highly thought of and respected, but he wasn’t happy so he left to become a Samana. “If you find bliss in the forest, come back and teach me (pg. 12)…” Siddhartha’s friend Govinda, who was forever loyal to him, went with him into the forest. There, they became followers of Samana. Years later, the two friends stumbled upon a Buddhist region and met the “Illustrious One” or, Gotama. While Govinda joined the Buddha, Siddhartha found flaws in Gotama’s teachings and was not ensnared in their peace, so, he left for his own journey all alone in the wilderness. In the woods, Siddhartha comes to terms with himself, “I will no longer try to escape Siddhartha…I will learn from myself the secret of Siddhartha (pg. 38-39).” He feels as if he is born again in the woods, and, as Karma would have it, he saw the world for the first time. He stumbles upon a village and meets the beautiful Kamala. He becomes her pupil and lover, but, in order to become her lover and pupil of love, he had to acquire rich clothes, gifts for her, and money in his purse. So get all these things, he works alongside a wealthy merchant. Siddhartha becomes wealthy, but he is not happy, so he leaves Kamala and his unborn child to find happiness. “I had to sink to the greatest mental depths, to thoughts of suicide, in order to experience grace, to hear Om again (pg. 97)… so… he was… pleased with himself… that was why he rejoiced (pg. 98)…” Siddhartha becomes a ferryman and he learns from the old Ferryman to listen to the river. Siddhartha realizes life

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