3-2 Siddharta 1

Siddhartha is a very interesting read. Just when you think you know the guy, Hesse puts in a twist. His story reveals many challenges and struggles that we have within ourselves today. Actions speak louder than words, so that makes Siddhartha's story filled with action words (not literally). His creativity and simpleness are profound, and he, himself, has an unrelenting spirit. His relationship with Govinda is rarely to occur between two people today, but anything is possible, and his discipline is most definitely unmatchable today, but again, anything is possible.

Siddhartha


So, what makes Govinda and Siddhartha's relationship rare. It's an unspoken understanding that the two share between each other, and it's trust. When Siddharta wants to give up his life as a Brahmin, the first person he tells is Govinda. Their conversation usually sounds poetic as well; "'O Siddhartha,' he said... 'O Govinda,' he quietly said" (Siddhartha, 11). It's an unspoken understanding between the two to challenge each other intellectually. As children, "[they] had practiced word-wrestling [together], had practiced the art of contemplation and the duty of meditation [together]" (Siddhartha, 5). These two have spent their entire life together doing the same things and living the same values. Siddhartha and Govinda, 'S&G', often wrestle with words as Govinda attempts to grasp a reasoning to his friend's decisions, thoughts and spirit, his Atman.

S&G illustrate True Companionship


However, Govinda only attempts to grasp an understanding of the Atman. He is happy with following the standards of his immediate society and those of Siddhartha, but Siddhartha is full of sorrow. He wants to understand the Atman, be one with it, and bring its essence back to his consciousness. He tries a lot and fails a lot, but he also learns a lot. One question that burned within the Siddhartha, ".. One had to penetrate that far into the self, into myself, into the Atman-was there some other way, however, a search which still yielded worthwhile results..." (Siddhartha, 8), and to answer this very question, the Brahmin decides to go with the Samanas. When his father denied his request, "Siddhartha [simply] stood there with crossed arms, unmoved" until his father gave in (Siddhartha, 12), a creative and simple solution. If only I could get everything I wanted by simply standing there with my arms crossed, unmoved, but Siddhartha's discipline is difficult to match. He stood there all night and wasn't even thinking about giving up. His determination and discipline are inspiring. When he lived with the Samanas, he gave up everything... everything! He had to beg for food and he tried to deny that which made him human. Siddharta attempts to basically disconnect himself with his heart, to bring himself into a being "which was nothing less than the ego..." (Siddhartha, 16). His spirit enters the body of dead jackal. His now dead body is dismembered by Hyenas and skinned by Voltures; the very bones of his new body turn to dust. In an instant, "his soul had died, decayed and crumbled into dust" (Siddhartha, 17); he has experienced all the parts to the cycle of existence.

The Cycle of Existence


His discipline is indeed difficult to emulate and his spirit is filled with unrelenting determination. It's interesting what Siddhartha accomplishes in an attempt to answer his questions. He also has the support of Govinda, who has been with him since childhood. Siddhartha has already abandoned all that he knew as a Brahmin to seek his answers as an ascetic Samana. Nothing is too great a task for him but every task seems impossible, and again it's proven, anything's possible.

Really... Anything