What is siddhartha about?

Question: What is siddhartha about!?
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It is one of my favourite books ever!. It is about a man who goes searching for his inner peace!. Very peaceful book, very easy to read, at the same time, very special and enlightening!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Hi!
The Buddha's name, before his renunciation, was Prince Siddhartha Gautama, later the Buddha!. The main character of Siddhartha in the book is not the same person as the Buddha, who in the book goes by the name "Gautama"!.

Experience is the aggregate of conscious events experienced by a human in life – it connotes participation, learning and perhaps knowledge!. Understanding is comprehension and internalization!. In Hesse’s novel Siddhartha, experience is shown as the best way to approach understanding of reality and attain enlightenment – Hesse’s crafting of Siddhartha’s journey shows that understanding is attained not through scholastic, mind-dependent methods, nor through immersing oneself in the carnal pleasures of the world and the accompanying pain of samsara; however, it is the totality of these experiences that allow Siddhartha to attain understanding!.

Thus, the individual events are meaningless when considered by themselves – Siddhartha’s stay with the samanas and Siddartha’s immersion in the world of love and business do not lead to nirvana, but yet they cannot be considered detractions, for every action and event that is undertaken and happens to Siddhartha helps him to achieve understanding!. The sum of these events is thus experience!.

For example, Siddhartha’s passionate and pained love for his son is an experience that teaches him empathy; he is able to understand the child people after this experience!. Previously, though he was immersed in samsara, he could not comprehend the child people’s motivations and lives!. And while samsara clung to him and made him ill and sick of it, he was unable to understand the nature of samsara!. Experience of samsara at this point did not lead to understanding: perhaps it even hindered him!. In contrast to this, Siddhartha’s experience with his son allows him to love, something he has not managed to do before; once again, the love itself does not lead to understanding!.

The novel takes place in ancient India around the time of the Buddha (6th century BC)!. It starts as Siddhartha, a Brahmin's son, leaves his home to join the ascetics with his companion Govinda!. The two set out in the search of enlightenment!. Siddhartha goes through a series of changes and realizations as he attempts to achieve this goal!.

It's really great, give it a go =)Www@QuestionHome@Com

"Siddhartha" means "he who has attained his goals" or "every wish fulfilled"!. It is the story of a spiritual journey!. Back in the late 60's, it was immensely popular!. I carried a copy with me for months!. Pax-CWww@QuestionHome@Com