When Siddhartha chose self-experience over Buddha’s teachings

‘Siddhartha’ — a novel by Hermann Hesse — describes the incredible life journey of a Brahman boy, Siddhartha. This novel was first published in 1922.

Captured by author

Siddhartha is a name of Indian origin, composed of 2 Sanskrit words, Siddha (accomplish) + Artha (goal). Siddhartha, our hero, seeks Enlightenment. He does so through various ways described in the book. Some of these ways include practicing rituals of a Brahman (or a Priest; he was born to a Brahman father), and even becoming a Samana (Ascetic).

On his journey of Enlightenment, Siddhartha comes to know about Gotama Buddha, or the Enlightened one. He is deeply impressed by both Gotama and His teachings. However, Siddhartha still decides to forge his own path- to seek Enlightenment and achieve salvation. This, because he believes that nobody could achieve salvation by means of teachings. While Gotama could explain in words, and through teaching what happened to Him in the hour of Enlightenment, the actual experience that Gotama went through was something no one else could experience. That belonged solely to Gotama.

Siddhartha wanted to experience that feeling himself. He sought Enlightenment. He believed that words and teaching were not the means to Enlightenment. Importantly, he held on to his beliefs — he decides to leave behind Gotama’s camp, to discover his own path to salvation.

Does he succeed in his goal? Of course he does (true to his name). In this process, he stood his ground respectfully, even in front of the Enlightened One- Gotama Buddha.

This was perhaps one of my biggest learnings from this book: if you truly believe in something, back yourself; don’t get distracted by people who disagree with you; learn from them, be inspired, but do not surrender your thought to their ideology.

As they say, not all those who wander are lost. Siddhartha wanders a lot, but eventually finds Enlightenment.

Have you ever backed yourself when odds were against you? I’d love to learn more about it. Please leave your answers in the comment section. Thanks for reading!