Can anyone tell me the relationship between Hesse's Siddhartha and Buddhism?? It's a research paper topic and i have no idea where to start.

It is believed that Siddhartha was the given name of the man we now call "Buddha." From what I have read about Buddha there are a few similarities between his life and Hesse's story of Siddhartha. Though Hesse's novel is not considered a biography of Buddha, or even a loose interpretation, there is an obvious connection to Buddhism and the lifestyle that this religion encompasses. From the biographies of Hesse I have read, he was interested in this religion and did indeed travel to Asia, however by all reports this experience and trip were not pleasurable.

you aren't by any chance from Babson College are you???

you may want to have a look at Martin Kaplan's interesting paper in the Hesse Page Journal at http://hesse.projects.ucsb.edu/projects/hesse/papers/papers.html

i think siddhartha is more universal ,it is the story of the self which varies from each self, in it there is refusal for the absolute and the elleged truth that is laid upon us by the outside, it is indeed the experiance of a journey inside the self to find the only self that you can truly understand and that is your self.

Post deleted by Gunther

It is based on Buddha's life (Buddha was known as Siddartha) and much of the wisdom that Siddartha acquires is in accord with the philophies of Buddhism. What interested me was that Buddha was also referred to in the novel by Siddartha, and Gotama (another name for Buddha) is a revered spiritual leader in the novel whom Siddartha meets. I thought that if Siddhartha represents Buddha then how can he be refering to Buddha as someone separate to himself and also interacting with Gotama? However, I believe these three constructions of Buddha can co-exist in the novel according to the perception of time that Siddartha reveals at the end of the novel. Also Buddha is constructed to refer to certain wisdom and teachings, Gotama to show Buddha's serenity and power, and Siddartha as "the everyman Buddha" showing every human has the capabilitiy of finding enlightenment (and the significance of acknowledging your darker side). Good luck with your assignment.

There is a belief in buddhism there have been many Buddhas before Siddartha and many Buddhas since. The relevance of Siddartha, not the Siddartha in Hesse's work mind you, was that he was the first to present the path to enlightenment and the 4 noble truths to others. He could be thought to be the first bodhisattva.

there is in my opinion a fairly significant relationsip between hesses book a and buddhism. Firstly their is the ideaof riencarnation. Where the life we live is one which is their to fix the mystakes of the last. Therefore through each life you attain a higher being. Like in siddartha.Where he is near the tree and falls asleep and wakes up a new man. As well in buddishm the relationship with nature is a highly respected one. In all he journey is the desntination is perhaps the most justified thing to say about this book. I hope it helps.

there is in my opinion a fairly significant relationsip between hesses book a and buddhism. Firstly their is the idea of riencarnation. Where the life we live is one which is their to fix the mystakes of the last. Therefore through each life you attain a higher being. Like in siddartha.Where he is near the tree and falls asleep and wakes up a new man. As well in buddishm the relationship with nature is a highly respected one. In all he journey is the desntination is perhaps the most justified thing to say about this book. I hope it helps.

i think siddhartha is more universal ,it is the story of the self which varies from each self, in it there is refusal for the absolute and the elleged truth that is laid upon us by the outside, it is indeed the experiance of a journey inside the self to find the only self that you can truly understand and that is your self.


----Ok this makes no sense whatsoever. I am a born again christian, and I just came onto this site because a good friend of mine is sucked into these books. I am wondering just what Herman Hesse followed.. Did he follow Christ? From reading just facts about his life and parts of his books online, I see that he is definately on the broad path- leading away from the truth. There is only one truth. Many people miss that. I think many people like to add to that truth and make it more complex because it "feels better"

Its sad really.

Actually, what's sad is your willingness to judge, especially as a born-again Christian. Go back and read your scripture (as original as you can get, rather than later, interpreted versions that are so common in modern churches) and develop your own truth. That would be respectful and going in the direction that Hesse suggests. Regardless of your God, even the Dalai Lama realizes the importance of individual truths, which I believe to be the source of Hesse's interest in the subject of Siddhartha.

Yet again, I find it's important to refer to a famous quote of Hesse's:

"I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teachings my blood whispers to me." \

My best,

rose

AHHH: I agree whole heartedly with Rose--please reread your scripture where it tells you though shalt not judge! Just as a side-note: Hesse's parents were Christian Misionnaries and dragged him around as a child "preaching the word" to unbelievers. Maybe he was as turned off by this form of religion and seeking a greater truth--via Eastern thought; similiar to how your attempting to preach to us about your "Born Again" Christian Faith and turning us all off as well.

dick

hes a fucktard

i want to seman on ur face

Read the book and you'll get your answer...

This is an absolutely false assumption. Hesse makes it very clear that Siddharata is NOT Buddha, but someone who seeks Buddha to obtain further enlightenment. He does meet up with him only to be disappointed in the short-term. Later he realizes that he has completely missed the points made by Buddha.