1. Indian Culture and Background
A few essentials for studying Siddhartha

2. Author - Hermann Hesse
Herman Hesse was born in 1877 in Germany. He was brought up in a Lutheran household where it was assumed he would study for the ministry. His parents both served as missionaries in India.
He learned about Indian culture through their experiences, and pursued an interest in Eastern religion and philosophies later in life.

3. Author – Hermann Hesse
As a teenager, Hermann Hesse was expelled from the seminary to which his father had sent him. He struggled to complete school and educated himself while working in bookstore. He cultivated a special interest in Hinduism and Buddhism.
In 1922, at age 35, he began writing Siddhartha, the story of an Indian youth’s search for the meaning of life. During this time, Hesse became a patient of psycho-analsyt Carl Jung. His writing reflects many of Jung’s ideas on the conscious and unconscious mind – including his theories on archetypes.

4. Author – Hermann Hesse
Hesse also wrote the novels Demian and Steppenwolf and Narcissus. These works combined his interest in spiritual quests with the political and social develop-ments in Germany in the early 20th century.
In 1946, Hesse was awarded in the Nobel Prize in literature. He lived out his life in Switzerland during World War II and died there in 1962.

5. Hermann Hesse
His main theme is of breaking out of established civilization to find one’s own essential spirit. With his appeal for self-realization and his exploration into Eastern mysticism, Hesse became a cult figure in the troubled century in which he wrote.

6. Siddhartha
The novel, Siddhartha, was written in 1922, in the desolate times after the “Great War.” Few people could make sense of the devastation inflicted upon the world from so called “civilized” countries, and many people were searching for a guiding force out of the moral degradation left in the wake of World War I.
Hesse, writing during this time, left his mark in exploring Buddhist philosophy as a path towards salvation.

7. Translation and Publication
Siddhartha was published in 1922 in Germany and translated for publication in the US in 1951.
The English translation gained true popularity in the 1960s with young counter-culture move-
ments that embraced
Eastern philosophies.

8. Title Translation - Siddhartha
“Siddhartha” is made up of two words in the Sanskrit language:
siddha = achieved
artha = meaning or wealth
Together, the words mean “he who has found meaning or existence.”

9. Character Connections
The spiritual founder of Buddhism was known as Prince Siddhartha Gautama before his renunciation of social hierarchies.
The young protagonist in Hermann Hesse’s novel is known as Siddhartha. He is also the son of a wealthy Brahmin family.
The main character should NOT
be confused with the spiritual leader!
They are two different people who
appear separately in the novel.

10. Setting in Siddhartha
The story is set in ancient India around 500 BC during the rise of Buddhism.
This was a time of great change in ancient India. Many age-old philosophies were being challenged. Additionally, a new spiritual leader was offering a hopeful alternative to those living within the bounds of the traditional caste system.

11. Ancient Indian Society
Some research suggests that Indo-Aryan invaders established a long-standing social stratification in India. Records of the caste system date back to the Vedic Period (300 BCE).
Certain Hindu scriptures describe a caste system for organizing society but never endorse discrimination based on caste.
Traditionally, an individual’s
caste defined occupation,
diet, social interaction, and
style of dress.

12. Indian Caste System
Brahmins / Priests - intellectual and spiritual leaders (Siddhartha)
Kshatriya / Warriors and aristocrats - protectors of society
Vaishyas / Merchants, farmers,
artisans - skilled producers
Shundras / unskilled labor
Untouchables - outside of caste
system

13. Caste in Siddhartha
The story’s protagonist, Siddhartha is the oldest son in a wealthy Brahmin family.
As a member of this priestly class, young Siddhartha was supposed to follow in his father’s footsteps as a spiritual leader. He was expected to practice the rites and rituals of Hinduism closely.
His social status was closely linked to his father’s religion, and he questioned both.

14. Religion in Siddhartha
Siddhartha combines the beliefs of both traditional Hinduism and early Buddhism.
Siddhartha, the protagonist, studies both religions.
Thus, it is important to know a few concepts related to both Hinduism and Buddhism.

15. Concepts in Hinduism

16. Early Hinduism
Hinduism is formed of diverse traditions in the Indian sub-continent and has no single founder.
Today, the religion has over one billion adherents who study a wide range of sacred texts, including:

17. Sacred Texts in Hinduism
The Vedas: The oldest scriptures in Hinduism recorded in Sanskrit, includes The Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda
The Upanishads: philosophical texts passed down by oral tradition; associate with Vedas
Mahabharata and Ramayana: Sanskrit epics that relate Hindu history. The Mahabharata includes the Bhagavad Gita (lessons of Lord Krishna)

19. Hindusim and Castes
Many sacred texts in Hinduism recognize the traditional caste system as a divine order in which upward social mobility is only achieved through reincarnation, or rebirth.
Collected karma (actions) influences your atman’s (soul’s) position in next life.

21. Hindu Rituals
Traditionally, in order to achieve good karma every household must perform many ablutions (sacrifices).
Critics of Hinduism said sacrifices were too great and rituals too tedious; only those in higher castes could improve their position
The poor were offered
alternative to this tradition
with Buddhism.

22. Concepts in Hinduism Atman – the true soul, or “self,” of a person
Hindu concepts of god, spirituality, etc. vary widely with each particular tradition or philosophy. Siddhartha’s family practiced a form of Vedic Hinduism. Here are a few useful terms from that tradition (see your glossary for more):
Atman – the true soul, or “self,” of a person
Brahman, the supreme spirit or truth. Most want to find a connection between this universal spirit and self. (Do not confuse this term with Brahmin caste.)

23. Concepts in Hinduism
Samsara – The cycle of life, death, and rebirth connected to reincarnation. The wheel of life is a symbols for this process.
Moksha – state of true understanding and freedom from samsara (known in some traditions as Nirvana).

24. Concepts in Hinduism
Meditation - a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of awareness. This is one method for achieving enlightenment.
Om – a highly symbolic
sound made to focus and
guide religious meditation.
Each syllable (a-u-m) takes
on a specific meaning in
Sanskrit and represents
a universal element.

25. From Hinduism to Buddhism

26. From Hinduism to Buddhism
Around 500 BC, Buddhism was a new philosophy founded by a “Buddha,” a man who had reached enlightenment by his own means.
This Buddha had new ideas
about reaching enlightenment
and was seen as a savior by
many for his views on the
caste system.

27. Buddhism Basics Buddha – means awakened one or enlightened one.
Buddhism is a set of beliefs based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as “Buddha.” He is referred to as “Gotama” in Hesse’s novel.
The teachings of Buddha focused on ethical conduct, rejection of worldly matters, and meditation as a means to true wisdom and enlightenment.

28. The Life of Siddhartha Gautama
Gautama, the Buddha BCE
Siddhartha Gautama was born in the kingdom of the Sakyas, on the border of what is now Nepal and India. He was born into a life of luxury as a Khattiya, the warrior or ruling caste of Hindu. The name Siddhartha means, “One whose aim is accomplished.” (Hinduism dates back 4,000 years.)
The word “Buddha” means “awakened one.” This is similar to the word “Christ,” meaning “messiah.” As Christianity stems from Judaism, Buddhism stems from Hinduism. Like Jesus of Nazareth, Gautama was born into one faith, and built another from that foundation.

29. Siddhartha Gotama’s Life
According to recorded stories, priests told Gotama’s father that he would either be a powerful ruler or an enlightened teacher. Because his father wanted him to be a leader, he confined young Gotama to the palace and prevented him from experiencing the outside world. However, as Gotama grew older, he ventured outside the palace walls and viewed The Four Sights that made him aware of human suffering (old age, disease, death, renunciation).

30. Siddhartha Gotama’s Life
These four sights made Gotama long to find an end to suffering. At the age of 29, he left his family and spent the next six years searching for a solution to suffering. He sought out spiritual masters and even joined a group of ascetics who practice self-denial.

31. More Terms
Asceticism – the practice of denying the physical self through fasting and starvation to discover spiritual truths
Samana – a wandering ascetic monk of any tradition (Hindu or Buddhist)

32. Siddhartha Gotama’s Life
Reflecting on the experiences of his life, still, Siddhartha found no answer. He knew that luxury and indulgence could not keep suffering away, nor could the extreme denial of asceticism. He needed a “middle path.” He left the company of the ascetics, and traveling some distance, found a Bodhi tree and sat down beneath its branches. He closed his eyes.

34. Siddhartha Gotama’s Life
He turned all of his attention within. As he moved deeper and deeper into himself, he began to see the truth of existence. He saw that all life was connected. Nirvana was revealed. At this moment, in the here and now, Siddhartha became the Buddha, “enlightened one.” He was transformed. He went on to teach others of the Four Noble Truths and to encourage them to seek Nirvana for themselves.

35. Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama)

36. Buddhism Basics The Four Noble Truths All life is full of suffering
Suffering is caused by desires, or samsara
There is freedom from samsara, or nirvana
Nirvana can be attained by following the Middle, or Noble Eightfold Path.

37. All Life is Full of Suffering
Buddhism Basics
All Life is Full of Suffering
Everything changes: A river continues to be a river, although it is changing every second. The change is so complete that the water that flows between the banks of the river today is not the same water that flowed in the river yesterday, but it is the same river. So in life we are constantly changing, although we seem to be the same person.

38. Suffering is Caused by Desires
Buddhism Basics
Suffering is Caused by Desires
Desires are the evils of samsara, and include: grasping, lust, hunger and thirst, craving, sloth, fear, doubt, hypocrisy, false glory, anger, delusion, ignorance, selfishness, greed, narcissism.
Samsara: Continuous rebirth due to desire, which includes even clinging to life itself, since life itself is ephemeral. Buddhists believe that all grasping is folly. The goal is to be “in the moment” and aware of each moment you have. Think: What if you wanted nothing? Were waiting for nothing? Would your life be more serene?

39. There is Freedom, or Nirvana
Buddhism Basics
There is Freedom, or Nirvana
Nirvana is a living group of aggregates, where one becomes free from karma and samsara. It is described as a “cool cave, the place of bliss, the father shore.” It is where there is an extinction of the fire of illusion, passion and cravings. Not annihilation or nonexistence, but a place “unborn.”

40. The Middle, or Noble Eightfold Path
Buddhism Basics
The Middle, or Noble Eightfold Path
By avoiding extremes of asceticism or hedonism, one can find nirvana by pursuing the middle, or noble eightfold path, consisting of:
Right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right mode of living, right endeavor, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
To fend off the evils of desire, Buddhists also practice the 10 Great Virtues: Charity, morality, renunciation, wisdom, effort, patience, truth, determination, universal love, and equanimity.

41. Buddhism Basics
Siddhartha Gautama was against the Hindu caste system, and taught that virtues could help fight the evils of the world. He wanted to help those in poverty, and believed that men and women were equals, and all were capable of achieving nirvana. He taught that each individual must find his own journey towards it.
Buddhist are completely nonviolent, vegetarians, and revere all life forms. (Even the insect world!) There are no deities, only teachers or lamas, who help individuals find their own journey to eternal bliss.

42. Buddhist Quotes
The religion of the future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend personal God and avoid dogma and theology…. Buddhism answers this description…. If there is any religion that could cope with modern scientific needs, it would be Buddhism.
-Albert Einstein

43. Buddhist Quotes
I dreamt that I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?
-Chuang Tsu

44. Buddhist Quotes There is no fire like greed, No crime like hatred,
No sorrow like separation,
No sickness like hunger of heart,
And no joy like to joy of freedom.
Health, contentment and trust
Are your greatest possessions,
And freedom your greatest joy.
Look within.
Be still.
Free from fear and attachment,
Know the sweet joy of living in the way.

45. Allegory
Allegory refers to a genre of literature where the entire story actually represents another tale or lesson.
Examples of simple allegory are parables and fables, where all of the characters and events in the story symbolize characters and events in the lesson to be learned.
A modern example of allegory is Animal Farm, by George Orwell, which is not only the story of animals on a farm staging a revolution against their human owners, but a thinly veiled satire of the Russian Revolution and Communist ideology.

46. Allegory
Allegory
Allegory is frequently didactic, or meant to teach a lesson.
It functions on symbolism: The characters and events in the allegorical story are directly connected to the didactic story through symbolic connections.
In its purest form, these connections are more direct than symbolic, as the genre shifts through parable to fable, the connections become more and more figurative.

47. Allegory
Allegory
In a pure allegory, such as the medieval morality play, Everyman, the connections are direct: The character, Everyman, is well, all of us. Death, who comes to visit him one day, is, well, death. The character known as Fellowship, is his not so loyal friend, and Good Deeds, is…well, you get the idea.

48. Let the meditation begin!
As we begin to read Siddhartha, pay attention to the similarities and differences between Siddhartha’s journey and Buddha’s journey.
Let the meditation begin!
Ommmm. . .

49. Think About:
Why do so many people assume this book is about the original Buddha?
The line between truth and fiction…