1. Siddhartha
By Herman Hesse

2. Siddhartha Has Brahmin (Hindu) heritage Masters Samanas’ skills
Admires the teachings of Gotama (Buddha)
Friends, family, and loved ones are left behind as he is consumed by his enlightenment quest
Logical flaws in teachings lead him wandering
Headstrong, determined, self-motivated
Believes enlightenment is not taught but found from within

3. Govinda Siddhartha’s best friend On search for enlightenment
Follower versus Siddhartha’s independence and leadership qualities
Believes in the need for assistance and teachings to reach his enlightenment path

4. The Search for Enlightenment
Spiritual
Brahmins (Hinduism)
Family/Father
Leaves his past behind for good
Samanas
Control over desires
Finds void emptiness
Gotama
Believes in Buddha’s enlightenment
Great respect
Must find his own path
Materialism/The World
Part of the path to enlightenment
Holds necessary wisdom

5. Om Introduced with Brahmin Entrance into enlightenment
Knowing all things exist at the same moment in time
Siddhartha is taught what it means, but still fails to experience it
People follow it, but do not have their lives reflect it

6. Polarities Part I: Siddhartha rejects material world
Part II: Siddhartha rejects the spiritual world
Part I & Part II: The combined importance of the material and spiritual world to enlightenment
Common ground
Denial of body not enlightenment
Emersion of self not enlightenment

7. Smile Look for the symbolic nature of the smile Who smiles?
Gotama smiles in reaction to Siddhartha’s continued search
Calm nature
Peaceful stance
Who else has this same nature and smiles?

8. The River & The Ferryman
The river holds within it the many sounds of all living things
Siddhartha’s final “instructor”
What does the river represent?
The ferryman, Vasudeva, guides Siddhartha but will not tell him what he needs or should do.
Positioned between the world and enlightenment
Guides people over the river, the gap between two lands
Opens the window to the enlightenment within

9. Love Siddhartha’s father A love Siddhartha rejects
He has a greater love for enlightenment
Govinda
Mutual love and respect focused on enlightenment desire
Buddha
Love in the form of action: actions are stronger than words
Siddhartha rejects this love as it is attached to the teachings
Kamala
Physical love
Teaches the importance of love
Siddhartha is unable to give and receive genuine love
The son
A test of wisdom, a new wisdom
A source of painful love
Nirvana
Must be reached by accepting rather than resisting love