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marxistsupernanny 's review for:
Siddhartha
by Hermann Hesse
“Siddhartha”, as the name suggests, is the story of Siddhartha Buddha told by a German author Herman Hesse.
This was the second book which I’ve read by Hesse. The first book I read by him was “Steppenwolfe” which also rocked.
Hesse displays such hypnotic, transient writing style in his work, which makes for a really peaceful reading experience. Most of it is philosophical dialogue, such as in Plato’s writings, but far more comprehensible and engaging.
Siddhartha is a character that is always moving, becoming, in some way. His motivation is first teleological: to attain a heightened spiritual state through his own means. However, he only realizes through experience that a seeker will never find what they are seeking because their gaze is too narrow, too fixed.
He is skeptical of teachers, and dogmas throughout his life, but nonetheless learns how to listen to others and the world. He is neither ascetic nor worldly. He neither denies the world of appearances, nor submits to decadence. Rather, he affirms a love of the world, and it’s movement.
The important part about this is twofold:
1. Enlightenment is not communicable
2. One must experience life in order to appreciate it
This is why asceticism is not enough. Like Nietzsche told us, one cannot affirm life by denying it. We can only affirm life by affirming the struggle itself. The world of things should be loved, not denied.
“Siddhartha” is a short text, very short. I read it as my bedtime book, and it only took about a week. However, you could finish it in a day if you’d like. I really enjoyed it, and think I will read it again sometime.
This was the second book which I’ve read by Hesse. The first book I read by him was “Steppenwolfe” which also rocked.
Hesse displays such hypnotic, transient writing style in his work, which makes for a really peaceful reading experience. Most of it is philosophical dialogue, such as in Plato’s writings, but far more comprehensible and engaging.
Siddhartha is a character that is always moving, becoming, in some way. His motivation is first teleological: to attain a heightened spiritual state through his own means. However, he only realizes through experience that a seeker will never find what they are seeking because their gaze is too narrow, too fixed.
He is skeptical of teachers, and dogmas throughout his life, but nonetheless learns how to listen to others and the world. He is neither ascetic nor worldly. He neither denies the world of appearances, nor submits to decadence. Rather, he affirms a love of the world, and it’s movement.
The important part about this is twofold:
1. Enlightenment is not communicable
2. One must experience life in order to appreciate it
This is why asceticism is not enough. Like Nietzsche told us, one cannot affirm life by denying it. We can only affirm life by affirming the struggle itself. The world of things should be loved, not denied.
“Siddhartha” is a short text, very short. I read it as my bedtime book, and it only took about a week. However, you could finish it in a day if you’d like. I really enjoyed it, and think I will read it again sometime.