The Role of Teachers in “Siddhartha” by Hermann Hesse

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Table of Contents

Introduction
First teacher
Meeting with Buddha
Kamala and Kamaswami
Vasudeva, the ferryman and the river
The major theme
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

In the novel Siddhartha, one finds the central character Siddhartha renouncing Gotama as teacher as he believes that true enlightenment cannot be taught and that he has to seek it himself. However, a close reading of the novel convinces the reader that there have been many teachers in the life of Siddhartha each of who have been instrumental in his self-realization. Siddhartha himself remarks that one must gain experiences himself because wisdom is “inexpressible and incommunicable.” (Herman 40). The novel Siddhartha can be understood as the tale of an Indian’s spiritual journey who seeks out to experience this ultimate wisdom and peace, because he beliefs that no enlightenment can come out of listening to teaching or preaching or sticking to any doctrine by others. Thus the novel provides the message that one has to follow one’s own ways in his/ her journey towards enlightenment rather than trying to copy from the lives of others.

Siddhartha himself confesses that even though he distrusts doctrines and teachers, there have been many from whom he learned. To quote Siddhartha’s own words: “I came to distrust doctrines and teachers but I learned from many teachers but most of all I have learned from the river and from my predecessor, Vasudeva. He was a simple man. He was not a thinker, but he realized the essential as well as Gotam. He was a holy man, a saint wisdom is not communicable. The wisdom which a wiseman tries to communicate always sounds foolish. ” (Herman 113-114). Vasudeva, the ferryman and the river act as the best teachers for Siddhartha in his pursuit for enlightenment; however, one cannot undermine the role played by his own father, the Samanas, Kamala, Kamaswami and Buddha in the life of Siddhartha. All of them taught him important lessons in life and his experiences with each of them have molded his inner self. His relation with Govinda is also significant in the novel. Hermann Hesse presents the character of Govinda to convince his reader that it is more important to listen to and move according to what one’s voice and inner spirits dictates to him rather than blindly following any guru (teacher), doctrine or belief. The fact that Govinda fails to achieve the ultimate peace should act as an eye-opener to everyone who wants to pursue his own goals. Even though Govinda becomes a follower of Buddha, the Illustrous one, he fails to accomplish his dream to achieve Nirvana like Buddha or Siddhartha. During his long conversation with Govinda, Siddhartha makes it clear that he valued Buddha’s deeds and life more important than the latter’s doctrines whereby he hints a possible way for Govinda to pursue his own goals in accordance with his inner voice.

First teacher

His father has been his first teacher who taught him “how to recognize the Atman within the depth of his being, indestructible, at one with the universe. ” (Herman 3). Siddhartha practices the art of meditation at home and his father thought that he would become a learned Brahmin-‘a prince among Brahmins’. However, the realization that his life with the father will not see him through enlightenment, forces Siddhartha to leave home in search of better teachers or doctrines. Thus, unable to find an answer to his quest, Siddharta joins the Samanas with his friend Govinda, hoping that an ascetic way of life would make him empty of thrust, desire, dream, pleasure and sorrow and thereby let the self-die to experience pure thought and to know the secret of life. Siddhartha learns a lot of things with his association with Samanas; he practices self-denial and meditation and learns many ways of losing the Self from them. He defines meditation as “a flight from the self, a temporary escape from the torment of self. ” (Herman 12). Later he understands that the Samana life will never help him to complete his probe, to attain the state of Nirvana and this realization forces him to go away from them.

Meeting with Buddha

His meeting with Buddha, the Illustrious one occurs at this juncture which reinforces his belief that he is supposed to reach his goal alone. It is important to note why he leaves Buddha: “That is why I am going on my way-not to seek another and better doctrine, for I know there is none, but to leave all doctrines and all teachers and to reach my goal alone- or die. ” (Herman 28). Thus he decides to listen to the inner voice within him and not to succumb himself to any other external command. However, it is his meeting with Buddha that offers him the optimism and the inner strength to follow his pursuit and to experience enlightenment just as Buddha attained it in his own life. Thus, his meeting with Buddha leads Siddhartha to the real awakening that he needs to continue his pursuit in his own unique way.

Kamala and Kamaswami

Kamala and Kamaswami have been the two influential teachers of Siddhartha in his life of Sansara and he experiences material and sensual life under their guidance. The life of Sansara, his worldly life with Kamala the beautiful courtesan was essential for Siddhartha’s later conviction and enlightenment. In the initial stage of their relationship Siddharta considers her as a teacher and learns the art of love from her. His meeting with kamala teaches him that the world is also beautiful; he feels that he has to leave his former life behind him. As Kleebaby observes it was Kamala who “converted Siddhartha from a Samana into a high-powered businessman. Besides directing Siddhartha to “Samsara” (60), Kamala taught him one of the most important things someone can be taught, how to love and be loved in return. ” (Kleebaby). Similarly, it is Kamaswami who initiates Siddhartha into a life of wealth and luxury.

Siddhartha’s association with him turns the former into a businessman. Sean Ewart (2006) rightly puts it: “Siddhartha slips back into a mainstream life of material pleasures and social pressures. His initially casual involvement with the merchant, Kamaswami, leads to his consumption by society’s temptress, wealth. His flirtation with this destabilizing force eventually leads to his downfall, as he retreats further and further into disgust and despair. It is only at his spiritual death that his connections to the social world are irrevocably severed. ” (Ewart). He earns a lot of wealth, fine dresses and perfumes for her; however, within no time he understands the futility of all these worldly pleasures. One can experience Siddhartha’s inward mental struggles as he understands that his inner voice has become faded and silent: “He only noticed that the bright and clear inward voice, that had once awakened in him and had always guided him in his finest hours, had become silent” (Hesse, p. 65). He comes to the realization that the reason for the fading of his inner voice was nothing but his self- his small fearful and proud self. Kamala, during one of their lovemaking, confesses her decision to be a follower of Buddha. After the lovemaking, it becomes clear to Siddhartha that passion is so closely related to death. The same night we find Kamala setting free the songbird and she understands that Siddhartha has disappeared. This symbolizes that Siddhartha is now completely free to pursue his inner quest like a free bird. Later in their last meeting she is so happy to know that he has found peace.

Vasudeva, the ferryman and the river

Vasudeva, the ferryman and the river are the two dominant and most powerful teachers that Siddhartha comes across in his life. The river in the novel acts as a symbol in the novel and it teaches him the way to get rid of himself. He listens to the river and the river teaches him “how to listen- to listen with a still heart, with a waiting open soul, without passion, without desire, without judgment, without opinion. ” (Herman 87). He understands that the sound of water is nothing but the voice of life, the voice of Being, or perpetual Becoming. The river is the strongest symbol used in the novel. It is the symbol of Siddhartha’s and Vasudeva’s inner strength. Both of them derive visions, comforts and answers to their questions from the river. In the same way, the river is closely associated with all the major events in Siddhartha’s life. He crosses the river after his meeting with Buddha to lead a life of pleasure and comes back to it after his worldly life. He can listen to his inner voice, the laments of his soul, his inward spirit the best when he is in communion with the river. Vasudeva, the Ferryman, is a strong motivator in Siddhartha’s pursuit of eternal bliss. All throughout the novel he encourages, inspires and guides Siddhartha to accomplish his pursuit. It is Vasudeva who advises Siddhartha to leave his son free to choose his own way.

The major theme

The major theme of the novel is Siddhartha’s self-realization and subsequent enlightenment and all the teachers mentioned in the essay have been instrumental for Siddhartha’s enlightenment. He joints the Samanas, visits Buddha, embraces his earthly desires, and finally communes with nature, all in an attempt to obtain Nirvana His determination to seek Atman was so strong that he remarks: “One must find the source within one’s own self, one must possess it. Everything else was seeking- a detour, error” (Herman 6). His search for his inner life comes to an end finally; he comes to a complete self-realization. In the end, he grasps the wholeness of life, experiencing the sense of fulfillment and wisdom, which come with it. In short the novel is a classical work dealing with the meaning of life and the novel does have Buddhist undercurrents in this respect.

Conclusion

Thus, the novel Siddhartha is the story of an ordinary man who becomes an enlightened saint by pursuing his inner voice. The thoughts of Kamala, his son, Vasudeva or Govinda can no longer worry him because he has attained the enlightenment- that everyone is to seek his own destiny, his own goals and that no one can teach or preach or advice people to do anything. Thus the novel portrays the growth of Siddharta, the Brahman’s son, to maturity and perfection- to the height of Nirvana and enlightenment- because of his incessant quest and blind obedience to his inner voice. The novel resembles the story of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho where the hero goes in search of his dreams, overcomes obstacles and tribulations, and finally makes his dream come true. The novel can be interpreted from a Buddhist standpoint- Siddharta is in pursuit of his innermost essence (Atman); it is made possible only when he denounces his ego, his own selfish identity (Self). When he has got rid of his selfish ego and is moved by universal love, he experiences eternal bliss, happiness and peace (Nirvana). However, there is an essential difference between the ways followed by Siddhartha and Buddha to reach the state of enlightenment, the envious state of Nirvana, the eternal bliss. For Buddha, the desire is the root of all suffering and thus desire must be crushed to achieve Nirvana. He despised the world because he found that basically all physical reality is Maya (Illusion). But Siddhartha believed that the physical world is real and that one should love everything in the world and view everything as a single unity. For anyone who wants to the in search of his inner spiritual urges, for any individual like Govinda who tells “I can see, my friend, that you have found peace. I realize I have not found it. Give me something to help me on my way. ” (Herman 119), Siddhartha’s answer is a silent smile which ensures the contender that he has to follow his own inner voice, rather than resort to any doctrine, advice or belief.

Works Cited

Herman, Hesse. Siddhartha. Ed. Hila Rosner. Rupa & Co: New Delhi, 2006.

Ewart, Sean. The Effects of Society on the Individual’s Quest for Divine Understanding. Gradesaver. 2006. Web.

Kleebaby. Siddhartha: The Teachers of Siddhartha. Planet Papers. 2008. Web.

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