Siddhartha: Life is a River

 

 

There are few stories that depict the human condition in a way that can resonate with everyone who reads it. That story is Siddhartha, written by Herman Hesse in 1922. A relatively short read of only 107 pages, it is a book that everyone who is trying to figure out life should read at least once.

The story starts out with a young man named Siddhartha, who is part of the upper caste system of India. He is depicted as a young man who is loved by all. He has intelligence, looks, money, basically everything anyone finds desirable. He however is not satisfied with this life. He feels that something is missing. This sets he and his best friend Govinda, on a physical and spiritual journey to find the best way of living.

I don't want to give away the entire plot of the book, but Siddhartha joins a group of ascetics, meets the Buddha, falls in love with a girl, changes his life style to that of a more materialistic ideal, but ultimately finds peace in the most unlikely place. It is the quintessential story of life. While reading this I found myself feeling like Siddhartha, lost, hopeful, inquisitive, and passionate for knowledge of all sorts. The story has this sweet melancholic feeling to it that is hard to describe, but the general theme of the story is that everything is intertwined, and everything returns.

Like many on this journey of understanding, Siddhartha's views and beliefs change like the seasons. People come and go like bends in a river, and you're left with just memories that have become lessons in the pages of the book of your life. Like for many, the answer to life always seems to come near the end, but maybe its for the best. Life is about the journey and this book depicts that incredibly well in such a short time frame. It is like you're riding a raft on a river, it moves so fast and fluidly, almost too fast to be able to savor the elegant descriptions Herman Hesse has written. But that is life. Life doesn't slow down, life doesn't wait, it continues to move even if we choose not to move with it.

If you're looking for a book that reads you, then Siddhartha is an excellent choice. Some things that I thought about while reading this book were:

• Is there any right way to live?
• People change, and this isn't their fault.
• Youth goes by so quick.
• If you can't do anything, you can at least think and wait.
• Don't base your beliefs or thoughts on one person or experience.
• Don't stop learning. Experience everything you can.
  
• Stop and listen to nature.
• Our time here goes by quick.
  

I recommend reading the book chapter by chapter and reflecting after each chapter. When I read it again I will do this. Though it is a short read, there is a lot of wisdom within the pages. Its not the kind of book to read and then set aside, it is really meant to be meditated on during the journey it takes you on. If you're just getting started on your journey of understanding, I can't recommend this book enough as a place to start as it is almost like reading the book of your own life.