From the Bookshelf of Reading Until Infinity …

Siddartha

Hermann Hesse

Start date: August 2, 2021

Finish date: August 31, 2021

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Mar 29, 2022 Sarah B rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: classic, fiction, philosophy

So I must say I was a bit surprised to see this book was listed under "philosophy" as I didn't realize one could have a fiction book in that category. I had presumed it had to be nonfiction. Well this certainly proves my original idea to be wrong. And I must say I was unsure even what philosophy was! I had heard the term before but that was about it. To me, this was a classic set in India.

So you might be wondering what I thought about the philosophy in here, especially since I have autism? We So I must say I was a bit surprised to see this book was listed under "philosophy" as I didn't realize one could have a fiction book in that category. I had presumed it had to be nonfiction. Well this certainly proves my original idea to be wrong. And I must say I was unsure even what philosophy was! I had heard the term before but that was about it. To me, this was a classic set in India.

So you might be wondering what I thought about the philosophy in here, especially since I have autism? Well I had known by page 19 that the main character, Siddhartha, was definitely on the wrong path! Are you surprised? I really don't think this is a spoiler of the story...so here goes:

You see, Siddhartha was trying to make his father happy! His father was a holy man, a Brahman. But even his father had not reached the perfect state of peace and enlightenment. But even if that path had been perfect for his father, Siddhartha is not his father. He needs to find his own life's path. And that path might be very different. Each soul is different. The problem people have in life is actually finding out what their life path is. Because most people don't know... They are clueless. And these days too many are caught up in flashy exciting stuff. You won't find grace in a nightclub or a casino or some other wild location of the modern era.

So I found this story very easy to understand. It resonates with me. The author talks in here about being "childlike" and I think having autism is being childlike. I often live in the moment. In the present. And I am very connected to myself. That is, I understand myself. And at the same time I am also very connected with nature. And all of this reminds me of Siddhartha near the end of the book. He finally figures things out and gets onto the correct path although he had a very rough time getting there. He had many things to learn.

The biggest piece of wisdom in here is this: you cannot find something while you are seeking it.

Does that make sense to you? It does to me! When you let go and relax and let the universe take charge (and think whatever will happen will happen) is when things will go smoothly and things just fall into place as if by magic. Its the synchronicity!

So yes, I can relate to Siddhartha. Even though he was living a lifestyle very different than my own. I've never been to India. I've never slept in a forest. But I have fasted many times and I have done one meal a day (called OMAD) countless times. I have a limited diet - but I certainly cannot grasp how he can live on just rice cakes! And I have no idea what were these "sacrifices" he was always doing?? The book doesn't make that clear at all. Was he killing animals or something? No idea. But I can relate to many of the things in his life and what he learns. And having a bunch of material things doesn't lead to happiness - although one certainly needs some things. Especially these days. But as you age what you had liked when you were younger you may no longer care for. Your tastes change.

Of course some people never reach enlightenment.

The trick is in learning how. How to find peace. Sometimes I call it "inner zero". It works great with horses.

This is certainly not your normal novel. It's not an action or adventure story. It covers several decades of a man's life as he seeks enlightenment but in no way is it boring. It's about his journey; how he finds and corrects his mistakes so he can let go of troubles to have peace. And if you understand it then perhaps you can find enlightenment too.

I will certainly read more books by this author! ...more

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Sep 03, 2018 La Tonya Jordan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: good-read

Siddhartha took many different paths to his spirtual awaking only to find what he was seeking in front of him within his own grasp. He started as a son of a Brahmin, moved to be a Samana, introducted to the Illustrious One, wondered into wordly gain with Kamala teaching him physical love and Kamaswami, the wealth merchant, teaching him money and greed. Lastly, the old feeryman wise beyond measure taught him how to listen to the river. The greatest gift of all.

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“Wisdom cannot be imparted. W ...more

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May 20, 2021 Kushal Hamal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Loved the representation and relation of characters with environment,situations to give wonderful meaning!

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Nov 14, 2020 Anthony Louis Garavito rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Una de las obras que mejor pudo expresar el estrecho puente entre Oriente y Occidente, entre lo espiritual y lo materialista, el autor se desenvuelve de una manera fluida por las vicisitudes de los personajes. La búsqueda de sentido, el absurdo de la felicidad occidental, el camino imposible oriental, se entrelazan en un monólogo incesante, donde el lector también será objeto de una introspección sin precedentes.

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