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Siddhartha

Hermann Hesse

Start date: May 1, 2016

Finish date: May 31, 2016

Discussion: Short Story/Novella Collection

Why we're reading this: Monthly Short Story, May 2016
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Nov 04, 2010 Brad rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: philosophy, classic, hippy

I don’t really know why, but when I think of Siddhartha I think of hippies. I am sure I’ve seen a copy of Steppenwolf or Siddhartha in the hands of a hippy in a movie, or I've read about some hippy being a fan of the book in some bio about a sixties' rock star. Whatever the reason, though, that connection tugged on my reading of Siddhartha like gravity.

People often talk about how the hippies went from being love children opposed to Vietnam to investment bankers approving of the Gulf Wars and Afg I don’t really know why, but when I think of Siddhartha I think of hippies. I am sure I’ve seen a copy of Steppenwolf or Siddhartha in the hands of a hippy in a movie, or I've read about some hippy being a fan of the book in some bio about a sixties' rock star. Whatever the reason, though, that connection tugged on my reading of Siddhartha like gravity.

People often talk about how the hippies went from being love children opposed to Vietnam to investment bankers approving of the Gulf Wars and Afghanistan, but there is little sadness attached to that talk. If anything it is used as an implied argument for the righteousness of the latter position, as though love is childish and imperialism (or just plain vengeance) is the adult reality.

I, too, have often wondered how one became the other, but I’ve always felt pretty bummed about the shift. I’m even sadder about it now that I’ve read Siddhartha. If my imagination of old tattered, dog eared copies of Siddhartha passing from reader to reader in communes has any kernel of truth to it, the old hippies clearly missed Hesse’s warning.

You see, Siddhartha does precisely what the hippies did. He turns his back on his search for Nirvana and runs smack into the corruption of possession. He grows fat, old, corrupt and poisoned by the comfort that enticed him to give up his search for the way. But Hesse lets him find his way back again. He hears the river, and the river leads him to love and timelessness and peace and living. It’s kind of beautiful, actually. But the important thing is that he sees his move into mercantilism and gambling and societal membership as a failure and returns to the happiness of simplicity.

If the hippies really did read Siddhartha, it’s too bad they didn’t heed Hesse’s message, but then they probably didn’t read it after all. It’s probably nothing but a piece of fancy that found its way into my head through some obscure piece of popular culture.

So "Om" to you, and go listen to the river. ...more

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Apr 07, 2017 Kelly_Hunsaker_reads ... rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, 1001-books

My knowledge of Buddha is minimal. My knowledge of the tie between Hinduism and Buddha is even more minimal. But I read this book because it is consistently listed as one of the best books ever written. Herman Hesse took the story of Buddha's journey to become Buddha is written simply; it is poetry to read. It is beautiful and full of wisdom. The messages spoke to my mind and to my heart and I am certain to read this again, because it is a book full of peace and love and I want that in my life.

T ...more

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