The Value of Our Path

[Antonio]

Early in the book, Siddhartha is observing Gautama. He sees Gautama sitting under the Bodhi tree. Siddhartha questions why. He infers that “He had heard a voice, a voice in his own heart which commanded him to seek rest under that tree, and he preferred neither mortification” [...] “So to obey, not an external command, only the voice, to be ready in that way, this was good, this was necessary, nothing else was necessary.”(41). Personal identity is one of the many themes in the book. We see Siddhartha trying to show everyone that they can make their own path. For our sake, how do we know what is necessary for our path and the choices we make to get on it?

[Hadeel]

Siddhartha’s childhood friend, Govinda, educated him about the importance of choosing a path in his own life. Govinda had always been a step behind Siddhartha, following every decision he made. The one time he stepped out on his own, to accept the Buddha, he was merely following the path of thousands of others. Siddhartha saw this and he learned that he had to listen to himself even if he wound up making a wrong decision. Meeting with Govinda at the end of the novel reinforced his thought that one had to have experience in order to attain Nirvana -- not someone else’s knowledge. After following Gotama for years Govinda still hadn’t reached peace although Siddhartha had. I think we know our choice and our path is right because we believe in it. Because we're doing for ourselves and not anyone else. Your own self chosen path is the best path.

[Aksa]

I agree with Hadeel in that it is necessary for each individual to set out a path for themself. Govinda chose a path paved for followers of Gotama rather than creating a path of his own. This difference is what sets apart Govinda and Siddhartha. The struggle and experience of the journey is what gives value to the end result, otherwise one is blindly following an empty doctrine. Siddhartha explains to Govinda “teachings mean nothing to me; they possess neither hardness, nor softness, nor colors, nor edges, nor odor, nor taste; they possess nothing but words” (Hesse 78). Govinda had been constantly seeking a doctrine that would provide him the answer, however, without his own judgement or values in place he was unable to do so. Siddhartha tells him that “Knowledge can be imparted, but not wisdom” (76). To abandon a doctrine and trust Siddhartha became a decision made by Govinda that was unique and beneficial to himself. From paving his own path, Govinda too, was able to live his remaining years in peace and devoid of time.

[Conor]

The choice that one makes upon choosing the path in which they desire to devote their life is meaningless in comparison to what they face on that journey. Whether one wishes to understand the vast purpose of life or to gain great quantities of knowledge, there will always be a challenge. For Siddhartha, he had to find which way of life would best guide him towards answering his questions about life. No matter what path a person chooses to take, there will always be challenges. Depending on how hard these challenges are will lead to the greater reward for those who continue the path which they have chosen. One must rest their fate in their own judgment for what path of life they wish to journey upon. I do not believe one will ever know if the path they chose was the best or the worst because that will always come down to one's perception of their state of mind.

[Luke]

I think that rather than utilize the term personal identity, I would utilize that of personal experience. One of the major points of development for Siddhartha as a character, is his learning that much of the understanding that he seeks and is required for the reaching of Nirvana, is understanding that cannot be taught to him. Only be delving on his own path, can Siddhartha hope to gain the experiences necessary, and find that truth within himself necessary, to reach Nirvana. Consequently the stressing of the concept of individualism is intrinsically connected to Siddhartha's approach to enlightenment. He's not trying to "prove" that he can make his own path, he has simply learned that to reach Nirvana, there is no other. This is a persistent reality for Siddhartha, and is the reason that he rejects the teaching of so many others in the novel, knowing that, in all they could teach him, he would likely be no closer to Nirvana than he was when he started.

[Jevan]

We know a choice is right for our path if we feel content with it. Through Siddhartha's journey with the Brahmins, the Samanas, and with Gotama, Siddhartha had some doubt. However, when he starts a new path, meditating next to the river, Siddhartha is filled with joy. "He had slept wonderfully. He was remarkably awake, happy and curious," (91).

[Jieleen]

I agree with Hadeel in that the "right" path is what we choose, but to add onto it is that I also feel like we must also respect the paths that others may choose as well. For example, towards the end of the novel, Siddhartha's son has chosen a completely different path from the village life that Siddhartha lives. Yet, Siddhartha seems to respect the choices of his own son in that he "[...] understood that the mourning, pampered child could not suddenly and willingly be content with a life among strangers and in poverty. He did not force him, he did many a chore for him, always picked the best piece of the meal for him." Perhaps if he tried to intervene and discipline his son, he forces him away from a path of enlightenment, or meddles with it. I think one's enlightenment should purely be their own.