Understanding Without Self-Actualization

[Rylan]

Towards the very end of the Siddhartha's story we see him attempting to explain to Govinda that words and thoughts are the same and all that truly matters is the world surrounding you, "Let the things be illusions or not, after all I would then also be an illusion, and thus they are always like me." (95). Which made me think about whether or not one can truly understand and believe what Siddhartha is saying without achieving enlightenment. Later in their conversation Govinda explains, "I see, beloved, that you have found peace. I confess that I haven't found it. Tell me, oh honourable one, one more word, give me something on my way which I can grasp," (97). Govinda's plea to Siddhartha to help him on his path brings back up, for me, questions of can a person understand the teachings of one that has obtained self-actualization without being enlightened. My final question is, can one truly understand what Siddhartha is trying to explain to Govinda without achieving enlightenment or does one finally understand Siddhartha as a result of achieving enlightenment?

[Mary]

No, I don’t one would truly be able to grasp such a concept if they don’t experience it themselves. If Govinda after all those years as a Buddhist know what enlightenment is and has probably studied it concepts a thousand time, why is he no enlightened? Like Siddhartha said earlier in the book," You will not be able to in form and tell a single person in words and by the means of teachings what happened to you in the hour of your enlightenment!" (19). Ultimately it all boils down to another person can’t grasp the concept due to reaching nirvana being such a personal life experience made of all your own past experiences.