Siddhartha’s Concept of Salvation
Salvation is a term that refers to the liberation from suffering and the attainment of inner peace. Different religions and philosophies have different views on how to achieve salvation, and what it entails. One of the most influential works that explores the concept of salvation is Siddhartha, a novel by Hermann Hesse, published in 1922. The novel tells the story of Siddhartha, a young man who embarks on a spiritual journey to find enlightenment and salvation. Along the way, he encounters various teachers, mentors, and experiences that shape his understanding of salvation.
Siddhartha’s concept of salvation evolves throughout the novel, as he tries different paths and methods to reach his goal. Initially, Siddhartha follows the teachings of his father, a Brahmin priest, who believes that salvation can be achieved through rituals, prayers, and sacrifices. However, Siddhartha soon realizes that this path does not satisfy his thirst for knowledge and truth. He decides to join the Samanas, a group of ascetics who renounce all worldly pleasures and practice self-discipline, meditation, and fasting. Siddhartha hopes that by overcoming his senses and desires, he will be able to attain salvation through detachment and self-denial.
However, after three years of living with the Samanas, Siddhartha still feels restless and dissatisfied. He meets the Buddha, also known as Gotama, who claims to have achieved enlightenment and salvation through his own path. Siddhartha is impressed by the Buddha’s serenity and wisdom, but he does not accept his doctrine as the ultimate truth. He believes that salvation cannot be taught or learned from others, but only experienced personally. He decides to leave the Buddha and his friend Govinda, who becomes a follower of the Buddha.
Siddhartha then enters the world of ordinary people, where he learns about love, business, wealth, and pleasure. He meets Kamala, a beautiful courtesan who teaches him the art of love. He also meets Kamaswami, a rich merchant who teaches him how to trade and make money. Siddhartha enjoys his new life for a while, but he soon becomes disillusioned and unhappy. He realizes that he has lost his spiritual direction and become enslaved by his passions and possessions. He feels empty and alienated from himself and the world.
Siddhartha decides to abandon his worldly life and seek salvation once again. He comes across a river, where he meets Vasudeva, a humble ferryman who becomes his friend and guide. Vasudeva teaches Siddhartha how to listen to the river and learn from its voice. Siddhartha discovers that the river contains the essence of all life and existence. He realizes that everything is interconnected and interdependent, and that there is no distinction between self and other, past and present, good and evil. He understands that salvation is not a state or a goal to be achieved, but a process of becoming one with the flow of life.
Siddhartha finally achieves enlightenment and salvation when he sees his own face reflected in the river. He recognizes himself as part of the whole universe, and feels a deep compassion for all living beings. He also reconciles with his son, whom he had fathered with Kamala before leaving her. He lets go of his attachment to his son, who had rebelled against him and run away. He accepts his son’s freedom and destiny, just as he had accepted his own.
Siddhartha’s concept of salvation is based on self-discovery, reflection, and harmony with nature. It is not dependent on any external authority or doctrine, but on one’s own experience and intuition. It is not achieved by following a fixed path or method, but by being open to change and diversity. It is not a static or final state, but a dynamic and ongoing process.
Help write my assignment – Bibliography
Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha: An Indian Tale. Translated by Hilda Rosner,
New York: New Directions Publishing Corporation,
1951.
Maurya,Nagendra Prasad.”Treatment of Salvation as a Major Theme in Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha”. Journal of Emerging Technologies
and Innovative Research (JETIR), vol 2(3), 2015 – Research Paper Writing Help Service,
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Rai,Singh Indrani.”Meeting Me at Horizon: In Search of
