We experience the random energies surrounding ourselves, which define our mood. In the lockdown phase, the Doordarshan and other entertainment platforms have hosted their prominent shows such as the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the VishunuPuran, the Mahadev, etc. so that they can channelize the focus of the public and give them a sense of positive aura around them. I often have urged to go outside, feeling very much irritated within the four walls, since I have gone through those epics already. Siddartha by Hermann Hesse was lying at my bookshelf for quite a long time, and indeed it had some positive energy around it.
"Writing is good; thinking is better. Being smart is good; being patient is better."
When I saw this book, I jumped to the conclusion that this book will be associated with the life of Buddha and his principals & teaching. I have read-only few quotes and anecdotes which were inspiring but never got a chance to go through a book over his life. But alas, here as well, he has a minimal role to play. Someone indeed said small things do make significant changes in your life.
Siddartha is about a story of a hermit, born and brought up into a Brahman family with skill-set and values of a Brahman. Siddartha becomes contempt at a very young age and wants to quench his thirst for knowledge by becoming a Samana. His inner battle begins when he still becomes contempt, and his desire for learning in life is still not up to the mark after living and getting trained under samanas. His life takes a new turn when he decides to earn wealth, as he finds it as the resource which will make Kamala happy. He uses his practice his teachings and focuses this on business, eventually to become wealthy. After a certain point in time, he drowns in greed and lust of wealth that he finds the dearth of knowledge. He questions himself of the practice that he had taken while being a Brahman and a Samana. He leaves everything and goes back to the forest, not to become a Samana again, but to find a way to fill the void in his life that he feels still. He meets a long lost friend and stays with him to learn a new art and continues to live on until he realizes that he's a father. He tries to keep his son, but his son leaves him. Siddhartha is still learning and trying to find the gap, but the question is, will he.
There are very few authors whose work cannot be defined by the word perfect, Hermann Hesse is one of those. The book has such a powerful message and strong learning lessons that make you introspect yourself over small decisions again and again. The book won't take much time if you're an avid reader. A must-read for something new!
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