Is Siddhartha Buddhist According to Herman Hesse's Siddhartha? Research Paper

Siddhartha a Buddhist?

Originally published in 1922 by German writer Hermann Hesse, the classic novel of personal discovery Siddhartha has since become one of the most widely read works of religious fiction ever written. By presenting the tale of a young man named Siddhartha coming of age in ancient India, the European-born and Christian-raised Hesse manages to portray mankind's collective yearning for spiritual satisfaction through a highly readable and relatable narrative. While the novel focuses on the age of Gautama Buddha, whose teachings attracted millions of followers and eventually formed the foundations of modern Buddhism, Siddhartha himself is the son of a respected Hindu Brahmin and has trouble identifying with any particular system of belief. Embarking on an epic journey of reflection and awakening, Siddhartha experiences both self-sacrifice and the temptation of worldly pleasures as he grows into manhood, before eventually encountering Gautama Buddha in the flesh. After gaining firsthand knowledge of the ascetic lifestyle endured by the Samanas, as well as the materialistic existence enjoyed by the wealthy, Siddhartha is forced to decide between these conflicting ways of life and the path offered by Gautama Buddha. Although Hesse has weaved the basic tenets of Buddhist faith throughout his story, from intense meditation sessions to the use of the holy word "Om," Siddhartha's ultimate rejection of the great master's teachings leaves the reader struggling to decide whether or not he was even a Buddhist himself.By examining the text of Siddhartha closely while comparing the writings with Hesse's actual experiences traveling through India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia, it is possible to form a fully informed conclusion on the protagonist's true spiritual identity.

The fact that Hesse begins his story by noting Siddhartha's astounding ability to master the practices of Hinduism, and not Buddhism, should be noted because scholars agree that Buddhism emerged as a variant of Hinduism with both religions sharing many of the same basic beliefs. By informing the reader that the young Siddhartha "had already long taken part in the learned men's conversations & #8230; and had practiced the art of contemplation and meditation with him" and that "he knew how to pronounce Om silently & #8230; he knew how to recognize Atman within the depth of his being" (Hesse 3-4), the author immediately provides context for Siddhartha's future behaviors. With modern Buddhism having surfaced as an offshoot of Hinduism, portraying the young Siddhartha as a restless Hindu who suspects that his teachers "had already poured the sum total of their knowledge into his waiting vessel; and the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still" (Hesse 5) is a deliberate literary device designed to link Siddhartha himself to the still developing concept of Buddhism. Another way Hesse attempts to connect Siddhartha to the historical.....