Is Siddhartha Buddhist According to Herman Hesse\'s Siddhartha?

¶ … 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 path of Buddhist thought is evident in the character's very name, as the original Gautama Buddha was also known as Siddhartha Gautama Sakyamuni before he renounced his prior existence and attained enlightenment. Through the act of naming his hero Siddhartha, and by positioning him as a former Hindu practitioner who is unsatisfied with that path, "there is a conscious attempt to echo the life of the Buddha" (Mossman 118) in Hesse's construction of the plot.

The question of whether or not the fictional Siddhartha lived up to his namesake and adopted the Buddhist lifestyle of continually seeking tranquility and peace is difficult to determine by a surface reading of the book, but the underlying meaning of his sometimes vague statements provide several suggestive clues. After meeting with the revered Buddha along with his loyal friend Govinda, Siddhartha watches as his lifelong companion enthusiastically devotes himself to the cause of Buddhism, but curiously he chooses to remain committed to his own path. In explaining his choice to the Buddha himself, Siddhartha first praises the Illustrious One and his sensible teachings, before concluding that "that nobody finds salvation through teachings. To nobody, O Illustrious One, can you communicate in words and teaching what happened to you in the hour of your enlightenment. That is why I am going on my way -- not to seek another and better doctrine, for I know there is none, but to leave all doctrines and all teachers and to reach my goal alone -- or die" (Hesse 34). As the Buddha absorbs this rejection of his path without a trace of anger or negativity, Siddhartha becomes fixated on the Buddha's "imperturbable brightness and friendliness & #8230; his look and his half-smile" (Hesse 35) and begins to contemplate his own path to achieving such an enlightened state of being. When Siddhartha observes internally that "he has robbed me, yet he has given me something of greater value & #8230; he has given to me Siddhartha, myself" (Hesse 36), it becomes apparent that while he may have walked away from the Buddha himself, Siddhartha soon embarked on his personal journey toward the same goal. His eventual discovery of the river and its eternally perfect word "Om" represents the final step of Siddhartha's lifelong journey to spiritual awakening, and by reflecting upon the various stages of his life, from being the brilliant son of a Brahmin to living painfully as an ascetic Samana, and the physical indulgences of his life as a wealthy man, Siddhartha finally discovers the only path to true peace has always been within him. This lesson of internal awareness lies at the very heart of Buddhism, which provides proof that Hesse's Siddhartha shared the same spiritual convictions as the great Buddha who shares his name.