Download Siddhartha Required Background Information: Hinduism and the

Siddhartha
Required Background Information: Hinduism and the Origins of Buddhism
I. Hinduism - Hinduism is based on the Vedas, an ancient group of prayers and hymns brought to India by the
Aryans in about 1500 B.C. Later, a system of social classes or castes was added. These castes are very strict and
hereditary. People are born into a caste and remain there throughout their lives. There are five castes:
1. Brahman - priests who guard the traditions and rites of Hinduism
2. The nobility
3. Those who engage in commerce
4. Servants
5. The untouchables - the lowest class who do dirty jobs like cleaning up human waste
This religion of castes is called Brahmanism. The Upanishads is an ancient text that explicates the Vedas and
explains individualism; it teaches about the existence of a universal soul. Individuals must follow their Karma
(fate) through many lives or reincarnations until they can be united with the universal soul. To do this, they
must understand the Maya (illusion of time and space). The Hindu religion teaches that the beauty of nature
must be ignored because it is an illusion. The Hindu religion is very strict; its practice includes prayers,
sacrifices, pilgrimages to sacred places, and bathing in sacred rivers.
II. Buddhism first appeared in the fifth century B.C., when a wealthy young man (later to be known as Gotama
*Gotama’s family name was Prince Siddhartha) left his family and their wealth to look for a way to end human
suffering.* Through meditation, he learned that the path to Nirvana (“nothingness” or the escape from the cycle
of endless rebirths) is through breaking away from all ties of love and desire. His followers called him Buddha,
the Enlightened One.
Buddhism differs from Hinduism because:
1. it offers its followers a code for living
2. It promises eternal salvation.
Buddha teaches four Noble Truths:
1. Existence is suffering.
2. Suffering arises from desire.
3. Suffering ends when desire ends.
4. The way to end desire is to follow the Eight-Fold Path. The Eight-Fold Path to Nirvana
includes the following:
a. Right belief
b. Right resolve
c. Right speech
d. Right conduct
e. Right occupation
f. Right effort
g. Right contemplation
h. Right ecstasy
II. Relationship Between Buddhism and the Novel Siddhartha
The novel Siddhartha is divided into two parts. Part One has four chapters paralleling the four noble
truths defined by Buddha. Part Two has eight chapters, just like the eight-fold path to Nirvana. It is interesting,
when reading each chapter, to try to relate the events in the story with Siddhartha’s success or failure at
accomplishing each step in the eight-fold path.
Since many critics argue that Hesse is not trying to say that Buddhism is the correct path to peace, they
reject the premise that the chapters of the book follow the teaching of Buddha. For our purposes, assume that
Hesse is merely presenting Buddhism as a framework for his novel and as a clear, logical starting point for
individuals seeking inner peace. Look for the melding of ideas from the strict rituals of Hinduism to the clear
steps defined in Buddhism; at the end of the novel, determine if, for Hesse, the idea of love as the path to peace
is derived from Christianity. Consider if he is presenting his own plan drawn from precepts found in all three
religions, which would be a true unity.
III. Characters in the Novel and the Meaning of Their Names.
A. Siddhartha - His name means “He who attains his goal.” He is named after Gotama Buddha, the
founder of Buddhism. Siddhartha is the protagonist of the novel.
B. Govinda - His name means “keeper of cows.” Since cows are sacred in Hinduism, his name is
interpreted as meaning that he has a religious calling. Govinda is Siddhartha’s devoted childhood friend.
C. Gotama Buddha - He is the founder of Buddhism. He has a profound effect on Siddhartha’s search for
meaning.
D. Kamala - Her name means “lotus blossom.” She represents physical love and serves as Siddhartha’s
paramour.
E. Kamaswami - His name is Hesse’s hybrid combination of “Kama” (love, desire, passion) and “Svamin”
(owner, master). Kamaswami represents materialism.
F. Vasudeva - His name means “One who abides in all things and in whom all things abide.” His name
indicates he is a god-fi gure. In the novel, Vasudeva is the wise ferryman, who helps Siddhartha realize
the meaning of om.
G. Om - This word represents creation, preservation, and destruction, and it allows a person who chants
“om” to become totally absorbed “into the nameless, the absolute.” (Pg. 48) It is part of a meditative
chant which brings peace.