Siddhartha Essays Achieving Enlightenment at the River

Achieving Enlightenment at the River in Siddhartha In Siddharthas quest for enlightenment, Herman Hesse makes the river the final focal point of the novel. Siddhartha is set on his journey to the river by listening to his inner voice and questioning authority. The river comes to represent the ideas through which Siddhartha reaches enlightenment. The essential concepts of time and how it relates to life are discovered by Siddhartha through listening to the river. He comes to realize that his previous conclusion is correct, wisdom cannot be taught. When he reaches nirvana, he also sees how spiritualism and materialism both have a place in the cycle of life. Acting as Siddharthas inspiration to his ultimate goal, the river†¦show more content†¦With Vasudeva, Siddhartha begins spiritually as a child. By destroying his old Self, Siddhartha is no longer hindered by too much knowledge...too much doing and striving. (99) Thus, as a child Siddhartha begins to hear the river, and learn from it. In his education, the concept of time re peatedly arises. The river is seen as always flowing and changing, just as the world does. Siddhartha comes to understand that life is transitory, a cycle that is eternally repeating. Looking at the river, it is made of water, water from the rains. Before that, the water was in the clouds, the air, evaporated from the river. Travelling from sky to earth, brook to river, the river is always present. The only change is how it is reflected in the ephemeral life. The continual flow from one to another illustrates the principle of timelessness. The Buddhist concept of timelessness is based on the wheel of life. Because of future reincarnation, Buddhists to not perceive time as a fixed linear progression and therefore time is irrelevant. The river signifies time in that the river is everywhere at the same time...the present only exists for it...not the past...nor the future. (107) Time is the idea of passing events, just as the river comes to illustrate the same when Siddhartha sees his life has been a river of events. However, because a river is ever present and always in motion, time is also dynamic. Being perpetual, the river and time are symbolically theShow MoreRelatedComparing the Journeys of Hesses Siddhartha and Gandhi Essay2049 Words   |  9 Pages      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Siddhartha and Gandhi strove for different goals during their lives. Siddharthas goal was very personal, while Gandhis goal encompassed the world. This was shown by their spiritual development throughout their journeys. Siddhartha evolved from an inexperienced spiritual being to a man, returned to spirituality, and ended with nirvana. Gandhi traveled a much straighter path, originally being a worldly man merely seeking his correct place in life, when his spiritual development unexpectedlyRead MoreThe Influence of Buddhism in Chinese Martial Arts Essay777 Words   |  4 Pagesin Chan (Zen) Buddhism. Kung-Fu was Influenced by the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama and focuses heavily on the belief that enlightenment is attained through meditation. In this essay, Buddhisms influence on Shaolin Kung-Fu will be discussed, from how it started to how it thrives today in modern china. Michael Kampan O Reilly states in Art Beyond the West that Zen Buddhism teaches one can find happiness and success by achieving harmony with nature. They also believe that the Buddha lives inside