Transcript siddhartha
SIDDHARTHA by Herman Hesse Herman Hesse • 1877 – 1962 • Grew up Catholic – the child of missionaries to India • Later came to reject formal religion and education • Left Germany for Switzerland in reaction to WWI • Used writing as a means of spiritual searching and understanding Siddhartha • Written after WWI partially in reaction to that catastrophic event and what Hesse believed was a need for spiritual renewal. • Story of an Indian man’s search for fulfillment and enlightenment. • Essential question: How does one live a good and true life? Siddhartha • Setting: India at the time of the Buddha (563 – 483 BC) • Hero: Siddhartha – has the same first name as that of the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) before he became the Buddha. • Plot: Siddhartha renounces his life of privilege and undertakes various ‘paths’ in search of his own way. • The Hero Cycle is in effect Introduction to Buddhism •Siddhartha is not a Buddhist text. It is a work of fiction, written by a German about the search for self / enlightenment. •Siddhartha is grounded in Buddhist tradition, though scholars have disputed its accuracy in terms of Buddhist teachings. •The Buddha – PBS Documentary •Crash Course: History of India / Buddhism The Four Noble Truths •Suffering, is part of existence •Suffering is caused by attachment to worldly desires / attachments and ignorance. •Suffering can be eliminated •The way to eliminate suffering is the Eight Fold Path The Noble Eight Fold Path •right vision - see things clearly, as they truly are •right aspirations - thoughts and attitude come from truth and compassion •right speech - say nothing harmful, hurtful or untrue •right action - do nothing harmful to yourself or other living things The Noble Eight Fold Path •right livelihood - sustain yourself by doing something that harms no living thing and does not spread untruth •right effort - consciously direct your energies toward becoming your best self •right mindfulness - being fully aware in the present moment of reality, self, other as they truly are (“do not think falsely”) •right meditation - the practice of focusing your mind in meditation