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.

 Buddhism first appeared in the fifth century B.C.,when a wealthy young man (later

to be known as Gotama) 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 it offers its followers a code for living, as well as the promise of eternal

salvation.

*Gotama’s family name was Prince Siddhartha

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

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 defi ned 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 defi ned 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.

Characters in the Novel and the Meaning of Their Names.

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.

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.

Gotama Buddha - He is the founder of Buddhism. He has a profound effect on Siddhartha’s

search for meaning.

Kamala - Her name means “lotus blossom.” She represents physical love and serves as

Siddhartha’s paramour.

Kamaswami - His name is Hesse’s hybrid combination of “Kama” (love, desire, passion) and

“Svamin” (owner, master). Kamaswami represents materialism.

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.

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.