Siddhartha
(Hermann Hesse)

Part I

The Son of the Brahman

Siddhartha is a young man of the Brahman (priest/scholar) caste in India. He- along with his friend Govinda- lives in a riverside town next to a forest. Siddhartha is both intelligent and handsome, is practicing his skills of rhetoric and meditation with Govinda, and is already engaging with the older, learned men of his town in religious discussions. Everybody in town admires him in some way or another, but it’s Govinda who loves and admires him the most for his intellect and clear destiny as a great person.

While he may spread joy to others around him, Siddhartha isn’t able to find derive that same pleasure from himself. He also suspects that the joy he feels from the love of his parents and Govinda will one day not be enough to satiate his spiritual life and that he has exhausted his father and the teachers of his town of their spiritual knowledge. He begins to question his spiritual practices, wondering if sacrificing to other gods aside Atman is a worthwhile activity. He believes that the Atman exists inside humans, occupying the same space as the human soul, but he has no idea how to access it.

Though the books and teachers seem to know much about Atman, Siddhartha wants to meet someone who also lives the life of an awoken Atman inside them. He observes that even his own father- the most intelligent and wise amongst the town’s men- continues to engage in the practices of water ablutions and sacrifice that Siddhartha can’t seem to find meaning from. He often meditates with Govinda, hoping to find answers there.

One day, a group of self-denying monks known as Samanas pass through town. The way they carry themselves inspires Siddhartha enough to want to join them. He tells Govinda, and the latter is scared as he knows that once Siddhartha begins the spiritual journey, Govinda’s own love and admiration for him will compel him to join.

Hours before dawn, Siddhartha enters his father’s bedroom to ask for his permission to join the Samanas. His father doesn’t respond for a long time, waiting long enough to notice the stars have moved. He finally admits that the request angers him and that he doesn’t want to hear it again. As Siddhartha didn’t receive an answer he stands still, waiting. His father leaves to another room and attempts to sleep, but every hour he remains awake and confirms that Siddhartha continues to wait in the same spot and in the same stance of folded arms. He eventually concedes, asking Siddhartha only to share his bliss with him if he finds it or return home to continue his religious practices if he doesn’t.

As Siddhartha leaves town to join the Samanas, he is happy to see that Govinda is joining him.

With The Samanas

The boys offer themselves up for instruction and the Samanas welcome them. Siddhartha gives away his clothes and eats only uncooked food once a day. He then proceeds onto a fast that lasts almost a month and thins him thoroughly. This process leads him to become more observant of the world around him and the realization that all of it- either good or bad- is merely a veneer to the decay that lay underneath. With that epiphany in mind, Siddhartha becomes convinced that he needs to be free of any desire- physical or emotional- so that the inner Atman can wake up inside him.

To that end, Siddhartha subjects himself to intense weather conditions, cuts himself up by moving through thorn bushes, and learns to control his breathing, heart rate, and blood flow until all the feelings of cold, heat, pain, and heart beats have left from his body. He learns from the Samanas how meditate differently and how to experience life as different animals- their lives and deaths. Though he learns how to escape his own body in many different ways, Siddhartha always finds himself back in his own body bound to the cycle of life and death- a disheartening end.

Talking to Govinda one day while out begging for food, Siddhartha questions whether they’ve learned anything. Though Govinda is sure they have, Siddhartha isn’t quite as sure, claiming that a drunkard seems to have the same experience from alcohol of his body being numbed and his mind escaping as the Samanas do from intense meditation. A similar conversation happens on a different day, with Siddhartha questioning the value of the exercises if Samanas much older than them have not yet reached nirvana. He fears that these practices are futile and that the thing they were trying to learn can’t be learned at all. Govinda asks Siddhartha to stop with this talk as this will throw into doubt both the Brahmin caste and the value of their knowledge. Siddhartha then questions the worth of anything considered holy if it doesn’t lead to nirvana.

It comes to pass that word of a man named Gotama has reached enlightenment and gained the title Buddha- meaning “awakened.” Both positive and negative rumors abound about him, but he is gaining a following. The Samanas themselves disapprove of him as they heard he used to be an ascetic like them, but has turned to a life of pleasure. Govinda is enchanted by the idea and suggests finding Gotama to Siddhartha as the latter did say that he was looking for something other than the Samana’s exercises. Siddhartha also points out that he doesn’t think nirvana can be learned, but is happy to try it out if it will make his friend happy.

Though the Samana Govinda and Siddhartha ask their leave of becomes angry, Siddhartha is able to temper the older man’s thoughts and body with his own and gets his permission to leave. Govinda notes that Siddhartha’s mental powers could allow him to walk on water if he wanted to, but Siddhartha has no desire for such a thing.

Gotama

The boys learn that Gotama is at a place called Savathi, near where a wealthy disciple of his has given over a piece of land named Jetavana to be used by him and his followers. Arriving at Jetavana, they find the place filled with a large crowd of people spending the night there. Having spent years in the forest, Siddhartha and Govinda have no trouble finding a place to sleep.

The following morning, they follow Gotama and some other monks as they go through town begging for food. Both of them recognize Gotama without anyone telling them due to the fact that they notice the complete peace and serenity the man expresses through his walk and expression. Govinda is excited to learn what Gotama has to say, but Siddhartha remains resolute in thinking that nirvana can’t be taught.

In the evening, Gotama teaches about the nature of suffering and how to overcome it through the four noble truths and the eightfold path. The lesson convinces many people to publicly proclaim they’ll follow him, including Govinda himself. Afterwards, Govinda asks why Siddhartha didn’t also join, leading the latter to reveal that this where they begin separate paths. Govinda cries and pleas to Siddhartha, asking him to stay and what fault does he find in the teachings. Siddhartha says there’s no fault in the teachings and hopes that Govinda finds salvation in them.

The next morning, Gotama leaves to start his new life, hugging Siddhartha before he goes. Siddhartha is aimlessly walking through the forest when he runs into Gotama. He asks permission to speak to him and having received it, criticizes one aspect of his teachings. Siddhartha says the Gotama teaches that the world is uniform and whole, but at the same time there is a crack in the world; this gap is making everything void. Gotama considers it and clarifies that his teachings aren’t meant to explain the world, but lead people to nirvana. Siddhartha agrees that that’s the case, but then questions whether that would work as Gotama himself didn’t reach nirvana through lessons, but through experience. Gotama asks if it would be better if the disciples went back to their old lives. Siddhartha concedes that it wouldn’t and hopes that each one of them reaches nirvana. He also points out that he’s leaving as he fears staying would eventually lead him to think he had reached fulfillment, but it would only be the love he felt for his teacher and fellow students that made him feel so. Gotama ends the conversation by telling Siddhartha he is wise. Siddhartha gets the last word by saying Gotama talks wisely, but should be cautious of too much wisdom.

Walking on, Siddhartha notes his admiration for Gotama, wishing to one day be like him by reaching nirvana. He’s also aware that Gotama has given him something by taking away something- by causing Govinda to follow him, Siddhartha is now left to walk the path with the freedom of solitude.

Awakening

Walking through the forest, Siddhartha reflects on his circumstances and attempts to crystallize his feelings into realizations. He comes to know that he is no longer a boy, but a man. His desire to have teachers and learn lessons have left him, his decision to not follow the most admirable teacher- Gotama- being evidence of that. He concludes that he has no desire for teachers because they’ve been unable to help him know the one thing he wanted: freedom from himself. All the lessons he has learned have merely been ways to avoid the self, giving the illusion of freedom. He also concluded that in trying to run away from himself, he has ended up knowing nothing about himself.

With this last realization, he decides that it’s necessary to stop trying to learn by destroying himself, choosing instead to be aware of the world around him. He reasons that like someone reading a book wouldn’t be angry that letters and ink exist, neither should he shun that his body and the natural world exists; they are both mediums that should be valued as ways to understand the truth of life. He considers the epiphany to have made him reborn and consequently he can’t return home- which he was heading towards- as he needs to start a new life as a new person.

The concept terrifies Siddhartha, though, as he will leave everything he has known behind. He ruminates on how most any person has at least company in other people of the same caste, a Brahmin has other Brahmins, a nobleman has other noblemen, but he will no longer have anyone. He stands still in the forest for a long time, weighing this in his mind. When he starts walking again, it’s not towards home.

Part 2

Kamala

Continuing his walk through the forest, Siddhartha observes the wonders of the natural world around him. He realizes his old distrust of it was unfounded, knowing that it has always been part of him. He also realizes that expecting to find truth by critically analyzing existence was a futile exercise. Both his mind and the world are both on the opposite end of knowing himself. He comes to understand that it’s his intuition that will lead him to truth.

Spending the night in a ferryman’s hut, Siddhartha has a dream where Govinda- dressed in the yellow robes of a monk- hugs and kisses him. Suddenly, it’s no longer Govinda, but a woman who is hugging Siddhartha. He begins suckling from one of her breasts, tasting all of nature in the milk.

The next morning, Siddhartha asks the ferryman to take him across the river. Having reached across, Siddhartha explains that he has nothing to pay with. The ferryman says it’s okay as he has learned from the river that all things return and so will Siddhartha one day. Walking onward, Siddhartha compares the nature of the ferryman and most all people he meets to Govinda- friendly and willing to help.

He comes across a small village where he asks a young woman how far he is from the city. The woman begins to flirt with him, asking him whether he has had anything to eat and about the rumors of samanas not sleeping with women. She makes explicit sexual gesticulations, and, remembering his dream, Siddhartha kisses her breast. It’s at this moment that the intuitive voice that he has decided to follow speaks up though, and tells him not to do it. He listens to it and continues on his journey.

Entering the city, Siddhartha sees a beautiful woman being carried on a chair followed by a trail of servants. The woman smiles at Siddhartha, and he takes it as a good omen. He wants to follow the train into the grove where they went, but Siddhartha realizes that the servants were passing negative looks on him as he is still dressed like a samana. Asking a passerby who owned the grove, he learns that it belongs to Kamala, a courtesan.

After wandering through the city, he makes friends with a barber’s assistant. They run into each other again at a temple, and Siddhartha tells him about Vishnu and Lakshmi. He spends the night by the boats and visits the barber’s assistant in the morning to get his beard shaved and haircut.

He returns to the grove entrance at evening and then watches Kamala and her train pass again. This time though, he manages to get a trailing servant to tell Kamala that a Brahmin’s son wants to see her. The servant returns to take Siddhartha to her. There Siddhartha asks her to teach him how to have sex. It makes Kamala laugh that an impoverished samana is asking her this as it has never happened and most men that come to her are dressed extremely well and have lots of money. Siddhartha proclaims that these are easy goals and that he’ll accomplish them if that’s what she wants. He asks her if she isn’t afraid that he could just overpower her if he wanted. Kamala says that she isn’t as no one can take from someone that isn’t given to them.

Siddhartha sees the wisdom in this, then asks where he can most quickly get the things Kamala wants of him. She tells him to beg if he has no talents, to which Siddhartha says he can write well and offers to trade her one of his poems for a kiss. She agrees, and he recites one for her off the top of his head. They kiss, and Siddhartha is taken aback by it. She admits that his poetry is brilliant, but he won’t make much money off it. Listing his skills, Kamala stops him when she finds out he can read and write as most people- not even herself- can’t.

A maid comes in to tell Kamala that she has a visitor, and latter tells the former to take Siddhartha out through a back door and to give him some clothes. He ends up with some linens and outside the grove. He walks around the city until he finds an inn, then sits there and silently begs for food until someone hands him a rice cake. He wonders if this is last time he’ll ever beg, and then is suddenly filled with pride. He thinks it’s unfitting for a man who is no longer a samana to beg and gives the rice cake to a dog. He reflects on how easy it is for people not living the life of a monk, wanting only for earthly things like money and food.

The following morning he goes to Kamala’s house in the city. After giving him food, she tells him that she has gotten him an interview with Kamaswami, a rich merchant. Kamala asks where he would be without her, and he says that even though she wasn’t impressed by his ability to think, wait, and fast earlier, they are of greater value than she realizes. He goes on to say that like a rock sinking to the bottom of a lake, so does a samana go towards his goal- passing through the world with intense focus and letting nothing slow him.

Kamala admires his words and look in his eyes, then counters by saying that maybe his fortune is just because he is an attractive man who happened to chance upon a woman who noticed it.

With The Childlike People

Siddhartha goes to Kamaswami’s house and meets him. They discuss Siddhartha’s talents, with Kamaswami asking what’s the value of the things he learned as a samana, and Siddhartha explaining them. After writing a clever line, Siddhartha is invited by Kamaswami to stay in his house as they get to know each other a little better. While there, Siddhartha doesn’t indulge too much in food and learns how to be a merchant, which he considers to be a game. He soon takes up participating in Kamaswami’s business, but he also makes sure to visit Kamala every day, where he starts learning about love.

Siddhartha is soon responsible for much of the writing in Kamaswami’s business, but the latter doesn’t see a businessman’s passion in the former. Kamaswami discusses this with a friend, noting that even though he doesn’t seem engaged by the work, fortune still seems to come his way. The friend advises to give Siddhartha a third of the profits, but be responsible for a third of the losses. Even with this change though, Siddhartha remains stoic about the whole endeavor.

This is highlighted by an event when he goes to pick up some rice that he intends to purchase, and arrives to find that it has already been sold. He stays in the village a few days, buying drinks for the people and attending a wedding. When he returns, Kamaswami scolds him for staying away for so long with nothing to show. Siddhartha notes that there is no purpose in scolding and that if he himself acted like Kamaswami, he would’ve left angry and in a hurry. Kamaswami says that he went for amusement instead of business, and Siddhartha agrees, saying that there’s no other reason, lauding the fact that he made friends. He also tells Kamaswami that if he believes he is being harmed, he can be told to leave.

Kamaswami continues to be unable to convince Siddhartha to worry and claims that he taught him everything he knows. Siddhartha scoffs at the claim, saying he has only learned what numbers belong where, and it’s Kamaswami that should be learning from him.

Siddhartha is only interested in the people around him, not their businesses. He observes how they live their lives differently from them and notes that it’s his experiences as a samana that keeps him from living like they do. He wonders how they live their lives so occupied with small things that don’t concern him and how they suffer things that wouldn’t bother him a bit. He listens to everybody and treats them equally, giving out loans to debtors and watching some try to cheat him. He is fascinated with the passion they put into doing these things as much as he was fascinated by gods in his youth.

Sometimes Siddhartha hears inside him a voice that admonishes him for what he is doing, existing in the lives of these people and just watching them. It’s at these points that he wishes he could live with the same involvement in these activities that the people around him do.

When talking to Kamala, he comes to see that she understands him better than even his best friend Govinda did. He tells her that she is like him in that she has an interior refuge where she can go when she wants to. He says that it isn’t intelligence that gives her this ability, but the fact that some people are like stars, unaffected by the wind while most people are leaves, being tossed about by the breeze.

After making love, Kamala says that she would one day like to have his children one day, but she knows he doesn’t her or anyone. He says that’s so, but she must be unable to love as well if she is able to be a courtesan. He suggests that the people who aren’t like them can love, and that’s their secret.

Sansara

Years pass by, and Siddhartha doesn’t notice them doing so. He becomes wealthy and spends many nights with Kamala, but still lives by the precepts he learned as a Samana. While he no longer feels the same awareness of the world and of his self that he did when he was young, he still keeps in mind the many lessons he learned from his father, the samanas, Govinda and Gotama. That being said, all his habits of asceticism have dulled over the years of non-practice. The trade is that all the physical senses that he had lost use of during his years as a samana have come back.

As Siddhartha has learned to live amongst people, his disdain for them has turned to jealousy as though he has gained much of their bad habits, he has yet to gain any of their good ones like their constant love of everything. In addition to losing the sound of the intuitive voice that initially guided him towards the city, he now hears the voice of greed. His condition is worsened by the fact that he has indulged in dice gambling. He plays high stakes game because he wants to show a disdain for money, but then works harder and become more merciless as a trader to have more money to gamble.

Spending an evening with Kamala, he realizes how tired they both seem, graying and older. He thinks about how similar sex and dying are, then tries to drown out his thoughts by drinking the night away. He finds himself unable to though, feeling disgusted with himself. He manages to sleep for a tiny bit as morning starts and has a dream about a bird that Kamala owned. In it, he finds the bird dead and picks it up. He holds it for a second in his hand and then throws it out.

He wakes up shocked from the dream then goes to his garden to consider it, and the life he has been living up until then. He wonders if he had ever felt happiness, then realizes he had, thinking back to when he was a boy taking part in the religious rituals and then a young man searching for answers. He contemplates his relationship with Kamala and sees it as an unending game without purpose.

Siddhartha realizes that he has to give up everything and continues to sit in his garden under the mango tree until nightfall. He recalls the reasons that made him leave home, separate from Govinda, and not follow Gotama. Finally, he gets up, bids farewell to his possessions and leaves.

Kamaswami sends out a search party to find him, but Kamala isn’t surprised to hear that Siddhartha left as she has always seen him as a homeless pilgrim. She takes the bird that she owns- the same one from Siddhartha’s dream- and releases it out the window. She stops taking customers and soon learns that she became pregnant from her last night spent with Siddhartha.

By The River

Walking through the forest, Siddhartha begins to reflect on how much he hates the existence he has had. He wishes for death, sure that this cycle of life has been finished for him. These suicidal thoughts follow him and continue on as he reaches the river that he crossed decades ago. Standing on its edge, he mutters the word ‘Om’- the opening and closing word to prayers. It gives him a moment of clarity, helping him remember his love of the spiritual. He then collapses under a coconut tree, falling deeply asleep.

He wakes up not knowing where he is for a bit, then remembering how he got there. He reflects on the last decades of his life and sees them as someone else’s. He feels rejuvenated by his rest.

He then notices that, in front of him, a monk is sleeping, as well. After a moment, he recognizes that the monk is his old friend, Govinda. Siddhartha’s stirring wakes up Govinda, but the latter doesn’t recognize the former. Asked what he was doing there, Govinda explains that he was on a pilgrimage with his fellow monks when he saw Siddhartha sleeping in a somewhat dangerous spot where animals and snakes pass by. He volunteered to stay behind and watch over Siddhartha, but must have ended up sleeping himself.

As they give their goodbyes, Siddhartha reveals who he is by calling Govinda by name. Govinda is stunned, feeling ridiculous that he hadn’t recognized his old friend sooner. Siddhartha asks where Govinda is going, and he explains that they’ve no particular destination. Siddhartha says that he also is going on a pilgrimage, Govinda finding that hard to believe as his clothes and appearance are that of a wealthy man. Siddhartha explains that it’s an immaterial condition, just like being a Brahmin or a samana was. Govinda doesn’t respond but walks away with a goodbye.

Watching Govinda leave, Siddhartha recalls the time he told Kamala that his talents were fasting, meditation and thought. He regrets that he gave those up for lust and money. He contemplates how he is like a child again, without ability or intelligence to guide him, and laughs at the situation. He now reflects on his past experiences as a positive thing, thinking it foolish that he thought suicide was an option. Joy fills his heart as he stands under the open sky in the forest. He realizes that he had to indulge his every earthly desire so that that part of him would die. He stays by the river for a bit longer, enjoying its sight, the nature around him and his empty stomach.

The Ferryman

Siddhartha decides that he wants to go to the Vasudeva’s- the ferryman- hut again as he started his journey there once; he wants to start there again. He watches the river and contemplates how even though it’s always the same river; it’s always changing, as well.

Siddhartha walks down the river and comes upon the boat. He recognizes Vasudeva from years ago and asks if he can take him across the river. Siddhartha says that he envies the old man’s life, and then asks if his fancy clothes would provide enough payment for the trip over. Siddhartha reveals that he was the same samana from decades ago that couldn’t pay his fare then and wonders if Vasudeva would be willing to accept him as a new trainee. Vasudeva invites him to stay the night so as to discuss why Siddhartha wants to give up his wealthy living.

They have dinner and sit by the river. Siddhartha talks most all of the time, telling Vasudeva the entirety of his life experiences- from Brahmin, to samana, to merchant. Vasudeva seems particularly interested when Siddhartha describes his epiphany by the river. The story finished, Vasudeva says that the river speaks to Siddhartha in the same way it speaks to himself. He then tells him he can stay to learn how to be a ferryman himself.

Siddhartha is glad, saying he’ll learn much from Vasudeva, but the latter says he’s not a teacher, just a listener. He says the river will teach Siddhartha how to listen, to seek depth, and a third thing that he can’t quite verbalize. He notes that only a handful of people that have crossed the river have ever understood the river like he does- most just seeing it as an obstacle.

Siddhartha stays at the river, learning how to navigate it, build oars, and repair the raft. Siddhartha learns that there is no such as time, that- like the river- childhood, youth, and age have nothing separating them- they’re just different locations of the same thing. He discusses it with Vasudeva, who seems to have learned the same idea. Siddhartha sums the epiphany as this: Nothing was, nothing will be; everything is, everything has existence and is present.

The two men spend much time together, talking little as their minds grow synchronous with each other other’s thoughts; some claim that they even look like brothers. People come from around, hearing that they may be either wizards or wise men, though those who find them only see two old men who are, at most, weird. That being said, passengers are sometimes compelled to start divulging their life experiences to them or ask to stay the night so as to be able to listen to the river with them.

It comes to pass that the Buddha is dying, causing many travellers to cross the river. Amongst those travellers is Kamala, who- after giving up her old profession- raised Siddhartha Jr. and gave her garden over to the followers of Gotama, becoming a follower herself. On their way to the river, a black, poisonous snake bites Kamala. After panicking and yelling, Vasudeva goes to help, bringing both Kamala and Siddhartha Jr. to the shed where he and Siddhartha live.

Siddhartha knows that the boy is his son as soon as he recognizes Kamala. He consoles her for a bit before she falls asleep, and then consoles his son with an old Brahmin prayer. Both Vasudeva and Siddhartha know that she is going to die. When she wakes again, Kamala sees his face and thinks about how even if she didn’t get a chance to see Gotama, seeing the same peace in Siddhartha’s face was just as good. She dies, and Siddhartha waits by her, thinking about the importance of every moment in life.

Siddhartha skips dinner, choosing instead to sit outside the hut, getting up every once in awhile to make sure his son is asleep. He stays there throughout the night until Vasudeva comes to talk to him. Siddhartha notes that he isn’t sad because his son has been given to him. Vasudeva tells Siddhartha that Kamala died in the same bed as his wife did and that they should likewise build a pyre on the same spot for her that he did for his wife. Siddhartha agrees, and they go to do so.

The Son

Siddhartha Jr. continues to mourn his mother’s death passed her funeral. Siddhartha learns that his son has led a pampered life, one that makes him indolent and obstinate still, so he attempts to treat him gently as a way to lead him over. It doesn’t seem to work though as the boy continues to be lazy and disrespectful. While Siddhartha’s joyful demeanor becomes dour, he recognizes it and prefers having the boy in his life despite the change.

Months pass and the boy remains rebellious, leading to one day where he breaks the hut’s only two rice bowls. It’s at this time Vasudeva spoke to Siddhartha, telling him that he has noticed the change and it’s understandable as the boy grew up in comfort and was forced out of that life, whereas Siddhartha chose to leave that life. He says, “Water wants to join water, youth wants to join youth,” explaining that the life of a poor man is not for the young boy. Siddhartha is disheartened, saying that he still wants to fight for the boy’s love. Vasudeva then explains that Siddhartha would never want to punish, harm, or force the boy out of love, but the mere act of making the boy live with them is a type of forced punishment.

Siddhartha concedes, but is unsure of what to do with his son then. Vasudeva suggests that the boy returns to the city to live with his mother’s servants or be given over to a teacher so that he can be with children his age. Siddhartha worries that his proud heart may then get caught up in the sansara- the childish games that Siddhartha observed- and Vasudeva laughs at the worry, reminding Siddhartha that his own father’s teaching couldn’t even keep him from the same follies. He points out that as much as Siddhartha would die for his son to protect him from suffering, it was an inevitable result.

Siddhartha thanks Vasudeva for the advice, though he was already aware of all of it. The only thing that stopped him from acting out the best decision was his feeling of love for the boy. He recalls that once he and Kamala both agreed that neither of them could love as it was a quality of the childlike people. He realizes that he is foolishly acting out on love for his son, suffering for him though he needn’t be. He reflects on the necessity of it, and continues to raise the boy.

Siddhartha Jr. feels as if he can’t ever be won over by his father as devoutness and sainthood are of no interest to him. He hates how loving and passive his father is, never reproaching him for the trouble caused; he would prefer threats and violence. This leads to an outburst where, when asked to pick up firewood, the boy instead lashes out at Siddhartha, telling him that he isn’t he knows he won’t ever be punished and is constantly being put down by his father’s devoutness. Siddhartha Jr. yells that he would rather be a criminal just to spite Siddhartha as even though he was his mother’s lover, that doesn’t make him a father.

After the outburst Siddhartha left, returning only late at night. He was gone the next morning, having taken the ferrymen’s money and crossed the river as the raft was on the other side. Siddhartha wants to go after him, but Vasudeva points out that the boy did what his father couldn’t and is on his way the city. Crossing over, they find that the oar has disappeared, indicating that Siddhartha Jr. insists on not being followed. After helping Vasudeva, Siddhartha leaves to go find him.

While running after his son in the forest, Siddhartha comes to realize that his son isn’t in any danger, running now only to see him one more time. Upon arriving at the city, he stands in front of the garden where he first Kamala. Inside are monks, and Siddhartha relives every moment he had in the city, including the disgust he felt for himself and the suicidal inclination that he had at the river. He sits by the garden, letting the futility of his emotions and efforts weigh on him. A monk notices Siddhartha waiting there for a long while and places two bananas in front of him.

Siddhartha’s awareness returns to the real world when Vasudeva comes to pat him on the shoulder, saying no words about anything. Siddhartha offers him one of the bananas, and then they both eat and return home.

Om

Siddhartha continues his life as a ferryman, but the pain of losing his son remains. He is envious of those that cross the river who love their children and are loved in return. He also moves from patronizing the desires of the childlike people to respecting them. As he has felt their pains and joys, he now understands that the only thing that a wise man can hold over them is that all life is one consciousness, and even then, that might only be a pride of childlike wise men. He comes to realize that the only thing he has ever wanted to learn was being able to understand that all life was one consciousness.

Siddhartha still misses his son and sets out to see him one day. Before he goes though, he leans over the river to listen to it, and sees in his own reflection his father’s face. He thinks about how his own father had to see Siddhartha leave and die without ever seeing him again. The humor and ridiculousness of this repeating cycle makes Siddhartha return to the hut instead of heading towards the city.

Siddhartha sits next to Vasudeva, telling him everything that he had just done, about the foolishness of trying to walk to the city and then listening to the river. As he continues to talk, he comes to realize that Vasudeva has changed over the years, becoming more like the river, like eternity and God and that Siddhartha he himself was turning this way, as well.

Vasudeva invites him to listen to the river together, and they do. Siddhartha hears and sees his father mourning for Siddhartha, then himself mourning for his own son, then his own son living life. He sees the similarities in each of the life trajectories and comes to think about the cyclical nature of all life, where everyone runs towards a goal like river, then reaches the ocean only to vaporize, become rain, and start again. He hears all the voices of people in the river- which he has heard before- but this time he hears them saying “Om.”

It’s at this point that Vasudeva gets up and tells Siddhartha that he has been waiting a long time to leave. Siddhartha understands and bows to him as Vasudeva walks into the forest, looking like Gotama did when Siddhartha met him years ago.

Govinda

Govinda has continued to follow Gotama’s teachings and spends much of his time the garden that Kamala donated to Gotama and his monks. Though the other monks admire him, Govinda still hasn’t found nirvana. He hears about a wise ferryman and heads to see him. There, the ferryman provides transport while Govinda asks him about searching for “the right path.” Siddhartha tells him that searching is pointless, then reveals to a confused Govinda who he is and invites him to stay the night.

The following morning, Govinda asks Siddhartha if there are any bits of wisdom that he could share, and Siddhartha responds by reiterating that even though he has had teachers he doesn’t believe wisdom can taught as it requires a separation of ideas when the goal is to know that all things are the same.

Siddhartha goes into a monologue about the nature of things and how he used to hold things important because they may one day turn into Buddhas. Now, he understands that everything’s potential already exists in them, and all existence is worthy of love. That things are more valuable than words. That time doesn’t exist. Govinda disagrees, but concedes the points as he is beginning to think Siddhartha has turned odd. He also notes that Siddhartha is the only man that radiates the same holiness as Gotama did.

Govinda asks for one more word, and Siddhartha asks him to bend down and kiss him on the forehead. In that instant of the kiss, Govinda sees in Siddhartha’s face the entirety of existence- children, murderers, and animals. Govinda’s epiphany leaves him in tears as he bows before Siddhartha.