Learning From Oneself Siddhartha, by Hermann Hesse, is a novel that examines the story of a young man who sets out in search of his true self. Throughout the novel, Siddhartha continues to search for the true meaning of life. As a youth, Siddhartha meets the Buddha but was not content with a disciple’s role, decided to work out his own destiny and solve his own doubt. Emerson’s quote that “there is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion” totally reflects Siddhartha quest of self where he was both the teacher and learner. In the novel, Siddhartha claims that the only way to truly learn and reach enlightenment is through himself and his own personal experience. …show more content…
In order to learn something, we actually have to practice it. This way we tend to learn and remember things better. This is same with Siddhartha. Siddhartha was unable to find enlightenment from the teachings of others. As, Siddhartha tells Govinda that, “he is not interested in Gotama’s teachings, but he is interested in the man himself” (25). Siddhartha came to the same conclusion as Emerson when he understood that his goals couldn’t be met by following another’s path or teachings. Even after coming to the Illustrious One- Buddha, he realized that he cannot accept his teachings. While talking to the Buddha, Siddhartha expounds to him that he cannot teach anyone enlightenment. They have to find it for themselves. As Siddhartha tells Buddha,“ Buddha’s teachings are inexpressible and incommunicable because they lack experience” (39). Siddhartha decided that he must go out on his own path in order to reach