Siddhartha's Journey To Enlightenment In Siddhartha

The story of Siddhartha tells the tale of a boy who grows up in a wealthy Brahman family. He grows to be intelligent and handsome and is loved by all his family and friends. Siddhartha seems to have everything he could want but eventually becomes frustrated with his life. He seeks enlightenment and believes that the elders in his community have nothing more to teach him spiritually. Much to his parent’s frustration, Siddhartha decides he needs to leave home and find the inner peace he seeks. This will begin the three main stages of Siddhartha’s journey to enlightenment. In stage one, “The Calling” Siddhartha believes he is called to journey with a group of Samanas or wandering ascetics, who train their mind through severe self-discipline. Siddhartha argues with his father after telling him he wants to join the Samanas, but his father eventually sees Siddhartha’s purpose driven attitude and ultimately allows him to begin his journey. Govinda, Siddhartha’s best friend joins him and after finding a group of Samanas, they join them in the self-torture and self-denial that Siddhartha believes will lead them to enlightenment. Siddhartha and Govinda engage in a number of acts of strength and endurance and eventually learn to

What the Buddha teaches, Govinda and Siddhartha soak in. Govinda is accepted into the community of followers and urges Siddhartha to join them but although Siddhartha recognizes truth to what the Buddha teaches, he also believes now that enlightenment cannot be taught, it must be experienced. Govinda decides to stay and Siddhartha parts ways with the community now beginning the search for enlightenment alone. Siddhartha learns to appreciate his surroundings on his journey alone and decides to pursue more experiences, believing that will allow him to gain