One’s beliefs about themselves and the world around them greatly affect their actions, and while their philosophies differ, the message is still the same. A person’s mindset grows and evolves with their beliefs. This is true for Siddhartha Gautama because as his beliefs change, his mindset adapts to them. Throughout Hesse’s novel Siddhartha, Siddhartha adopts various philosophies through his time as a Samana, as a rich man, and as a ferryman that shape his identity and actions, serving as an important lesson to society today. During Siddhartha 's time with the Samanas, his goal is to shed his Self and become devoid of all earthly desires. As Hesse describes, “Siddhartha had one single goal - to become empty...to let the Self die....When all the Self was conquered and dead, when all passions and desires were silent, then the last must awaken, innermost of Being that is no longer Self - the great secret!” (Hesse 11). Siddhartha believes that his Self is his enemy, so he is willing to …show more content…
As Siddhartha’s perspective shifts while losing his Self to experiencing worldly pleasures to living from the secrets of the river, he eventually comes to the conclusion that he needs a balance in his life to find enlightenment. It takes time for him to grow and change his mindset, and only into his late adulthood does he truly live by his philosophy of balance. First, he has to go to two extremes to reach Nirvana, having nothing and having everything, just like the real world where people try to lose themselves or gain possessions to find true happiness. Siddhartha teaches society that happiness can only be found through growth and balance and an understanding that life can only be lived in the present. Life is Siddhartha’s river, everywhere at once, every person, every story, and once society learns to develop their mindset to see life as a balance, it will be able to truly reach