Siddhartha

Discussion Questions

Part I Due: Monday, October 22

When responding to the following discussion questions, make sure to use complete sentences and number your responses. Make sure to use details from the story to support your responses! Do not simply just state your opinion without examples. Having a specific notebook dedicated to Siddhartha questions is highly recommended. You may have to use a dictionary or encyclopedia to look up some of the terminology.

The Brahmin’s Son (pg 3-12)

Read this first chapter with the First Noble Truth in mind: Existence is Suffering.

  1. Define Brahmanism. In which activities related to Hinduism does Siddhartha engage while living at home with his father?
  2. What does the name Siddhartha mean? Why is Siddhartha popular with his father, mother and friend Govinda?
  3. Define Ascetics. Who are the Samanas, and why does Siddhartha join their group?
  4. How does Siddhartha convince his father to give him permission to leave home and join the Samanas?
  5. Support the following statement: Siddhartha’s father has not found true bliss as a Brahman following the precepts of Hinduism. (Look on page 12)
  6. What does the name Govinda mean? Why does Govinda “paled like the peel of a dry banana” when he learns about Siddhartha’s determination to leave home and join the Samanas? (Look on page 9)
  7. Support the following statement: Siddhartha has learned the first of the Noble Truths: Existence is suffering.

With the Samanas (pg. 13-24)

Read this first chapter with the Second Noble Truth in mind: Suffering arises from desire.

  1. Why does Siddhartha fast, abstain from sex, and withdraw completely from anything that provides him comfort?
  2. How does Siddhartha learn to “escape from this cycle to the place where causality ended and an eternity free of sorrow began”?
  3. List two ways Siddhartha learns to lose the Self while studying with the Samanas. Support the following statement: Hesse is drawing from his real life experiences when he describes Siddhartha’s life as a samana.
  4. What epithet is used to describe Govinda? What important characteristic about Govinda is Hesse helping the reader remember and understand with this epithet?
  5. Support the following statement: From his time living with the Samanas, Siddhartha learns that the path to bliss cannot be found through studying and learning from books or from the lessons of the old masters.
  6. Why are the rumors about Gotama the Illustrious, the Buddha, attractive to Siddhartha?
  7. Define Nirvana. Support the following statement: Part way through this chapter, Govinda stops being Siddhartha’s follower and begins to follow his path or destiny.
  8. Support the following statement: Siddhartha has learned the second of the Noble Truths: Suffering arises from desire.

Gotama (pg. 25-36)

Read this chapter with the Third Noble Truth in mind: Suffering ends when desire ends.

  1. Briefly describe the Buddha. How does his appearance testify to the fact that he ahs reached total peace?
  2. Why do you think Siddhartha is happy for Govinda, but refuses to tell his friend why he does not join as one of Buddha’s followers?
  3. What kind of salvation is the Buddha offering his followers through his teaching? Why does Siddhartha question the idea of salvation as part of the Buddha’s lessons?
  4. Support the following statement: Siddhartha has learned the third of the Noble Truths: Suffering ends when desire ends.

Awakening (pg. 37-42)

Read this chapter with the Fourth Noble Truth in mind: The way to end desire is to follow the Eight-Fold Path.

  1. What epithet does Hesse use for Siddhartha in this chapter? What part of himself does Siddhartha leave behind with his youth?
  2. After awakening, Siddhartha thinks he is like a newborn child and should return to his father. Why does he not go home?
  3. What does Siddhartha realize gives him a “profound feeling of awakening from long dreams…” What epithet does Hesse use for Siddhartha after this understanding?
  4. Why does Siddhartha abandon the Brahman precept that the beauty of nature is an illusion?
  5. How does the last line in this chapter support the last Noble Truth: The way to end desire is to follow the Eight-Fold Path?