Abridge

Siddhartha grew up the son of the Brahmin (35). Everyone loved Siddhartha in this way. He brought delight to everyone (36). But he did not delight himself (36). “I have come to tell you that I wish tomorrow to depart your house and go to the ascetics” [Siddhartha speaking to his father] (40). “You will go into the forest and be a shramana” [His father granted Siddhartha permission] (41).

Siddhartha had a single goal before him, one and one only: to become empty (43). “What I have learned up to this day with the shramanas, I could have learned more quickly and more simply: In any tavern in a brothel district” [Siddhartha says about the shramanas] (45). “Speak, Friend, do we not also want to go there and hear the teachings from the lips of the Buddha” [Govinda asks Siddhartha] (50). “Let us enjoy this fruit and await what is to come, o Govinda” (50).

Siddhartha saw him, and recognized him immediately, as if a god has pointed the man out to him [About the Buddha] (53). He [Siddhartha] was less curious about the teachings he did not believe that they would teach him anything new (54). “Tomorrow, o Govinda, I shall leave you” (56). “See, now you have become a man and you yourself are choosing your path” [about Govinda staying behind] (55).

“In the school of myself I want to learn, that is where I want to be a pupil, I want to get to know myself, the secret that is Siddhartha” (62). Instantly he set out again, starting to walk quickly and impatiently, no longer toward home, no longer to his father, no longer back (64).

[Siddhartha started his journey] The ferryman took him across the river on his bamboo raft (68). Around midday he passed through a village (69). [Here he met a courtesan Kamala] “If it does not offend you, Kamala, I would like to ask you to be my friend and teacher” (72). “No, my dear, he does not yet suffice” (72). [Siddhartha must work for him to suffice] “You are expected at Kamaswami’s…if he likes you, he will take you into his service…I do not want you to become his servant, you should become his equal” (76).

Siddhartha thanked him [Kamaswami] and accepted, and now lived in the house of the businessman (80). He was not long in Kamaswami’s house when he began to participate in his master’s trade (80). “This Brahmin is no real salesman…his soul is never passionately involved in trade” [Kamaswami on Siddhartha] (81). But daily at the hour when she called him, he visited the lovely Kamala (80). “You are the best lover I have ever had” [Kamala on Siddhartha] (85). “People of our kind may not be able to love” [Siddhartha’s response to Kamala on loving each other] (85).

For a long time Siddhartha had lived the life of the world and its pleasures, still without belonging to it (86). People liked him…but no one came close to him, no one but Kamala (86). [Siddhartha began to feel worthless] Worthless, so it seemed to him, the conduct of his life had been worthless and senseless up to that point (91). And so he was done with all this, this too died in him. He got up, bade farewell to the mango, bade farewell to the pleasure garden [he didn’t say goodbye to anyone else] (92). From this day on she [Kamala] received no more visitors (93). After some time had passed though, she was aware she was pregnant (93).

Passionately he wished to know nothing more of himself, to have peace, to be dead (94). [Siddhartha had reflected on his life] He had mastered three noble and insuperable arts: fasting, waiting, thinking (99). And now they [the noble arts] had deserted him, none of them was his any longer (99). [He stared into the river] The new Siddhartha, however, felt a deep love for this flowing water, and himself resolved not to leave it again so soon (103).

When he reached the ferry, the boat lay ready, and the same ferryman (104). “Live with me now” [the Ferryman to Siddhartha] (107). The years went by and no one counted them (110). On one of these days, when do many were making pilgrimage to the dying Buddha, Kamala…was also on pilgrimage to him (111). [On her way a snake bit her] “Kamala has died” (114). [Vasudeva was confused why Siddhartha wasn’t upset] “I, the I who was rich and happy have now become even richer and happier. My son has been given to me” (114).

As time flowed on, and the boy remained alien and gloomy, exhibiting a proud and stubborn heart (115). For long months Siddhartha waited for his son to understand him, to accept his love, perhaps to return it (115). [Vasudeva talks to Siddhartha about his son] “Unlike you, he has not run from riches and the city…he had to leave all that behind against his will” (116). “Bring him to the city, bring him to his mother’s house…give him to them” (117). Siddhartha understood that…he could not help his son, that he must not cling to him (121).

For a long time the wound still burned (123). Has not his father also suffered the same pain over his as he now was suffering over his son (124)? [He later went to the river with Vasudeva] He sensed he was now seeing the old Vasudeva the way people see the gods (126). His [Siddhartha] wound blossomed, his pain radiated, his I had flowed into the unity (129). “I have waited for this moment” [Vasudeva said] (128). `

[Govinda returned the river and wanted to talk to Siddhartha] “Listen well, dear friend, listen well” (132). “Kiss me on the forehead, Govinda” (136). This Govinda knew, was how the Perfect Ones smiled [about Siddhartha] (138). [They both reached enlightenment].

Hesse, Hermann, Rika Lesser, and Robert A. F. Thurman. Siddhartha: An Indic Poem. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2007. Print.