Ok Ok...Now for a change - from the poetic melancholy that dominates this blog.
I've recently read the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse again. I've read it 6 or 7 years ago while at grad school but appreciate it more now. Thought I'd post some thoughts on it. This book is a classic and recommend reading it.
Coming to the point:
Succinctly put, this book is about the journey of man trying to figure out himself and eventually finding himself and the inner peace he has always been longing for.
I'd skip the story part as it is better read as is than me trying to summarize it. I'd just focus on the main theme.
The emphasis is mainly on being individualistic and figuring out one's own path - being a non-conformist, reason it out ourselves and find the core of our contentment. Every man has to figure out his path - whatever it is and eventually find solace and contentment in it. There is another theme that resonates through the novel - that the world we live in is real and perfect. So, we are playing our role in making this world perfect. It is important to figure out what what we are : what is our being? This is what Siddhartha, the novel is all about.
Let's ponder on this for bit. At least to me, this gives an immense confidence in myself of not being perfect. I don't need to be perfect. Sans my imperfection, this world cannot be perfect. My role with my imperfections is not a bad thing to have happened. I don't need to "become" someone. I just need become myself (become what I am).
Siddhartha lives by three main principles - "Think, fast and wait". These are very profound and I thought I'd like to elaborate on this (credit goes to my mentor and friend Atanu for some elaboration on this).
Think:
This perhaps need not be elaborated. Most of us know what it is (although do not know how to! - At least I haven't known it for a while. Now of course am practicing how to think). But you probably get the idea. Basically reasoning out various phenomena around as we get curious about the workings of this world. Basic logical/analytic ability.
Fast:
This is in some sense, living within one's means or living with as much less as possible. The more we want, the more life can be miserable. In reality, one doesn't need much to live happily. My theory is that, we are happy to begin with and then we keep adding stuff to our life - become unhappy and then try to get rid of it slowly. To me the more we subtract, the happier we can be. This is the neti neti (not this, not this) logic. It is more like eliminating all the unnecessary stone such that sculpture manifests itself. There is an exception to this of course. Knowledge, wisdom, company of the wise, goodwill and good friends - the more the better! They need to keep on adding. I truly believe in this.
Wait:
It is important to be patient in life to be happy. Not everything is in our control. So, just accept the world as is, do our bit to the extent possible, let things happen naturally.
I'd suggest this book for all avid readers - and specially if you are in a soul-searching mode and/or in general an introspective kind of a person.
This prompted to me get other books of Herman Hesse - Demian and Steppenwolf, and also Narcissus and Goldmund. I am reading Demian now and may post some thoughts on it later. I heard Steppenwolf is also very good. It seem as though Hesse's main theme and the protagonists of his novels are non-conformists, deeply conflicted personalities and always trying to figure out who they are. His emphasis on the individual and freedom echo with me quite a bit. Some of his observations and comments have amazing insights. As you read the books you would realize the wisdom flowing and love to bathe in it.
Enjoy reading...
Yoga
I've recently read the novel Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse again. I've read it 6 or 7 years ago while at grad school but appreciate it more now. Thought I'd post some thoughts on it. This book is a classic and recommend reading it.
Coming to the point:
Succinctly put, this book is about the journey of man trying to figure out himself and eventually finding himself and the inner peace he has always been longing for.
I'd skip the story part as it is better read as is than me trying to summarize it. I'd just focus on the main theme.
The emphasis is mainly on being individualistic and figuring out one's own path - being a non-conformist, reason it out ourselves and find the core of our contentment. Every man has to figure out his path - whatever it is and eventually find solace and contentment in it. There is another theme that resonates through the novel - that the world we live in is real and perfect. So, we are playing our role in making this world perfect. It is important to figure out what what we are : what is our being? This is what Siddhartha, the novel is all about.
Let's ponder on this for bit. At least to me, this gives an immense confidence in myself of not being perfect. I don't need to be perfect. Sans my imperfection, this world cannot be perfect. My role with my imperfections is not a bad thing to have happened. I don't need to "become" someone. I just need become myself (become what I am).
Siddhartha lives by three main principles - "Think, fast and wait". These are very profound and I thought I'd like to elaborate on this (credit goes to my mentor and friend Atanu for some elaboration on this).
Think:
This perhaps need not be elaborated. Most of us know what it is (although do not know how to! - At least I haven't known it for a while. Now of course am practicing how to think). But you probably get the idea. Basically reasoning out various phenomena around as we get curious about the workings of this world. Basic logical/analytic ability.
Fast:
This is in some sense, living within one's means or living with as much less as possible. The more we want, the more life can be miserable. In reality, one doesn't need much to live happily. My theory is that, we are happy to begin with and then we keep adding stuff to our life - become unhappy and then try to get rid of it slowly. To me the more we subtract, the happier we can be. This is the neti neti (not this, not this) logic. It is more like eliminating all the unnecessary stone such that sculpture manifests itself. There is an exception to this of course. Knowledge, wisdom, company of the wise, goodwill and good friends - the more the better! They need to keep on adding. I truly believe in this.
Wait:
It is important to be patient in life to be happy. Not everything is in our control. So, just accept the world as is, do our bit to the extent possible, let things happen naturally.
I'd suggest this book for all avid readers - and specially if you are in a soul-searching mode and/or in general an introspective kind of a person.
This prompted to me get other books of Herman Hesse - Demian and Steppenwolf, and also Narcissus and Goldmund. I am reading Demian now and may post some thoughts on it later. I heard Steppenwolf is also very good. It seem as though Hesse's main theme and the protagonists of his novels are non-conformists, deeply conflicted personalities and always trying to figure out who they are. His emphasis on the individual and freedom echo with me quite a bit. Some of his observations and comments have amazing insights. As you read the books you would realize the wisdom flowing and love to bathe in it.
Enjoy reading...
Yoga
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