MIDTERM:
QUESTION: (3) Explain the various stages of development that Siddhartha goes through. How effective is Siddhartha's philosophy of detachment as a response to nihilism?
ANSWER: Siddhartha's main goal was finding his true self through the process of experiencing life for himself.
He believed that in order for him to do this he had to experience, life for himself. As he stated this was not something that others could teach him. Siddhartha embarked on a journey of self discovery,he leaves his Brahman beliefs, his family and everything he has ever known in life in his quest for enlightenment. During this journey he passed through three stages; these three stages were the stage of the mind; the stage of the flesh and the stage of transcendence.
Siddhartha begins the stage of the mind by leaving home and his family,he sets out to let his "self " die or escape from the world and person he knew himself as. He goes to live with the ascetic Samanas and gives up all material possessions, as he tries to flee his own body and control his needs. according to Hermann Hesse, “…a goal stood before Siddhartha …to become… dead to himself, not to be a self anymore…”(p. 5). After some time Siddhartha even leaves the Samanas as he realizes that they too do not have the answers he seeks. Siddhartha realised that the Samanas didn’t believe in anything but losing one’s senses and that Atman was a belief that exits within every person and even creatures.
Siddhartha journeys to a town where he is moved by the beauty of the courtesan Kamala as she enters her grove in a sedan, here began the stage of the flesh. He is intrigued by the woman and asks her to teach him the arts of love. According to Hesse, "...Kamala laughs and says that she receives only those young men who approach her in fine clothes and shoes, with scent in their hair and money in their purses..." Kamala finds out that Siddhartha can read and write, she takes him to the businessman Kamaswami, who will help him "..to acquire the tokens necessary for entrance into her garden of pleasure..." Kamala serves as a temporary distraction to Siddhartha as he becomes caught up in the pleasures of the world and the flesh. He worked with Kamaswami and lived with kamala who eventually unknown to him bore him a son. After a decade he leaves the stage of the flesh behind and goes back to the river where he lives out the remainder of his life with the ferryman.
The stage of transcendence occurs wile he is living by the river; In the river, Siddhartha sees images come together, just as he hears voices come together. Here, according to Hesse "...He saw that the water continually flowed and flowed and yet it was always there, it was always the same and yet every moment it was new." The river can be everywhere at the same time. Only the present means anything to the river, not the past or the future. Transcendence occured when the inner voice that has guided Siddhartha thus far surges out and becomes boldly manifest in this river, which, far more than simply water, is the voice of life itself.
Siddhartha’s philosophy of detachment as a response to nihilism is effective in that he decided to detach himself of everything that was the accepted norms in his life. He challenged everything that was accepted as being right .Siddhartha’s philosophy of detachment as a response to nihilism is that he decides to leave everything behind him, and go on a quest to seek his own truth. Much the same as Nihilism challenged the accepted beliefs and norms of life.
QUESTION: (3) Explain the various stages of development that Siddhartha goes through. How effective is Siddhartha's philosophy of detachment as a response to nihilism?
ANSWER: Siddhartha's main goal was finding his true self through the process of experiencing life for himself.
He believed that in order for him to do this he had to experience, life for himself. As he stated this was not something that others could teach him. Siddhartha embarked on a journey of self discovery,he leaves his Brahman beliefs, his family and everything he has ever known in life in his quest for enlightenment. During this journey he passed through three stages; these three stages were the stage of the mind; the stage of the flesh and the stage of transcendence.
Siddhartha begins the stage of the mind by leaving home and his family,he sets out to let his "self " die or escape from the world and person he knew himself as. He goes to live with the ascetic Samanas and gives up all material possessions, as he tries to flee his own body and control his needs. according to Hermann Hesse, “…a goal stood before Siddhartha …to become… dead to himself, not to be a self anymore…”(p. 5). After some time Siddhartha even leaves the Samanas as he realizes that they too do not have the answers he seeks. Siddhartha realised that the Samanas didn’t believe in anything but losing one’s senses and that Atman was a belief that exits within every person and even creatures.
Siddhartha journeys to a town where he is moved by the beauty of the courtesan Kamala as she enters her grove in a sedan, here began the stage of the flesh. He is intrigued by the woman and asks her to teach him the arts of love. According to Hesse, "...Kamala laughs and says that she receives only those young men who approach her in fine clothes and shoes, with scent in their hair and money in their purses..." Kamala finds out that Siddhartha can read and write, she takes him to the businessman Kamaswami, who will help him "..to acquire the tokens necessary for entrance into her garden of pleasure..." Kamala serves as a temporary distraction to Siddhartha as he becomes caught up in the pleasures of the world and the flesh. He worked with Kamaswami and lived with kamala who eventually unknown to him bore him a son. After a decade he leaves the stage of the flesh behind and goes back to the river where he lives out the remainder of his life with the ferryman.
The stage of transcendence occurs wile he is living by the river; In the river, Siddhartha sees images come together, just as he hears voices come together. Here, according to Hesse "...He saw that the water continually flowed and flowed and yet it was always there, it was always the same and yet every moment it was new." The river can be everywhere at the same time. Only the present means anything to the river, not the past or the future. Transcendence occured when the inner voice that has guided Siddhartha thus far surges out and becomes boldly manifest in this river, which, far more than simply water, is the voice of life itself.
Siddhartha’s philosophy of detachment as a response to nihilism is effective in that he decided to detach himself of everything that was the accepted norms in his life. He challenged everything that was accepted as being right .Siddhartha’s philosophy of detachment as a response to nihilism is that he decides to leave everything behind him, and go on a quest to seek his own truth. Much the same as Nihilism challenged the accepted beliefs and norms of life.
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