Siddhartha (prompt 3)

Enlightenment is obtained in different ways for the four characters that achieve it in Siddhartha. This emphasizes the point that there are multiple ways to reach the common goal of enlightenment and makes it seem more attainable to others.

How Gotama reached enlightenment remains unexplained and is something Siddhartha comments on in his conversation with him. However, it is clear that Gotama is enlightened from his demeanor. It is known that Gotama got to his conclusions about the world on his own; in this way he is like Siddhartha, who wants to experience enlightenment for himself instead of hearing about enlightenment second hand.

Siddhartha must experience many ways of life before finally reaching enlightenment. He wants to understand many different aspects of life to further understand the world around him. He has many mentors along the way that guide him towards his goal, but ultimate he must rely on himself to find the answers he is searching for and so achieve peace that he has seen in Gotama. He is always questing for answers, so when he eventually finds them he is able to be calm inside. Siddhartha finds the path to enlightenment inside himself, and only when he fully understands himself does he understand the nature of the world.

Vasudeva reaches enlightenment through dedicated observation of an object over a long period of time. The river embodies the impermanence that is central to Buddhism. Vasudeva has spent many years as a ferryman on the river. By watching the river he learns important lessons about how everything is connected. This devotion to one thing is enough to give Vasudeva the answers he is looking for. Vasudeva is a simple man, and so he takes a simple path to enlightenment.

Govinda is able to reach enlightenment through the guidance of others. He is a follower; he follows Siddhartha for the first part of his life and Gotama for the second. Eventually he is able to reach understand when he kisses Siddhartha on the forehead and Siddhartha’s understanding of the world is transferred onto him. This act is symbolic of how Govinda receives knowledge from others but fails to find the answers purely on his own. Govinda doesn’t come up with his own theories and ideas about enlightenment, but is able to believe in what others teach him completely. This total faith is why Govinda can reach enlightenment from this path and Siddhartha can’t.

There are many different paths to enlightenment because people are so diverse. Not everyone learns and understands things the same way, so multiple courses are necessary. They are all correct, and the four types of people who all reach the same ending point by the end of the novel shows that it doesn’t matter who you are or what method you use to find enlightenment as long as you truly wish to achieve it.