Siddhartha: Questions for group discussion
Among the Samanas
1. What is Siddhartha’s view of other people (and life in general) during his time among
the Samanas?
2. How does this compare to Valmiki’s view of the world at the opening of Ramayana?
3. When Siddhartha joins the Samanas, his goal is to attain peace through emptying
himself of his “Self .“ Does he achieve this goal?
4. Toward the end of the chapter, Siddhartha becomes disillusioned with the Samana
way. To what does he compare all the cool tricks he has learned among the Samanas,
and what effect does this comparison have on readers?
5. How has his goal changed at the end of the chapter?
6. What, according to Siddhartha, is the difference between knowledge and learning?
Gotama
7. Why does Siddhartha choose to reject the Buddhist way and continue on his journey
alone?
8. From his encounter with the Buddha, Siddhartha loses something and gains
something. What does he lose, and what does he gain?
9. How has Siddhartha’s goal changed as a result of this encounter? (It involves his
attitude toward the Self.)
10. How has Siddhartha’s view of himself and the world changed by the end of this
chapter?
Awakening
8. Locate and list (briefly) two images or observations that illustrate awakening. What
is happening to Siddhartha’s view of the natural world?
Kamala
9. What does Siddhartha realize he must do in order to find the Self he is seeking?
10. Discuss one possible interpretation of Siddhartha’s dream by the river.
11. What is the ferryman’s philosophy about people and life? Where has he learned it?
Amongst the People and Samsara (which refers to the cycle of death and rebirth)
12. What quality in Siddhartha besides his good looks makes him so successful? (Think
about the Guy Clark song.)
13. Even as Siddhartha grows wealthy and pursues a life of pleasure, what distinguishes
him from other people?
14. When Siddhartha compares himself to other people, what does he feel that he lacks?
(You may have answered this when you addressed the preceding question.)
15. Why does Siddhartha enjoy gambling so much?
16. Describe Siddhartha’s dream. What is the significance throwing out the bird?
17. This dream and the first dream yield similar results. Explain.
By the River
18. How does Siddhartha first interpret his dream, and what decision does he make based
on this interpretation?
19. What realization about life and death comes to him after he hears the Om?
20. Why does Siddhartha now feel that he might be an ordinary person?
21. In reviewing his life, Siddhartha enumerates the things he has valued at various times.
What changes does he observe?
22. Explain the idea he has mentioned before: “No teacher could have brought him
salvation.”
23. The last sentence in this chapter reveals a new relationship between Siddhartha and
the river. Explain this in your own words.
The Ferryman
Often in literature, rivers are symbols of renewal, cleansing, change, continuity, and
rebirth. Which of these do you think apply to Siddhartha’s river?
Vasudeva says he has learned many lessons. List five things that Vasudeva says
Siddhartha will learn from the river.
Once both men acquire the art of listening, what happens in their relationship with other
people?
At the close of this chapter, how does Siddhartha define riches?
What common experience do Siddhartha and Vasudeva share at the close of this chapter?
The Son
Locate a passage of text to support the idea that Siddhartha’s love for his son is
unconditional.
What in Siddhartha’s attitude toward his son might be interpreted as selfish? Is his love
for him completely unconditional?
List at least three pieces of advice that Vasudeva offers Siddhartha with respect to his
son. (Notice that he never lectures Siddhartha; he asks questions.)
Om
Siddhartha realizes in this chapter that he has become like ordinary people. What
experience has brought him to this point?
Until Siddhartha loses his son, he has not experienced as aspect of the “journey” essential
to maturity. What is this?
Paraphrase the first paragraph on 131. What do you think it means?
What thoughts come to Siddhartha when he sees his father’s face in the water?
What revelation does Siddhartha have as he speaks with Vasudeva on 133?
What conclusion does Siddhartha reach as a result of his revelation at the river? (It’s
about people.)
On 135 Hesse writes, He could no longer distinguish the different voices. . . . Based on
this paragraph (the one that bridges 135 and 136), what must he refrain from doing in
order to hear the Om?
How does Siddhartha define the Om (136)?
Govinda
Given the focus on cycles throughout the novel, why is it fitting that Govinda, and not
Vasudeva, is the one with whom Siddhartha converses at the end?
Why, according to Siddhartha, has Govinda not found peace?
How do Siddhartha’s teachers, Vasudeva and the river, differ from Govinda’s teachers?
What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
How does Siddhartha explain the necessity of his time in the city to fulfilling his ultimate
goal?
What, according to Siddhartha, is the fault in words?
What, according to Siddhartha, is the most important thing in the world, and why does
this contention not contradict the teachings of Gotama?