Siddhartha: Part 1 Assessment Example Responses
Period 6
1A. Over the course of Part One, Siddhartha goes from growing up to be
just like his father to traveling around, expanding his horizons and
exploring different methods of reaching Atman. From the start,
Siddhartha was already one of the most accomplished in his village
“already he knew how to pronounce Om silently” This was not enough
for Siddhartha, and he knew that he must move on to learn more.
1B. Through Part One, Siddhartha’s main goal is to attain nirvana, the
place of self-actualization and the spiritual satisfaction that accompanies
having “conquered one’s self.” Siddhartha constantly wants more over
the course of Part One, but he is not always sure what he senses. “Om is
the bow, the arrow is the soul, Brahman is the arrow’s goal, at which one
aims unflinchingly” illustrates the quest for inner balance that
Siddhartha seeks.
1C. In order to reach his goal, Siddhartha tries new things throughout
Part One. First, he leaves his luxurious life as a Brahman to think and
meditate about his life. Then he joins the Samanas and practices selfdenial, deprivation, and pain until there is no pain. Then, he seeks to hear
Buddha’s teachings and he watches and listens to Buddha. Finally, in
chapter four, Siddhartha finds himself wandering and contemplating
deeply about his personal life and future. Siddhartha “asked himself:
What is it that you wanted to learn from teachings and teachers?” (38)
Siddhartha’s final method was to question all that he had done in his life.
1D. His discontent is owed to the fact that he has not achieved
enlightenment despite all of his efforts and hard work. He feels as though
his thirst for knowledge has not been quenched, and he still has not
reached his goal. “I suffer thirst, Govinda, and on this long Samana path
my thirst has not grown less.” “There is one thing that this clear, worthy
instruction does not contain; it does not contain the secret of what the
illustrious one himself [went through].”
1E. As Siddhartha grows in understanding, he rejects various belief
systems by not just moving on, but making his own path. After moving
from teacher to teacher, he realizes that “To nobody… can [Gotama]
communicate in words and teachings what happened to [him] in [his]
enlightenment.” He realizes the unique experiences that Gotama had led
him to his enlightenment, rather than mass produced scriptures or
lectures.
Siddhartha: Part 1 Assessment Example Responses
Period 5
1A. Over the course of Part One, Siddhartha goes from place to place
seeking nirvana. He begins as the son of a Brahmin, but his restless mind
prompts him to begin his journey for salvation. He then goes to the forest
to learn the ways of the Samanas where his goal is, “to become empty, to
become empty of thirst, desire, dreams, pleasure and sorrow –to let the
self die” (11). He then seeks the Buddha who teaches Siddhartha about
himself and his true desires. By the end of Part One, Siddhartha becomes
a wandering vagrant on his personal path to enlightenment.
1B. Through Part One, Siddhartha’s main goal is to reach Atman, the
One, to be completely at peace. Siddhartha explains his goal by saying
“Om is the bow, the arrow is the soul, Brahman is the arrow’s goal, at
which one aims unflinchingly.”
1C. In order to reach his goal, Siddhartha practices different techniques
with each religion he follows. With the Brahmins, the tried practices such
as meditation, contemplation, sacrifice, and religious conversations,
“Siddhartha had already long taken part in the learned men’s
conversations…. Already he knew how to pronounce Om silently” (1).
Then with the Samanas, tries to make himself numb and get rid of his
senses through “voluntary suffering and conquering of pain, though
hunger, thirst and fatigue” With Gotama, Siddhartha and Govinda just
watch and listen to Buddha’s teachings. They observe, “that in every
joint of every finger of his hand there was knowledge.”
1D. His discontent is primarily due to his realization that there are some
things that you just can’t learn from someone else. You can have the
knowledge, but you can’t put it into use. “To nobody can you
communicate in words and teachings what happened to you in the hours
of your enlightenment.” and “But there is one thing that this dear,
worthy instruction does not contain.” (27)
1E. As Siddhartha grows in understanding, he rejects various belief
systems by claiming that each teaching still never satisfied his thirst for
knowledge and quest to find the truth. He ultimately realizes he must
find his own path to salvation without the influence of past doctrines,
alone, “I also will conquer myself” (29). His sudden realization of his
isolation overwhelms him with despair but enhances his understanding
that he must find his own “self.”