Siddhartha's Discovery

I have most carefully watched Siddhartha’s untraditional path of reaching enlightenment. He left the path of being an ascetic with most people take but he still managed to have expiation at the end of his days. He sought many ways of being taught the way of enlightenment, but only found it when he listed to himself and to the river.

I tried to teach my followers what I have learned, but Siddhartha discovered early on that he must find his own way to Nirvana. He also realized he could not explain to others in a comprehensible way, that wisdom is not communicable. I think Siddhartha knew this all along, but one thing I think he learned though his journey was that everyone has Buddha in himself or herself.

It is not only the Brahmin how can reach Atman, “The potential hidden Buddha much be recognized in him (a sinner), in you (Govinda), in everybody”(Hesse 144). He has learned there is a little bit of everything in everybody. Siddhartha, Govinda, and a theft all have the same traits in themselves. All of them have what Siddhartha says, “-death as well as life, sin as well as holiness, wisdom as well as folly” (Hesse 144). I think Siddhartha could be the wisest man the Universe has ever seen.