Throughout Herman Hesse’s novel, Siddhartha, Siddhartha constantly faces the challenge of learning from elders around him, allowing him to come to the conclusion that wisdom, in fact, cannot be passed on from person to person. For example, it is evident that even from the start of the book that Siddhartha has learned all he can from his elders when he says, “He had begun to suspect that his venerable father and his other teachers, all wise Brahmins, had already given him the richest and best part of their wisdom, had already poured their plenty into his waiting vessel, yet the vessel was not full: His mind was not content, his soul not at peace, his heart restless” (Hesse 5).
Siddhartha has been taught by all powerful people, his father, elders, and Brahmins. Ideally, they should have taught him everything he needs to know to be successful, but still, Siddhartha feels an emptiness and longing. The teachings that Siddhartha listens to are filled with great amounts of knowledge, but it does not make him wise because it is the wisdom of his elders. Siddhartha believes that wisdom cannot be passed on because it is not coming from within himself. It is coming from outside sources and other people who are influencing him.
In addition, after Siddhartha comes face to face with Buddha and discusses his teachings and how he thinks there is a flaw, he shares his true thoughts by claiming, “And this is my thought, O Sublime One: No one will ever attain redemption through doctrine! … This is why I am continuing my journey – not in order to seek a different, better doctrine, for I know there is none, but to leave behind me all teachings and all teachers and to reach my goal along or perish” (Hesse 30).
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Siddhartha has just had a life changing experience by encountering Buddha. Buddha has shared all of his wisdom with Siddhartha, but Siddhartha has one main goal: to walk his path and become enlightened. Buddha can share all the knowledge in the world with Siddhartha, but none of that means anything unless Siddhartha actually understands and can comprehend what he is being taught. In the above quotation, Siddhartha makes the decision that he wants to continue on his journey and not just take the knowledge that Buddha can teach him. He wants to make his own mark and learn in a way that best benefits him.
