Siddartha by Herman Hesse

Karma

(Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation. The belief that actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life.

Four Noble Truths

1) Everyone suffers: from the poorest person to the richest King; 2) People cause their own suffering - they do not seek knowledge, but greed & material things; 3) Suffering can end by eliminating greed and ending ignorance; 4) A person should decide to follow a specific path, which will end suffering.

Kamala

A courtesan who instructs Siddhartha in the art of physical love. In addition to being Siddhartha's lover, Kamala helps him learn the ways of the city and leave his ascetic life as a Samana behind. Just before she dies from a snakebite, she reveals that Siddhartha is the father of her son. Siddhartha's lover who goes to follow the Buddha.

Samanas

A group of traveling ascetics who believe that a life of deprivation and wandering is the path to self-actualization. The Samanas initially captivate Siddhartha and Govinda, but the two eventually forsake them to follow the teachings of Gotama. A group of men who live in the woods, barely clothed and empty themselves to achieve enlightenment. Wandering Hindu ascetics who practice self-denial.

Upanishad

A group of writings sacred in Hinduism concerning the relations of humans, God, and the universe. A major book in Hinduism that is often in the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that they raised.

Monk

A man who devotes his life to a religious group, often giving up all he owns. Someone who withdraws from ordinary life, and lives alone or in a community, in order to devote oneself to prayer and work in total dedication to God

Tranquility

A state of peace and quiet. Peacefulness. Refers to restfulness, sereneness, serenity tranquillity of the body, speech, thoughts and consciousness on the path to enlightenment.

metamorphosis

A transformation or dramatic change. Life is never static, but flows like a river. It's essence is change. We shed identities and try new ones on for size like snakes shed their skins.

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism. Collections of hymns, songs, prayers, and rituals honoring the barious gods of the Aryans.

Middle Way

In Buddhism, complement of general and specific ethical practices and philosophical views that are said to facilitate enlightenment by avoiding the extremes of self-gratification on one hand and self-mortification on the other. The term that Gautama Buddha used to describe the character of the Noble Eightfold Path he discovered that leads to liberation.

Dharma

In Hindu & Buddhist's belief, a person's religious and moral duties. Key concept with multiple meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. In Hinduism, dharma is the religious and moral law governing individual conduct and is one of the four ends of life. In Buddhism, dharma means "cosmic law and order", and is also applied to the teachings of the Buddha.

Incarnation

Rebirth in Buddhism refers to its teaching that the actions of a person lead to a new existence after death, in endless cycles called saṃsāra. This cycle is considered to be dukkha, unsatisfactory and painful. The cycle stops only if liberation is achieved by insight and the extinguishing of desire. Rebirth is one of the foundational doctrines of Buddhism, along with Karma, nirvana and moksha. A person who embodies in the flesh a deity, spirit, or abstract quality. From the Latin, meaning "to become flesh," referring to the mystery of Jesus Christ.

Venerable

Respectable due to age. Worthy of respect.

Anathapindika

Rich banker who bought the park Jetavana and donated it to the Buddha. A very wealthy man who provided Buddha and his followers with a temple.

Mediation

Satipatthana - Mindfulness of body, sensations, mind and mental phenomena. The Four Immeasurables - including compassion karuna and loving-kindness Metta. To stop the mind rushing about in an aimless (or even a purposeful) stream of thoughts. People often say that the aim of meditation is "to still the mind".

Asceticism

Severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons. Rigorous self-denial and active self-restraint.

OM

a mystic syllable, considered the most sacred mantra in Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism. It appears at the beginning and end of most Sanskrit recitations, prayers, and texts. Sanskrit, sometimes regarded as three sounds, aumm, symbolic of the three major Hindu deities.

Destiny

The events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future. An event that will inevitably happen.

Dukkha

The first of the Four Noble Truths, the basic Buddhist insight that suffering is part of the human condition.

Brahmin

The highest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of priests. A varna (class) in Hinduism specializing as priests, teachers (acharya) and protectors of sacred learning across generations. ... In practice, Indian texts suggest that Brahmans were agriculturalists, warriors, traders and have held a variety of other occupations in India.

Sakyamuni

The historical Buddha, named after the town of Sakya, Buddha's birthplace. Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha.

Atman

in Hindu belief, a person's essential self. The individual soul. one of the most basic concepts in Hinduism, the universal self, identical with the eternal core of the personality that after death either transmigrates to a new life or attains release (moksha) from the bonds of existence.

Bodhi Tree

The large, sacred fig tree at the Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya where Siddhartha the Buddha arrived at enlightenment. The tree under which Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment. The bodhi tree is not as nasty as a Banyan Tree, being solitary and giving plenty of shade. It also grows in similar conditions as the strangler fig.

Enlightenment

When a Buddhist finds the truth about life and stops being reborn because he has reach Nirvana and once you get to Nirvana you are not born again. Buddhists believe a person can become enlightened by following the Middle Way.

Gautama

Buddha- born 500 years before Christa. Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha, after the title of Buddha, was a monk, mendicant, and sage, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded

Kamaswami

An older businessman who teaches Siddhartha the art of business. The stressed merchant that Siddhartha works for when he lives in the city.

Discontent

Alonging for something better than the present situation, dissatisfaction, unhappy, miserable.

Buddhism

Belief system that started in India in the 500s BC. Happiness can be achieved through removal of one's desires. Believers seek enlightenment and the overcoming of suffering. A religion based on the teachings of Buddha.

Sangha (Buddhism)

Buddhist communities of monks, nuns, novices and laity; Monasticism. Buddhist community.

Banyan Tree

East Indian tree that puts out aerial shoots that grow down into the soil forming additional trunks. Metaphor for Origins of Hinduism, a tree with branches that sink to the ground and become roots. The banyan tree is also referred to as a strangler fig. It generally starts growing in a fork of some other tree in a litter of rotten leaves and bird droppings, sending aerial roots to the ground.

Power of the River

In Siddhartha, the river is one of the most potent symbols in the entire book. It symbolizes not only the journey towards enlightenment, which is the entire goal of Siddhartha throughout his life, but also the realization of enlightenment itself.

Śuddhodana

Meaning "he who grows pure rice," was a leader of the Shakya, who lived in an oligarchic republic on the Indian subcontinent, with their capital at Kapilavastu. He was also the father of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Buddha.

Buddha

Means "Enlightened One." He is said to have found a path for overcoming suffering.

Siddhartha

Means "Enlightened One." He is said to have renounced his worldly possessions and taught of a way to overcome suffering. Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha, after the title of Buddha, was a monk, mendicant, and sage, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded.

Nirvana

Name given to reaching the state of perfect peace in Buddhism. Enlightenment; ultimate reality/goal, the end of suffering.

Govinda

Siddhartha's best friend, goes to follow the Buddha. Also known as the Buddha, Gotama is said to have attained Nirvana. He teaches the Eightfold Path to his many followers as the way to achieve true enlightenment. Siddhartha and Govinda seek him out, but while Govinda becomes a follower, Siddhartha ultimately rejects him.

Vasudeva

The enlightened ferryman, is the guide who advises Siddhartha and leads him to enlightenment. Siddhartha first meets Vasudeva after leaving Gotama and Govinda and immediately notices Vasudeva's serenity.

Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path consists of eight practices: right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right samadhi ('meditative absorption or union'). Teaches that by restraining oneself, cultivating discipline, and practicing mindfulness and meditation, house-leavers (monks and nuns) attain nirvana and stop their craving, clinging and karmic accumulations, thereby ending their rebirth and suffering

Moksha

The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths. Becoming liberated for the cycle of reincarnation in Hinduism

Samavedas

The Veda of melodies and chants. It is an ancient Vedic Sanskrit text, and part of the scriptures of Hinduism. One of the four Vedas, it is a liturgical text which consists of 1,875 verses.

Self-denial

The act of giving up something we desire for a higher motive; a giving up of one's own desires or interests.

Ablutions

The act of washing oneself. cleansing the body as part of a religious rite.

The holy om

The concept of "Om" signifies the unity and perfection of the universe. ... Ultimately, when Siddhartha attains enlightenment, it is through a profound recognition of Om through meditation on the river.

Saṃsāra

The cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound.