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Deep Analysis of Siddharta: Amongst the People (Pt. II Ch. I-III) (Patreon)

Published:
2021-08-07 07:31:29
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

We're reading the first three chapters of the second part of Siddharta: 

Kamala, Amongst the People, Sansara.

These are highly affecting chapters, each for different reasons, in a slim book filled with great chapters.

We're talking about eternal recurrence, sublimation, the zen idea of the thinking mind vs the observing mind, Cartesian dualism, the archetype of the ferryman, the love and life lessons from a courtesan, and much more.

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 the opening of Kamala 
  • 3:15 awakening as momento mori
  • 4:30 false insight and brief enlightenment 
  • 6:00 beautiful prose and similes 
  • 8:00 trapping the Self in the nets of thought
  • 9:00 thinking mind vs observing mind
  • 10:00 the problem of being a thinker
  • 11:00 how to access the Self 
  • 11:53 cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am)
  • 13:00 Hesse's friendship with Carl Jung
  • 15:30 a Hindu parable from Jung
  • 17:00 ferryman as significant archetype 
  • 18:00 famous ferrymen in mythology
  • 20:00 eternal recurrence
  • 21:40 the myth of Sisyphus 
  • 26:00 Kamala, whose mouth is like a freshly cut fig
  • 28:00 Kamala, the lotus, and Maya (illusion)
  • 29:00 love can never be stolen
  • 31:00 Kamaswami amongst the people
  • 33:00 le petite mort and sublimating libido
  • 37:00 sansara and Siddharta straying from his path
  • 44:00 another departure

Questions to Consider

1) Do you identify with Siddharta at any point across these chapters? If so, why?

2) How far do you read into the idea of eternal recurrence? And does the idea fill you with fear or joy? 

Any thoughts, responses, or meditations - big or small - you might have to share in regards to Siddharta will be deeply appreciated.

Happy reading!

Files

Previews only

Deep Analysis of Siddharta: Amongst the People (Pt. II Ch. I-III)

0:00 the opening of Kamala 3:15 awakening as momento mori 4:30 false insight and brief enlightenment 6:00 beautiful prose and similes 8:00 trapping the Self in the nets of thought 9:00 thinking mind vs observing mind 10:00 the problem of being a thinker 11:00 how to access the Self 11:53 cogito, ergo sum (I think, therefore I am) 13:00 Hesse's friendship with Carl Jung 15:30 a Hindu parable from Jung 17:00 ferryman as significant archetype 18:00 famous ferrymen in mythology 20:00 eternal recurrence 21:40 the myth of Sisyphus 26:00 Kamala, whose mouth is like a freshly cut fig 28:00 Kamala, the lotus, and Maya (illusion) 29:00 love can never be stolen 31:00 Kamaswami amongst the people 33:00 le petite mort and sublimating libido 37:00 sansara and Siddharta straying from his path 44:00 another departure

Comments

Tom Pearsall

I think Nietzsche’s idea of eternal recurrence is an interesting thought experiment, but when taken literally the notion becomes untenable. Eternal recurrence presupposes that time is infinite and we will relive our lives in exactly the same way again and again, and have done so already an infinite number of times. Given this, Nietzsche asks us whether we are living in such a way that we would welcome repeating it. It is meant I think as a sort of stress test to how we are understanding and approaching our individual existence in this world (and also a repudiation of living only for a better afterlife). And since there will always be some degree of suffering in this world, he is urging us towards a more life affirming acceptance of all the vicissitudes of our lives and perhaps a more proactive and creative, in a way artistic, approach to life. I think this is great and for those who think of Nietzsche as a sort of nihilist, I think you have it backwards. On the other hand, if you actually believe we live in a vast cosmos with infinite time then not only will you relive this life but also all other possibilities. And if every possible life is lived then it seems to me there is no longer any impetus to living this one better. Sure, you will have to live it again, but you will also have to live all the other good, bad and ugly lives too. Now it feels as though your choices are artificial and meaningless. So, is our existence linear or cyclical? At the moment I like the idea of an expanding spiral universe where there are certain themes and motifs to life (and cosmos) that are cyclical, but will repeat in a more and more expansive way that allows for some sense of progress.

Anonymous

Talking about a figure of the ferryman: there is a famous one in another initiatio' story about a religious figure, "Three tales", the legend of Saint Julian L'hospitalier". Julian too after an original sin joins a band of vagrants, and his belly of the beast moment is when he welcomes a leper asking for more and more help from him. Now that i think of it, we had a French writing assignement where i talked about it, but i sure hope that i didn't invent it completely ;)