Classics Without All the Class discussion

This book is all about one man's search for spiritual enlightenment.

Please discuss the different attempts he makes to reach nirvana, as well as their success or unsuccess.

Share your opinion on how his quest relates to life today. Is it true to life or far-fetched?

Personally, I believe a lot of people today try to find personal fulfillment in material things, much like Siddhartha tries to do when he becomes a merchant. However, like him, it fails to satisfy.

I also think that material things are not the way to go. I believe minimalism is key, and this book is a great argument for minimalism, as well as for self-discovery.

It seemed though the more he tried to "empty" himself of self the more self involved he was. Does that make sense?

Yes, Rachel. Ridding himself of self was his (only) focus, so he couldn't help but become more self involved.

Siddhartha's quest isn't far-fetched at all, and is still relevant to life today. Too often we measure ourselves (our happiness, our worth) on worldy possessions, but more often than not, it's only by realizing that happiness--or some level of nirvana--is only achieved by looking past all of it...like Siddhartha's second awakening by the river.

It absolutely is relevant today. As difficult as it is to say with global trends and technology, getting "ahead" is going to be increasingly difficult. The stressors in this life seem to be increasing every day, and learning to find fulfillment in other ways will be increasingly important. I write, however, as a minimalist.

It's getting harder and harder to not be like the herd these days. If you're not obsessed with the media and other trivialities of our times, it seems you are increasingly looked upon as weird and out of it, to not care about the superficialities of our times.

What made this book so great was that it is very relevant across the ages. Siddartha's struggle is within all of us to one extent or another.

It's definitely relevant no matter which group or religion or idea you ascribe to. Everyone, often at this young age, but often older, goes through a thought process of "who am I really?" and "what's this world all about?" He doesn't just follow the words of another man, but seeks his own way, which is admirable.

I think it is definitely relevant today in at least two different ways. It is relevant as one of the quintessential guidebooks to life just as Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh has always been for me. There are basic truths and pitfalls in the book that we all encounter in our paths to whatever kind of enlightenment we are seeking. In another sense, Siddhartha can be viewed as the more things change the more they remain the same. Commerce and decadent living were Siddhartha's demons. Today technology and materialism threaten to overwhelm us. We never seem to learn - Siddhartha's relevance can be viewed as a "lest we forget" lesson.