Siddhartha: Search for Meaning, Step by Step

Search For Meaning, Step By Step “What are we living for?” People throw these profound questions often. As modern time improves its quality of life, people attach great importance to search for meaning. In the process of searching for meaning, there are mainly 3 steps that many people go through; formative period influenced by surroundings, transition period encircled by lures and sins, and the completion along with a mentor. Yet, everyone experiences these steps different and produce diverse consequences like Siddhartha from the novel Siddhartha by Herman Hesse and non-believers in reality showing apparent distinctions. From the age of infant to the age of death, surroundings affect people’s lives greatly. Also, people tend to search for what the society prefers and honors. Siddhartha, who was born in the loyal Brahmin family, was surrounded by teachers and wise Brahmins since young age. He had the chance to acquire wisdom and knowledge from his environment. Therefore, Siddhartha was encouraged to be enlightened and consequently it led him to become passionate towards gaining wisdom. On page 5 in Siddhartha, it says, “And the vessel was not full, his intellect was not satisfied, his soul was not at peace, his heart was not still.” Siddhartha was thirst for intellects and enlightenment as he was raised. On the other hand, children and teenagers born in family apart from Christ easily encounter circumstances that lead them to an ungodly path. Especially, when they are raised in an environment without any religion, there are no spiritual teachings in their lives. They are exposed to the environment where sinning is normal and cool. Also, they are influenced by the media. Media tells them what to wear, say, do, and want. It teaches them to seek for materialistic things and unnecessary pleasures rather than search for wisdom and enlightenment. Siddhartha begins his journey for seeking more knowledge while people living apart from Christ begin their journey with