I first encountered the works of the German writer, Hermann Hesse, when I was in college. And this particular book has been a favorite of mine ever since.
There are moments in everyone's life when some incident or experience plants itself upon our brains in such a way as to never be forgotten. A memory whose recollection is always pleasent and welcome. Passages of SIDDHARTHA are among these sorts of memories that I hold dear.
And none more so than this exerpt from the first chapter, when we are introduced to the exceptional Siddhartha, and his faithful friend, Govinda.
“There was happiness in his father's heart because of his son who was intelligent and thirsty for knowledge; he saw him growing up to be a great learned man, a priest, a prince among Brahmins.
“There was pride in his mother's breast when she saw him walking, sitting down and rising: Siddhartha--strong, handsome, supple-limbed, greeting her with complete grace.
“Love stirred in the hearts of the young Brahmins' daughters when Siddhartha walked through the streets of the town, with his lofty brow, his king-like eyes and his slim figure.
“Govinda, his friend, the Brahmin's son, loved him more than anybody else. He loved Siddhartha's eyes and clear voice. he loved the way he walked, his complete grace of movement; he loved everything that Siddhartha did and said, and above all he loved his high vocation. Govinda knew that he would not become an ordinary Brahmin, a lazy sacrificial official, an avaricious dealer in magic sayings, a conceited worthless orator, a wicked sly priest, or just a good stupid sheep amongst a large herd. No, and he, Govinda, did not want to become any of these, not a Brahmin like ten thousand others of their kind. He wanted to follow Siddhartha, the beloved, the magnificent. And if he ever became a god, if he ever entered the All-Radiant, then Govinda wanted to follow him as his friend, his companion, his servant, his lance bearer, his shadow.
“That was how everybody loved Siddhartha. He delighted and made everybody happy.”
Now you know...I am really quite the "Romantic" at heart.
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