This book is an allegorical tale of a Brahman boy who seeks peace and enlightenment after leaving his well off circumstances. He sets his goal to self-denial and ascetic life among the numerous holy men than roamed the land in that time. After dissatisfied with ascetic life he seeks love and wealth in the city. His best friend becomes the follower of Gotama Buddha but Siddhartha is not satisfied to do the same. Finally he meets the ferrymen and learns to listen to the river. This and meeting and parting with his son are the heights of the book. The river represents the eternal and timeless existence and oneness, and the meeting and parting with Siddhartha’s son represents the attachments as obstacles to reach enlightenment.
The finale of the book is the best expression in any book what is inexpressible; enlightenment and the Ancient Wisdom cannot be taught explained or otherwise conveyed to the uninitiated. Time and space lose its meaning and search for teachers, wisdom and external solutions will just hinder finding what is already within us, the Atman, the slice of godliness and holy, to which people of the east, bow and offer the cute hand gesture, Namaste
