Why+Hesse+Matters+to+the+Latter-day+Saints

Although all of us might not agree with every aspect of this novel I believe Hermann Hesse wanted it to touch or impact all kinds of people. One of the major lessons we learn in this story is that of love and selflessness. The following quotes were discussed in class and I found it interesting how well some of the things taught tie into other religions such as; [|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]. [|Dr. Sun Yat-sen] once said, "//Buddhism is not a religion, philosophy or science. Instead, it supplements them.//"  “When all the Self was conquered and dead, when all passions and desires were silent, then the last must awaken, the innermost of Being that is no longer Self- the great secret”  “Siddhartha had begun to feel that the love of his father and mother, and also the love of his friend Govinda, would not always make him happy, give him peace, satisfy and suffice him. He had begun to suspect that his worthy father and his other teachers, the wise Brahmins, had already passed on to him the bulk and best of their wisdom, but his soul was not at peace.”   Another part I found interesting was that in the Buddhist faith they are not followers. All Buddhist have the opportunity or strife for the opportunity to become gods. ||  “With the goal of salvation ever in our mind’s eye, as the ultimate to be achieved, our thinking and our decisions, which determine action, will always challenge all that would jeopardize that glorious future state.” [|Joseph Fielding Smith]   “If we want joy in our hearts, if we want the spirit of the Lord in our lives, let us forget ourselves and reach out. Let us put in the background our personal, selfish interests…”[|Gordon B. Hinckle]y   [|Joseph Smith] , a prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, experienced somewhat of the same experience. He too knew that there was something more than what other knew. He too wanted to find the “truth” to be enlightened. Until he found out for himself, just as Siddhartha, his soul was not at peace.  The oft-quoted verse, [|“As man is, God once was—as God is, man may become,”] We too as Latter-day Saints endeavor to become more like our Heavenly Father . We are promised that if we endure to the end and keep His commandments we will live as He in the Heavens.  ||
 *  Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha  || <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi"> The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints   ||
 * <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi"> “Siddhartha is drawn by his goal, for he does not allow anything to enter his mind which opposes his goal. That is what Siddhartha learned from the Samanas. It is what fools call magic and what they think is caused by demons… there are no demons… everyone can reach his goal if he can think, wait, and fast.”