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What does Hesse mean when he writes, "Siddhartha knew that the game was finished . . ."? What decision does Siddhartha make at the end of this chapter and why?

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Final answer:

In Hermann Hesse's novel Siddhartha, Siddhartha reaches a point of completion in his spiritual journey and decides to leave the Samanas to seek guidance from the Buddha.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Hermann Hesse's novel Siddhartha, when Siddhartha says, "Siddhartha knew that the game was finished . . .", he means that he has reached a point of completion or realization in his spiritual journey. He has achieved enlightenment and understands that there is no more to be gained from the search for spiritual truth through external sources.

At the end of this chapter, Siddhartha makes the decision to leave the Samanas and continue his spiritual quest in a different way. He realizes that the extreme asceticism practiced by the Samanas is not the path to true spiritual enlightenment for him. Instead, he decides to seek guidance from the Buddha and learn from his teachings.

By making this decision, Siddhartha demonstrates his willingness to explore different paths and his recognition that true spiritual enlightenment cannot be found through following rigid rules or practices alone. He understands that his journey requires a combination of self-discovery and learning from others

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