Demian

Sinclair was lucky. When he was in despair at the age of 10, he met someone who could shock his life. "Can we go for a walk together?" He asked gently. "Tell me, Sinclair" "I am not your seducer, dear classmate" "If you can't find your way, listen to your heart, I am in your heart." "Close your eyes, Sinclair!" He placed a gentle kiss on his lips and imprinted it into his heart. However, the peaceful beauty cannot last forever. The artillery fire of World War I destroyed people's happiness, but it could not destroy the light in Sinclair's heart. Perhaps this is what we, the black race and loneliness in depression, long for. "God uses various means to make people lonely so that they can come to Himself." "What I long for is just to express those natures that are ready to escape. Why is it so difficult?" Hesai wailed in pain. (Personal understanding) Demian is the guide, the Cain who is doomed to be lonely and rebel against God. The protagonist is a lost person in modern rational society, a suffering person who is tired of pleasure and human nature. Eve respects the laws of development of all things and watches everything lovingly. I hope you can quietly listen to your inner voice after facing loneliness in pain. You are Sinclair, you are me, you are roses, you are clouds, you are sea, and you are every forgotten self. 2020-12-14

On the way to pursue oneself, people generally have to go through these processes: innocence in childhood under the protection of parents - youthful frivolity after self-awakening in adolescence - inner self-consistency after years of precipitation in youth/middle age. In Sinclair's growth history, Demian is both a beacon and the other side. Sinclair questions him, understands him, becomes him, surpasses him, and finally achieves himself, a self similar to Demian but unique, and achieves inner freedom and peace.

Some philosophical expressions are difficult to understand, but this is a story of growing pains. Each of us has experienced a Sinclair time. At this time, there may be no one to save us, not even Demian. But growing up from the thorns, blood and tears, Sinclair became Demian.

Demian, this is a book that soothes the soul. People should be colorful. Anyone can understand me, but only I can interpret myself. This also pushes me to explore an undefined life.

1. **The integration and transcendence of the "light" and "dark" worlds: ** * The story begins with the split between the "two worlds" experienced by the protagonist Sinclair in his childhood: the light, pure, well-ordered home world, and the dark, mysterious, tempting and even sinful external world. * **Core Breakthrough:** Hesse believes that true maturity and integrity** are not to choose light and abandon darkness, but to realize that both are indispensable parts of human nature and the world, and strive to integrate them into one. ** Demian teaches Sinclair that the "dark" world (representing desire, instinct, creativity, and even destructive power) that he fears and repulses is not evil per se but repressed and misunderstood life forces. The true god (Abraxas) is the deity who embodies both light and darkness. 2. **"Find yourself" and "Become yourself":** * This is the core proposition of the whole book. Sinclair's entire growth process is a process of constantly getting rid of external expectations, social norms, and religious dogma, listening to the call deep in his heart, and discovering and becoming his unique "self." * **The metaphor of "a bird struggling to break through the eggshell":** Demian told Sinclair that everyone's life is like a bird, and it must struggle to break the eggshell that surrounds it (that is, the old, external constraints and illusions) before it can fly towards its own destiny. "This eggshell is the world. If you want to be born, you must first destroy a world." This symbolizes the inevitable pain and rebirth of breaking the old self and old cognition. * **"Love of Destiny":** The book emphasizes that people should bravely embrace their destiny, even if it seems different, full of challenges or even not understood by the world. Following your inner voice and following your own path is true piety and responsibility for life. 3. **Inner Guide and "Self":** * Demian's role is crucial. He is both Sinclair's real-life friend and mentor, and on a deeper level, he represents Sinclair's inner, higher-level self (similar to the "Self" or "Wise Old Man" archetype in Jungian psychology). * **Core revelation:** The true leader ultimately comes from within. Demian taught Sinclair to listen to his inner voice and trust his intuition and dreams. Eventually, Sinclair realizes that Demian is an outward projection of his own inner strength. "Demian, my guide, my friend, my guide, he is myself!" This reveals that ** people ultimately need to rely on their own inner divinity/wisdom to complete their awakening. ** 4. **The "Mark of Cain" and the Courage of Loneliness:** * Demian reinterprets the biblical story of Cain to Sinclair, arguing that Cain was not a pure sinner, but a brave, different man who dared to rebel against the established order and was therefore ostracized. The mark on his forehead is not a curse, but a symbol of courage, "the sign of the strong." * **Core Meaning:** This encourages those who perceive themselves to be different and have a strong inner calling not to be afraid of loneliness and rejection. Dare to follow your own path, dare to embrace your own uniqueness, even if it means bearing the "mark of Cain", is a noble choice. The awakened person is often alone. 5. **"Abraxas" god:** * This image represents Hesse's unique understanding of religion and divinity. Abraxas is a symbol that combines divinity and magic, light and darkness, creation and destruction. * **Core connotation:** It denies the binary opposition of black and white and emphasizes that **the integrity of life lies in accepting all opposites**. The true holiness is not only the best and pure, but embraces all the complexities and contradictions of life. Worshiping Abraxas means embracing the whole self and the whole world. **In summary, the key core of "Demian" is:** * **Abandon duality:** Go beyond the simple distinctions of good and evil, light and darkness. * **Courage yourself bravely:** Listen to your inner call and become a unique individual, no matter the cost. * **Accept all of life:** Embrace the light and dark sides of human nature and achieve inner integration and integrity. * **Inner Awakening and Guidance:** Recognize that your true Guru and Divinity reside within yourself. * **Embrace loneliness and destiny:** Have the courage to go your own way and bear the loneliness of the awakened. This book is a profound fable about spiritual awakening, the process of individuation and the search for the meaning of life, encouraging readers to break the external eggshell and fly into the vast sky of their own. The sentence in the book, "The bird has to break out of its shell. The egg is the world. In order for man to be born in the world, the world must be destroyed. The bird flies to God. God's name is Abraxas." Is the most condensed embodiment of its core idea.

In the book, we can see the author's desire for tranquility and peace, a certain resistance to the world and loneliness, and the exploration of himself. It feels like all the characters in the book are Sinclair, and Demian is the mature guide and the embodiment of truth. Lady Eve is Sinclair's longing and attachment, his desire for erotic love, his attachment to motherhood. Including all kinds of people, they are also reflections of himself. He is lonely, and the embarrassment of his soul and the so-called destiny arouse his desire. He has an almost crazy imagination, moving forward in confusion, and is called by his own destiny. At a young age, under Demian's guidance, he learned to gaze inwardly and resist the "mainstream" views of the world. Later, he met some people one after another, and they met or got to know each other again. When he saw clearly the pursuits and difficulties of others, he also longed for his own perfection. After meeting Demian again, he seemed to be living in a beautiful and illusory dream. In the dream, he was accepted and tolerated, but at this time, he seemed to be separated from the real world by a film. He is attached to this dream, but for true self-renovation and satisfaction, as well as peace of mind, he must break the dream, see the world and himself clearly, break out of the shell, connect with the world, and spread his wings to fly high. And the island-like self-exploration is just a dream. The innovation of the world is also destructive. People are suppressed by lies, but some people still work hard for their ideals and beliefs. The intoxicating and magnificent beauty ✧٩(ˊωˋ*)و✧ reminds me of some problems caused by scientific innovation, such as the suppression of true personality. We seem to be free and focus on ourselves, but in fact the so-called freedom is just a placebo and a lie weaved by indoctrination, and the vitality and fluidity of the individual soul are gradually lost.

Okay, look at it with Jung's description of the self. Psychoanalysis helps with the analysis. Can be seen better. After all, Jung helped Hesse emerge from depression

Random thoughts from a reader that this book is not very relevant. "I know that they will accept all of this kindly, and will be extremely considerate of me, and even sympathize with me, but they will not fully understand. In short, this whole thing, which was originally destined, will be regarded by them as a derailment." I expected too much. People are not machines, and life is not a track. To lead to life in the wilderness, you must pass a specific track. Fortunately it is morning and the beautiful day is not over yet. I was still able to pick myself up and get my bearings right before falling deeper into rock bottom. Engage in it with a very calm and elegant posture. I will climb out of the abyss again and be grateful for everyone I meet. However, even if you can't climb out. I am still grateful to everyone I care about and who care about me. Although it may not be seen, I apologize for all my mistakes and to everyone I hurt. Sorry. December 6th, I still remember one year ago. Dormitory, library, canteen, three points and one line. Full of hope for the future, I leave early and come home late every day. The schoolwork is heavy, but I just need to study. Once, twice, three times, keep repeating. 9 Years ago, my mentor said that if you are not smart and don't work hard, you are really stupid. I listened, but I am proud of my achievements. I still remember my mentor often telling me: You should use some snacks. If I don't listen, I can get 150 on the exam without paying attention. I was wrong, but it has never happened before. Because I don't care much about these things. My previous life had no direction or goal... December 6th, I still remember five months ago. I have completed the basic and intensive courses with Teacher Zhang Yu, but I still cannot "walk independently". But I returned home with full hope, gathered the necessary information and started over. I integrated the experience of my predecessors. The questions were too difficult and I didn't have the courage to take action. Then, a wounded light came into my life. Just having my own goals and direction, I didn't know before. I feel sorry for what happened to Light. I just thought the light was coming for me. I decided to refuel it... I found that the light was getting closer and closer to me, and I was a little scared. I decided to leave. The light came closer and I gave in. I reveal to the light all the things I cherish. It took another three days for the light to fully enter my heart. I was panicked. I show my despicability and despicability little by little. The filter was broken, and the light was so scared that it wanted to run away... I regret a little, I shouldn't have been so impulsive as to keep the light. I'm selfish, stubborn and not good at change. So much so that the light hates me, does not like me, and regrets knowing me. I was wrong. I have never felt so bad about myself, and no one has ever walked into my heart. The light is so bright that all my darkness has nowhere to escape. The light is dimming a bit, but I can't seem to recharge it. I can't... I had no intention of making the light sad again by making unnecessary moves. I am indeed a program, and my brain is a single-core processor. I simply can't handle two jobs of the same priority at the same time. Just in time the light left me. Just in time to clean up my mess, clean the house, and start my expedition. Well, I decided to be a little more ruthless. I want to leave all people and things that can affect my mood. I won't forget and I will come back again. Not necessarily. Maybe I'll come back again, maybe not. If one day I disappear completely, there is no doubt that I have failed. My self-esteem does not allow me to come back in despair. My dear friend, I apologize to you. I sincerely apologize to you. Please don't be sad. Um. Wish you happiness and wish me good luck. December 6, 2024 12:18 pm west wind

I just finished reading the last bit, and I came back specifically to see what other people thought. This is a book that everyone should read. I have found myself in it countless times. It can unearth the most painful memories in our hearts, soothe the pain, clear away the fog, and reveal the way forward. Then, the rest of the way is up to you! ——It is an insult to Abraxas to tell you what to do.

If there is a good relationship, you can talk to each other. If it is not a war, maybe this pair of friends with a good relationship can stay together for a longer time. The book continues to narrate their life experiences until the final war. From the end we can understand that peace is always the best guarantee for survival.

Judging from the storyline, the most unpleasant thing to say is that it is an advanced spiritual victory method, and it is a monologue of a schizophrenic. Don't look at the progression of the story with real-world logic, and don't think it's reasonable or unreasonable. Accept the author's expression and understand what he really wants to express. Although I haven't been able to get it completely, at least it won't be very difficult to read this way. In addition, I feel that the suppression of human nature by religion is terrible. The so-called searching for oneself or something, I thought it meant becoming a materialist or an atheist. The result was a new god. From an old, inadequate "god" to a more complex and inner "new god". For people like me, who have received materialistic education since childhood, I feel that I am just missing the mark, and I am always holding my breath in my heart. .

This book is more of a stream of consciousness~ Anyway, I will always like Hesse

This translation is the best I have ever seen, good job Luo Wei

A philosophical book, a book about developing yourself. I don't know if I can say that. The philosophy shown in it is to expose human nature under the sun and accept yourself. I can't say that I fully understand this book, but you will definitely benefit a lot from reading it.

A story of death and birth, breaking out of one's shell, flying and romance.

Super beautiful, I like it very much

A very good book

Detailed psychological description, great book.

If you are confused and anxious, stop and read it.

Stream of consciousness is amazing A story about finding yourself and accepting yourself. It is a sin to distance yourself from yourself.

Interesting book, a bit slow to read. It is rich in the principles of life, but it is a bit difficult to read.