When Siddhartha left to become an ascetic, Govinda decide to follow him into his new life. They learn how to lose themselves through neditation and how to use the word om. Siddhartha starts to realize that these Samanas are no better than the people he left and wants change again. Govinda comes back and tells Siddhartha about the Buddha or Gotama. He told Siddhartha of the teachings and great things he had in store for them. So they set out to find him. Eventually while going around begging for food, they found a person that told them exactly where to go. The yfound Gotama and his camp along with his followers and were taken in.

Because he wants to see what it would be like to become a Samana, he tells Govinda he is leaving. Govinda doesn't really agree with him. He also doesn't think that his father with agree with Siddhartha's decision either. Siddhartha asked his father's permission to leave his house to be on his own and join the ascetics. His father had a lot of displeasure in his heart and did not answer. Siddhartha stood in the same place for hours with his arms folded. His father saw that wasn't moving and that he would leave until he got a yes. So he let Siddhartha go become a Samana. He also told him before he left that if he learns anything new about enlightenment to come back and teach him.

Siddhartha is the son of a Brahmin who lives with his father in India. He is well-respected, everyone expects him to be successful like his father. Siddhartha enjoys and existence with Govinda who secretly dislikes it. Govinda is Siddhartha's best friend. They both seek the same thing which is enlightenment and to learn new ways of life through losing yourself like meditation. Siddhartha feels that all of the wisdom his community has to offer has already been passed. He and Govinda seek more knowledge. One day, the ascetics (Samanas) came through starved and almost naked to beg for food. Siddhartha thinks that they can teach him new things and answer some of his questions.