February 26, 2002
-
little solitudes
quiet places
deeds without explanation
orientation moment
to live one
day without
words
I want to be alone . . .
Each meditation I've done on solitude has opened a fascinating new world of complex and vivid perspective. The spiritual discipline of solitude is related in many ways to the discipline of fasting. They both involve deliberately changing your habits in order to redirect your focus from routine consumption onto . . .
Each person will experience solitude in a unique way. Some will feel their spirit open to transcendence. Others may experience a quiet time of refreshing. Individual experiences are so different in fact as to make it difficult to discuss the discipline of solitude in any meaningful way. The best way to know whether or not you are "doing it right" may not be to examine the experience itself, but to look at the results in your life.
When I first heard of the discipline of solitude, the image that popped in my mind was the holy hermit. You know the guy I mean. He shows up in the traditions of every major world religion and even in the comic strips. He goes off alone to a cave, a desert, or the top of a mountain. There, he finally escapes the profane, mundane existence of mere mortals and lives a life that is sacred, enlightened and wise.
There are two dangers associated with solitude. The first danger, which I doubt many of my Xanga friends are prone to, is the danger of overwhelming loneliness and fear. I'm not frightened by solitude. With the level of activity around my house, I long for it. I'm not much interested in the holy hermit thing, for one thing, I value hygiene and I've yet to find a brochure for a lonely mountain top with running water and flush toilets.
The second danger of solitude is one I've tripped over. In this pit lie the vipers of self-absorption, delusion, and cowardice. It is very tempting to lock myself away in a (comfortably appointed) closet and gaze at my navel. I find myself to be endlessly fascinating, clever, and congenial. If I could only challenge myself to a good game of Scrabble, I'd have it made. I'm all the compantionship I need. And may God have mercy upon your soul if you should happen to impose your petty little self on me.
(I used to love teasing my husband by telling him that there was no reality other than that shich I created for myself. Therefore, his little quirks and irritations, preferences and needs existed only for my own amusement and examination, like bacteria in a petri dish. - You might try this on your spouse if you have no better way to spend the next ten years of your relationship than repairing the damage this solipsistic game inflicts.)
This is the danger of solitude to the introspective personailty. Solitude is not solipsism. I mean, (and this is for posterity, so be honest) don't you have days where the people in your life might as well be cardboard cutouts for all the connection you can muster to them? Solitude as a discipline does not distance the practitioner from other people. Solitude enables the practitioner to view others with compassion and recognition of the humanity (or divinity) in us all.
Comments (15)
OMG On your husband and Solipsism ROFLMAO!!! Can you imagine? No better yet we both homeschool....shall we??? HAHAHAHAHA
And you are RIGHT, while I said before I have to force myself to be with people. I DO FORCE myself to be with people and I always enjoy it. It is just making that leap for a natural hermit like myself. Once the leap is made? It's all good.
BTW I hope my last email did not offend you?? You are a incredible wonderful human who I feel VERY blessed to have introduced into my life!
Loved the poetry.....and the blog in general....I think you might enjoy the latest blog on my site....just for sharing's sake......would love to get your reflection...bless you.....I like your energy....
God Bless - Dale
As your husband (whom you use for entertainment then sell on the open market for eProps) I have two comments ...
1) This blog brings light to one of the great questions in our relationship - I wondered what had been pooping in your mind. (Now, if you fix the typo people will just think I'm being weird...)
2) Admit it, "solipsism" was the word on your calendar today, wasn't it?
if the Sims spend too much time alone they die
LOL@Tim!! I am starting to feel like one of the SIMS...just placed around at the whim of the one in charge.
I get plenty of solitude. I'm pretty ok with what's what right now. Of course, I may just have deluded myself with my image of myself and be a coward for not recognizing it. Or not.
I like being alone. Not always but I enjoy the time i do have alone.
I just feel sorry for people who are always alone, I can't think that would be too good for people. Cheers Portia.
Balance in all things. We are all different and I prefer to be alone and have to kick start myself to be with others so for me being alone and mediatating is the norm.
Brilliant blog. Have you read the Bee Season?? Can't remember the author now. Interesting book, but a little upsetting. You meditate?? I'm keen to start, but I don't think I have enough silence in my life.
If you spend too much time gazing into your navel, won't you turn inside out?
Nice post! I am cracking up over Fugitive's statement about the Sims!! I love that game!
I guess I ought to have read this one before the one on balance.
For now all I want to tell you is that you need SOME balance, you know?
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