Solitude: one dimension

Ideal Solitude

As I have considered and reconsidered the thought of ideal solitude it has come to me as an interesting concept to lessen the suffering often evident in all social constructs but not as a panacea for dealing with social difficulties in one’s everyday life.  It is not a strategy one may use to avoid the realities of life.  For a time one may retreat into ideal solitude to buffer the foul winds often pushing the sails of every social construct but one must still seek the smooth waters of kindness and compassion to enjoy a harmonious life.

But what is this “ideal solitude” of which I speak?  Ayya Khema, in her book “All of Us Beset by Birth, Decay and Death” has placed this concept before us.  Ideal Solitude is solitude of the mind (citta-viveka).  Her belief is that if we cannot “arouse mental solitude in ourselves, we will not be able to be introspective, to find out what changes within ourselves.”  This mental solitude means not to be dependent upon others for approval.  It means to be mentally independent.  It means to place oneself apart from the actions of all others.  It means to be spiritually self-sufficient.  It means that one must be unaffected by the difficulties of others.  In essence, one must become “detached.”

By achieving separation from the suffering of others one might place their mind at ease.  When one can place their mind at ease then one may be introspective and contemplative.  One may discover what is happening within oneself.  One may discover what is going on in their mind and why those thoughts are occurring.  The understanding of oneself can create a strong mind, a mind that can stand still and observe.  The strong mind can yield clear comprehension.  When clear comprehension is joined with mindfulness one can achieve greater purpose and clearer direction.

So, therein lies the goal of “ideal solitude.”  According to Khema, “the secluded mind has two attributes: one is mindfulness, full attention and clear comprehension; and the other is introspection and contemplation.  Both of them bring the mind to unification.  Only in togetherness lies strength; unification brings power.”  The underlying question is does such internal strength come at the expense of a harmonious life?