Loneliness and Solitude
Loneliness
and Solitude
On a cursory look at these words, they may appear to some
to be synonyms – but are they? In reality the difference between them is huge
like chalk and cheese! Loneliness is something which one feels on losing a friend
or on not having any friends or someone to talk to. When one cannot share the
ups and downs of life with someone you feel lonely. Loneliness presents itself as
the biggest punishment in life.
Solitude is when you are happy being alone as you
contemplate life and its conundrums in solitary splendor. When one becomes introversive
solitude becomes a way of life as you start savouring the silence as you
journey inwards. When this starts happening on a regular basis solitude becomes
a boon and the one who experiences that silence would never miss it for the
world!
Invariably loneliness has negative connotations as we
can still feel lonely in the presence of people. This feeling of loneliness is
marked by a feeling of isolation, of being separated from the group even when
you are part of the group. It is a negative aspect of human nature which treats
people in this manner – you will never see this occurring in the animal world. When
one is lonely one has a deep sense of being alone in the world with no one to
turn to and that preys on the mind resulting in stress, tension with all its
attendant ramifications.
Solitude is when you are alone but not feeling lonely –
you are comfortable with the ‘self’ – not just comfortable, but happy and
blissed out! When one becomes introversive and finds one’s own core then even
when one is in the presence of a huge crowd, with noise and chaos all around,
one is calm and at peace, that is because one is unified with one’s inner
consciousness, where there is only silence, peace and bliss.
The journey from loneliness to solitude is one which
takes you from the path of aloneness, fear, stress to silence, peace, bliss,
inner communion – this is a journey in which we ourselves are the path, the
traveler and the destination all rolled into one! This path can be easily
traveled by practicing yoga and meditation. Meditation leads you slowly and steadily
inwards as you embark on your journey to inner peace. This journey is full of
spiritual experiences which make you ultimately overflow with love and compassion
towards everyone. It is a journey which is a must for all those who seek inner
peace and enjoy the sound of silence – of solitude!
Comments