Dhyanam

Dhyanam, the best version of solitude

Cambridge Dictionary says, “the situation of being alone without other people.”

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Merriam Webster says, “the quality or state of being alone or remote from society.”

 

You may find it strange, why he is telling all these. Actually, these are the definitions of ‘Solitude’ by two famous websites. And my purpose of showing this is to clarify that ‘Solitude’ has nothing to do with ‘Sadness’. I often find people misunderstanding ‘solitude’ as sadness or being in a state of melancholy. But it’s not true. And Collins English Dictionary elucidates it out as it says, “Solitude is the state of being alone, especially when this is peaceful and pleasant.”

So now we can define Solitude as a quiet place, away from other human beings, where we are able to reflect on our day, contemplate a decision & listen to our thoughts. According to psychologists, time alone is an essential human need or requirement for living a balanced life. We need time by ourselves to escape from stress, to relax & to regain our enthusiasm. It is a positive state of being alone, but not lonely. Where a person is engaged with one’s thoughts, feelings, experiences & self.

The famous cubist artist, Pablo Picasso once said, “Without great solitude no serious work is possible.” The silence & stillness of solitude is represented in many artists’ paintings. For instance, Canadian painter Tom Thompson painted “Jack Pine”, which captures the beauty of solitude in the Canadian North. In “The Monk, who Sold His Ferrari”, author Robin Sharma suggests that solitude is one of the Ten Rituals of Radiant Living. It is one of the rituals we must practice to become enlightened and find happiness.

Now the question arises where do we get solitude. It not only just taking ourselves away from human habitation. Solitude is more about taking our mind and soul away from the daily and materialistic thoughts where our physical position doesn’t matter. It is more about the sustenance for the soul & spirit and it may come while walking along an empty street late at night, a hike through the still woods, meditating, and even reading a book in a library

Our “other self” includes such roles as a child, student, grandchild, athlete, employee, employer, neighbor, and citizen. When we serve our “other self” we achieve some measure of happiness and it’s true but there are also important benefits that come from spending time with your “personal self”, that part of you that doesn’t need other people to be happy. And when we spend time with our “personal self”, it enhances our productivity as “other self”. To me the best way of attaining our “personal self” is meditation. Meditation is the practice of thinking deeply in silence to make the mind calm. It is a relaxation technique where yoga and spiritualism merge to make you a better person. With an increase in a positive emotional state to keep us stay cool, calm, and composed under pressure, it creates an aura around us that repeals all the negative thoughts and unproductive happenings. Ultimately keeps us physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially healthy. And this positive outcome results in the overall development of an individual and a nation in a broad term.

Nowhere can a man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than his own soul – Marcus Aurelius.