Solitude as Part of My Pilgrimage
A reflection on love, companionship, and the quiet condition that makes deep contemplation possible.
Looking back, I realize that solitude was my original condition.
When I first came to know my family, I was astonished by the extraordinary love and attention they gave me. Yet before long, I grew accustomed to it.
Until then, sleeping alone or finding myself in solitude had caused me no inner conflict. But as I came to understand the love of my parents, I gradually began to dislike being alone.
Once companionship became a habit, I found myself avoiding solitude. In truth, however, solitude is neither frightening nor uncomfortable.
Indeed, deep contemplation is difficult to attain without solitude. For that reason, solitude must inevitably become a necessary condition of my pilgrimage.