Is it possible for man to be lonely? It is practically impossible. The moment the child sees the light of the day different relationships are attached to it! Father, mother,uncle, aunt, brother, sister, grand father grand mother and various other connections attach themselves to the child! Where is the question of loneliness? Parents and all other relatives dote on the child and do not allow the child to walk even on the floor! That is the type of filial bond and affection shown to the child in a family.! Surrounded by parents and others who fondle the child, it develops attachment even from the very early period of its life. The attachment increases day by day and when the child grows into man, these attachments have established their roots firmly in human nature! Man without company is a fish out of water! He cannot sustain himself without someone to talk to or listen to. Man abhors loneliness. He wants always to be in some company good or bad. “The eternal quest of the Individual human being is to shatter his loneliness.” says
Norman Cousins. What is this loneliness? Different people have different opinions.
Loneliness is the expression of the pain of being alone without any company. “ Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty”, remarks Mother Teresa. Loneliness is considered to be dangerous and addictive. Once you realize how peaceful it is you don’t want to deal with people. The pessimist feels that life is full of misery, loneliness and suffering and it is all over much too soon. According to a writer, “ I don't fear death so much as I fear it's prologues-loneliness, depression, pain etc. After a few years of those I imagine death presents like a holiday at the beach.” Life is not a bed of roses nor is it a bed of thorns! But the hardest walk is walking alone. Loneliness is hated so much that it is called the biggest disease known to mankind and compared to leprosy! There is nothing in the world that breaks the spirit of man as loneliness! Is man really alone? A person shuts himself in a room, doesn't allow anyone inside and declares that he is in “ Ekantha” or loneliness! How stupid he is! He thinks that no one can see or hear him! There is nothing like loneliness according to our Sastras. Fourteen observers are looking at and hearing you silently without being seen by you!
Who are these invisible silent observers? The sky above,the earth below, mother cow, and the Gods related to these are having an eye on you! Can you cheat the God who is seated in the innermost recess of your heart or Manas? He is the witness of every moment of your action and thought! In the Bhagavad-Gita when Arjuna becomes despondent and throws down his bow Gandiva and the arrows, the Lord rains questions on him. Arjuna says that he is not enamored of kingdom, name or fame or victory or happiness. Krishna again questions if his brothers would accept his decision.Then Arjuna replies that Krishna, as the Divinity in his heart or Manas knows everything! In short, we are deceiving ourselves by imagining that our thoughts and actions are not being observed! There is that Inner Voice that alerts you for every good or bad thought and action! That is the Soul or Paramatma who is termed as the “ Sarva Sakshi”-- the witnesser of all! One can never evade Him! So it is absolutely wrong to say that you are alone and unobserved!
Is there anything good about Loneliness? “Loneliness adds beauty to life. It puts a special burn on sunsets and makes night air smell better.” says Henry Rollins. Sometimes Loneliness inspires the individual! Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, alone in his cell during incarceration, didn't waste time. He wrote “The Discovery of India” that became his magnum opus! We are told that even Aurobindo in his loneliness in jail spent his time usefully! The flash of inspiration came to Pythagoras in his tub when he was alone! All precious and great thing are alone! Loneliness does not mean that you are without company. It means that no one cares! In company you are likely to be subjected to praise or criticism. Hence it is better to be alone as nobody can hurt you.
It is said that in the silence of solitude God can be visualized! Yogis and sages have retired into the forest for meditation and tapas to realize God! Loneliness and avoiding the company of unnecessary things and people helps in concentration and spiritual elevation. “ Never say you are alone for you are not alone. Your Good and genius is within” says the famous philosopher Epictetus! The everlasting indestructible all pervading Spirit or Atma is enshrined in the heart every creature on earth! That company can never be lost however much one tries in his life! It is loneliness that eggs the person on to realize his SELF and merge into the BRAHMAN like a drop of water into the calm Ocean. “At the innermost of all loneliness is a deep and powerful yearning for union with one’s s lost Self!”
No comments:
Post a Comment