The Autobiography of Solitude and Its Zenith

Prof. (Dr.) RAMESH KUMAR RAWAT Registrar Sikkim Professional University, Gangtok, Sikkim

"Leave me alone for a while..."

 It is essential first to understand what solitude truly is. Solitude implies a state where an individual remains alone—truly solitary—taking themselves on a journey inward to the very end or even into the infinite. Now, one must ask: does a person ever truly exist in solitude? In all our lives, there are moments when we say to others, "Leave me alone for a while..." In such a situation, can we say that the person speaking is genuinely alone? There can be many reasons for this plea—an argument or dispute, work pressure, introspection, deep contemplation on a subject, or the unbearable grief following the passing of a loved one, prompting an attempt to commune with the Divine in private. Amidst all this, the words "Leave me alone for a while..." spontaneously escape a person's lips.

In reality, there is no such thing as absolute solitude. Readers might wonder: "But often, I am alone in a room—no family, no outsiders with me; surely that constitutes solitude?" Yet, I believe otherwise. As a student of communication, a researcher, a teacher, a conveyor of ideas, a public relations professional, a journalist, and an administrator, I hold the view that a person can never truly be alone; if one were truly alone, one would not be alive—the soul would have departed the body, and all communication would have ceased. If one is alive, one is not alone. While alive, a constant internal dialogue takes place within the mind—involving the intellect, the senses, and the eyes—where the self communicates with the self. Thus, there is the 'self' on one hand, and on the other, all these internal elements that are constantly conversing with that self. However, when this communication is infused with the spirit of devotional songs (“bhajan”) and devotion (“bhakti”), it transforms into a dialogue with the Divine.

Let us now shed light on the positive and negative aspects of solitude. Solitude—a state where an individual exchanges thoughts with the self and establishes a dialogue with God—offers numerous positive dimensions. I therefore urge readers not to equate solitude with mere loneliness, but to view it positively as a means of communicating with oneself or the Supreme Soul. The primary benefit of solitude is that it allows a person to reflect deeply upon their past actions; if they are on the right path, they can steer themselves in the correct direction. While recalling wrongful acts or habits brings sorrow and a silent resolve to abandon them, reflecting on virtuous deeds and habits brings joy and inspires one to further cultivate them.

Before delving deeper into the concept of solitude, let us examine the nature of 'habit.' What is a habit? How is it formed? How does something become habitual? And why do some habits evolve into virtuous traits while others turn into negative tendencies? I would like to link this discussion to my previous article, "The Autobiography of Anger," to provide a more comprehensive understanding of habits. In that article, I mentioned the roles of “Bhojan” (food/sustenance) and “Bhajan” (devotion/spiritual practice); both play a significant part in habit formation. Good habits stem from good company, while bad habits arise from bad company. Here, 'company' (“sangat”) implies more than just the physical presence of other people; it encompasses the literature one reads, the images and films one views, and various other influences. Therefore, use solitude to identify your habits, distinguish between the good and the bad, resolve to shed the negative ones, and strive earnestly to adopt the positive ones. If practiced correctly, solitude acts as a panacea—a life-restoring force—capable of elevating an individual from the ground level to the pinnacle of spiritual and moral growth. It can shape one's personality and character. A habit is formed when an action is repeated 40 to 50 times. Similarly, to break a bad habit, one must resolve not to repeat it the moment the urge arises; if one consistently makes this resolve—refusing to act on the impulse—some 40 to 50 times, that bad habit can be uprooted entirely. For this, solitude—defined as a dialogue with one's own self—is essential.

However, let us also shed light on the negative aspects of solitude. Solitude does not mean isolating oneself to the point of depression, cutting off social interactions, or ceasing the internal dialogue with oneself; such a state leads to mental bankruptcy, leaving the individual adrift and without direction. Engaging in plans for negative activities while in solitude can drive a person toward crime and the adoption of harmful traits. To avoid this, one must engage in introspection while alone; the study of uplifting literature (“Swadhyaya”) can prove highly effective, provided the material is truly virtuous and inspiring.

Now, let us discuss that aspect of solitude towards which everyone should constantly strive: establishing a dialogue with the Divine and progressing from meditation and focused concentration (“Dharana”) towards “Yoga” and “Samadhi”. A look back at history and the “Puranas” reveals that all divine incarnations, saints, and benevolent rulers embraced solitude—meaning they established a dialogue with their own inner selves. Only after attaining wisdom through this process did they engage in acts of altruism. Solitude is a form of nectar that everyone should partake of for at least ten minutes daily. Partaking of this nectar of solitude inevitably infuses one with new energy and fosters innovation alongside fresh ideas. Solitude leads us towards the Divine; through it, we can liberate ourselves from negative deeds and conditioning to attain the Supreme Soul—the ultimate goal of our lives. When the soul departs the body, the body becomes lifeless; however, the accumulated karma accompanying the soul determines its onward journey. To make solitude truly fruitful, one must spend the allotted time with the Divine—immersed in contemplation of God. When a yearning, thirst, and deep longing to connect with the Divine arise during this time, noble thoughts naturally begin to flow into the mind and intellect, and virtuous actions follow spontaneously. The time spent in solitude with a keen desire to connect with the Divine yields true happiness—spiritual bliss—which is enduring and remains with the soul. All other forms of happiness are tied to the body and the senses, and are merely fleeting. Therefore, to attain lasting happiness, solitude must be positive in nature; this positivity is achieved only when solitude is dedicated to the remembrance and contemplation of the Divine, ensuring that no other thoughts intrude upon the mind and intellect. This is the autobiography of solitude, and also the pinnacle of solitude.

(The writer is Registrar, Sikkim Professional University, Gangtok, Sikkim. Views are personal. Email: ramesh10jan@rediffmail.com)