Akash Pratim Sensua
The great philosopher Socrates once said, “A person who is their own best friend seeks solitude, but one who is their own worst enemy fears it.” Solitude and loneliness are not the same. Solitude is the art of enjoying your own company. If we master this art, the pain of loneliness can turn into peace. I recently read a book called The Art of Being Alone. The author explained, step by step, how to accept solitude. I don’t remember all the details, but the main idea was clear— being alone has its own beauty. This beauty does not come quickly; it requires time, patience, and inner effort. But once we prepare ourselves, we learn to truly enjoy being alone.
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To be alone, we don’t need anyone’s help, but that doesn’t mean we are helpless. If solitude feels painful, it is not because of being alone but because of our attachments and dependence on others. Often, we feel lonely not because we are alone, but because we miss someone who is not there. In truth, a person can feel lonely even in a crowd, while another can feel peaceful in solitude. Attachment creates fear of loss, and loss brings loneliness. Lord Buddha said, “By tasting the essence of solitude, a person can become fearless.” To be fearless, we must learn to practice solitude. True solitude means being free from attachment and ego, and in that freedom we feel whole. As the saying goes, “Through solitude, the self becomes complete.” Our beloved Dr. Bhupen Hazarika also sang, “Who says I am without company? My shadow and I are companions (Kone koy moi Shangi-bihin; moi aru mur Saan, duyu duyure logoria).” This shows us that solitude is not emptiness but a form of togetherness with ourselves. We can celebrate solitude with nature—the wide sky, drifting clouds, soft breeze, falling rain, stormy landscapes, golden sunsets—or even with our own interests like reading books. Most of all, through meditation and self-reflection, we can discover joy within ourselves. Solitude is not a curse; it is truly a blessing of being alone.
