The noble teaching says…
Please…
Like a lion unafraid of any voice
Like a breeze bound by nothing
Like a lotus unstained by foul mud
Practice solitude like a one-horned rhinoceros.
But
If you, my child
Finding a Good Friend
A companion dwelling in goodness and wisdom
Living together wisely
Overcoming every danger together
And find joy
Then…
Be joyful and mindful
Live together with that person.
(A summary of a few points from Chapter 1 of the Sutta Nipata)
Later generations studying the Buddha, without personal realization and relying only on scripture, did not fully understand. So they relied only on ideas like those in the first lines, reaching the line ‘Live in solitude like a rhinoceros with 1 horn.’
Thus, before finishing the lesson, they rush to escape in the name of letting go, choosing to live alone. They may spend their entire lives deep in forests or deserted mountains, rejecting society, community, and humanity. Yet they still evolve very little. It is all merely an illusion of separation.
Being alone is not bad. With a good intention, it can be very positive. However, carefully observe whether your intention is based on a pattern of escape. Escaping in the name of letting go means letting go hastily before learning the lesson. When you are still “weak,” feel free to choose the practice of solitude, first finding a way to be peaceful and happy alone. After all, life only becomes miserable when a 2nd person “interferes” with your life.
But that can also be a stepping stone, so that when you are ready, you can walk alongside others, joining your souls together, and continue evolving to new levels. The Buddha allows you to walk together.
To achieve true harmony and true happiness.
TMT.
