Ajahn Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu

If we live plainly, then it is very easy to find physical solitude.

But if we live luxuriously, it is very, very difficult to find physical solitude.

When these various kinds of disturbing moods and thoughts no longer hassle us, then we have mental solitude.

There are the five hindrances.

These are the things that get in the mind's way.

that obstruct or prevent the mind from being in its natural, pure and happy state.

These are sensuous desire or sensuality, ill will or aversion, dullness or a lazy sloppiness of mind,

agitation or a scatteredness of mind and then doubt.

When all five of these have been abandoned or when they are unable to arise or if just naturally they don't arise then the mind is said to have solitude.

Then there is mental solitude

We go on to recognize that all five of these are ordinary possessions in daily life.

These are things that are coming up throughout our ordinary existence all the time.

When life goes in a positive way, then we end up falling into sensuality, into sensual desire.

If life goes in a negative way, then the result is aversion, ill will, anger, hatred, where we don't like things and we even want to get rid of them, destroy them, kill them.

And when life is just kind of going on and it is not clearly positive or negative,

then various forms of confusion and delusion arise.

So we end up with dullness of mind or an agitated mind or doubt.

Maybe not constantly, but over and over again in our ordinary lives.

If, however, you are successful in developing samadhi, a collected, calm, clear mind, if you can develop this through the practice of mindfulness with breathing, which you are working on,

then these five hindrances will be swept away and the mind will have its very special solitude.