Ajahn Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu

Today we will speak about one very common and ordinary thing which has supreme benefit for realizing Nibbāna.

In Pali this is called viveka and in English we call it solitude.

The meaning of viveka or solitude puts more emphasis on the quality of loneliness

or aloneness rather than singleness.

Because even if one is just single, we don't know if this will be calm and peaceful.

So we emphasize the quality of aloneness.

The meaning of solitude can be used both in ordinary worldly matters as well as for the highest spiritual purpose.

And the meaning of this can be applied both on the ordinary level of home and family and work, as well as on the higher spiritual level.

The roots of solitude are very deep.

They go so deep as to be apparent in animals.

Each animal has times when it needs to be alone.

We can see this in all the animals we have around here in the temple.

And then wild animals in the forest have an even greater need for solitude, to be alone.

This is a principle that is very basic.

It's an instinctual need of living things.

Even ordinary people need this solitude.

There are times when we want to be just left alone.

Even the people we love, we don't want them to come and get involved with us.

Because we feel even on the instinctual level that unless we have some solitude, we'll miss out on some very important things.

That if we are always caught up and involved with other people, then it will be too troubling.