Ajahn Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu

disturbing, too busy for us.

So if we look at solitude in these various ways, we'll see that it's one thing that we can't do without.

So we should appreciate its importance and value.

In the Pali language,

This word is viveka, which comes from the part veka, which means one or single, and vi, which means utmost or highest.

So viveka means utmost singleness, utmost oneness, utmost solitude.

Actually, the word solitude doesn't quite capture the entire meaning.

But utmost or supreme singleness is what we mean by viveka.

Viveka can be understood on three primary levels.

The first is the physical or material level regarding our bodies.

The second is the mental level, which is mental solitude.

And then the third is spiritual or spiritual solitude.

We have these three levels for understanding the meaning of Viveka.

The difference between the three is that when there is nothing disturbing us physically, when there is nothing disturbing the body, this we call physical viveka, physical solitude.

When none of the hindrances or obstructions of the mind are bothering us or bothering the mind, we call that mental solitude.

And when none of the objects of attachment are disturbing our mindfulness and wisdom, then this is what we call spiritual solitude.

When we live in a simple way, then we will have a great deal of physical solitude.

In the Pali language, this is called Dutanga,

which are certain fundamental practices for living in a very simple, uncomplicated way.

When we follow Duttanga practices and keep Sila, moral teachings, in a careful, relaxed way, then we have a very high level of physical aloneness, where we are physically undisturbed because life is uncomplicated,