spirituality and loneliness

[loopylucid]

Big hugs to all I love to be alone, but I never used to, given the option now its my preference, only battle I have with it is other people assuming its not a choice and trying to help me get back 'out' there ;)
But its hard when its at the lonliness phase, and when there doesn't seem to be people you can get to on your level. Guess that's why these forums and sites were invented huh, to let us know were not alone in that ;)
Keep talking Arjuna, I hope you find many friendships here to walk with you through your journey.
Kind and cuddle filled blessings :)
Loopylucid

[God-Like]

At a point on one's journey there is a path that is so narrow that only one can tread .

x daz x

[Emmalevine]

I've been lonely all my life. It doesn't really get easier but, as someone else said, I try to make friends with it.

The spiritual path is supposed to be lonely one.

Originally Posted by arjuna

Yes, loneliness...

My closest friend has been away now for some time and I feel lonely.

I find it's hard as I grow more into awakening to find people who can connect with me on the deepest levels. Apart from my friend, there is hardly anyone that I can really talk to about certain things I go through.

So with all my -fluctuating- new found inner peace and wisdom and joy, loneliness also visits me.

I notice how I try to escape it. But I think what really needs to be done, is to sit with loneliness. To let it be. To welcome it into my life.

It's hard though. But eventually there's no way around it.

Perhaps the Universe is sending you a message. When all else has been taken away you have all you really need, and loneliness can turn into empowerment.

[Thunder Bow]

Religion is all about control and social order. It has nothing to do with the Universe and all its powers. Running chose the right path.

[arjuna]

Thank you for your kind words Loopylucid :)

God-like, that is a beautiful way of looking at it. Thank you.

Starbuck, I'm really sorry to hear that you've been lonely through all of your life.

Greenslade, loneliness as a way to empowerment. I think there is truth in what you're saying. Thank you for the thought.

Thunder Bow, I agree with you that Running seems to be on a path of great freedom and inner wisdom. It is a pleasure to read about it.
However, with regards to there being a 'right path'... well, I think there's a time and place for everything. Religion, with it's tendencies for control and social order, may exactly be what some people need at some point in their lives. Who are we to decide what's right and wrong for other people?

For many people in the learning phase they have not yet found a suitable way to integrate their beliefs to enjoy being in the light ...
Spirituality is a path to greater peace w/in a hectic world ...
Not all people we come in contact with are to share a deeper connection with ...
Some are merely to have fun with or share a good conversation, discuss other interests, talk about themself, etc ...
Obviously, the others you speak of enjoyed your company - they will be perplexed for awhile till they understand this change is what you want - they may go away forever or check on you periodically ...
You're ready for either, right?
Limiting the conversation to only your interests is placing conditions on whom you will socialize with & will certainly make you lonely as you search for just the right people to interact with ...
I talk to monks, priests, nuns, followers of all different types of beliefs about their likes & dislikes, the weather, favorite foods, their experiences as well as my own, anything & everything - rarely religion or spiritual beliefs ...
Be open to talk w/people on a level they can also relate to ...
Conversation is give & take, there is no one leader ...

[arjuna]

Yes LivingKarma, you're right in your observation that limiting conversation to my own interests will make me lonely.

That's not what I do though. Mostly, I don't discuss my spiritual journey with the people around me. Not because I don't want to, but because it's something most people don't understand.

Lately I've found it hard to relate to people, it is as if my interest is just not really there. I'm not happy with this. I used to be very interested in people and was always happy to socialize and to learn about others as much as possible. I treasured that, because it made my life and the lives of others warm and connected and meaningful.

But... I just don't seem able to find that spark of interest anymore. And it's not something I can force. It's just not really there.

I've been wondering if there's some kind of new layer of unresolved emotional stuff coming to the surface, from which I unconsciously protect myself by distancing myself from other people.

I don't know. I just don't know. But what can I do? I can not force something into existence. So I guess I'll just have to accept it the way it is.

[arjuna]

I just watched a talk by Ken Wilber on spirituality and loneliness. He was talking about something that I recognized.

He said that spirituality is a journey from aloneness to Aloneness.

He illustrated this by telling how some people go through a phase on their meditative journey in which they start to feel very alone. This has to do with the "I AM' realization, the realization that All is One. And so also that All is Alone.

That isn't the kind of loneliness that made me start this thread. But I certainly do understand what he's talking about.

[Boson]

Hello arjuna,

What you wrote I think is true for many seekers/wanderers. Without going into any details, I have a similar life story. For about 40 years I felt like a misfit. I kept everything to myself because there were no one like me that I could find.

Boson