Solitary Withdrawal

Periods of solitary withdrawal from society are common to diverse religious traditions. Such periods mark the lives of many great saints and religious founders. Examples include Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness, Buddha’s solitary meditation, and Mohammed’s isolation in a cave. Such practices have also been part of the training of Eskimo shamans, the Christian desert fathers, Hindu yogis, and Tibetan monks who may be walled up in caves for up to 13 years.

Reasons for Seeking Solitude

The reason for seeking solitude is essentially to allow attention to be redirected away from the distractions of the world and toward the spiritual. The spiritual realm is ultimately found to reside within the seeker, but to find it requires intense contemplation and introspection. Concentration must be cultivated, sensitivity to one’s inner world deepened, the mind quieted, and the clamour of competing desires stilled.

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Inner Knowing
Helen Palmer, Editor