Hi

The Richard Wagamese’s meditation is reminiscent of the feeling that I  very occasionally would get when doing Tai Chi a flow, a connection harmony and balance , still, yet moving allowing everything nothing being rejected.

Ever wonder why the Buddha is most often pictured as laughing?  Siddhartha on being ‘enlightened’ – lightened – I gained nothing at all from Supreme Enlightenment, and for that very reason it is called Supreme Enlightenment.” One does not have to be a monk to gain nothing 🙂

Something from Campbell, Myths of Light –

“D.T. Suzuki once remarked, “You know, they tell me when a baby is born, the baby cries. What does the baby say when the baby cries? The baby says, ‘Worlds above, worlds beneath—there is no one in the world like me’” . So, all babies are Buddhas! What’s the difference between Queen Maya’s baby and all the other babies? Siddhartha knew from the beginning that he was Buddha; all the other babies are caught in the illusion of materiality and the worlds of perception and sensation, but not him. Buddha means “The Awakened One” or “The Illuminated One,” and what brings one to illumination other than a deep, penetrating, attention to life, life exactly as it is, an attention to life that allows one to realize that the forces of nature, the pulse of the cosmos, course through and pulse in you, too. The nature of the Universe is your nature as well.”

Reposted to remove the formatting and make it more readable – wish edits were allowed

I was watching an episode of Yellowstone the other day where the main character made the following statement.

“I spent all evening on the porch staring at mountains, listening to birds… Heart still empty. I take a shower to wash it away like dirt, but you can’t wash lonely off. So, I surrender to it. Best I can do is sleep through the lonely.”

“I can’t reflect at the end of the day. Evenings are for forgetting. But in the morning, I remember.”

Something achingly sad about those words. An emptiness that isn’t empty, I feel and ‘know’ the words. (The emptiness experienced here is not the emptiness as suggested by the teachings of Buddha. We are not falling here but holding on… of course we fool ourselves believing were not falling.)

After hearing those words my first thought was to wonder if ‘loneliness’ was an emotion or state of being? Probably both are true at the same time, yet I’m not sure I experience loneliness as an emotion. I am more likely to say that I feel sad because I’m lonely… In that context is sadness a distraction from looking at the experience of loneliness in the eye? I suspect I pretend I can rather wash lonely off then face loneliness .

On the topic how to deal with emotions I’m wondering how others experience and deal with loneliness

Hi Peter

Generally, I find that loneliness happens for a reason.

It’s a feeling that comes up when I have difficulties with a relationship. Resolving issues usually helps this one.

Another reason I’ve experienced is not accepting my situation. When I latch onto an idea of what my life should look like instead of appreciating how it is.

There is one other thing that I feel is important. Loving ourselves.

Have you ever noticed any triggers for loneliness?

Hi Peter

Sorry for the late reply. It’s been a unique time for me and I wasn’t in a place to process things emotionally.

There’s a lot of wisdom to be found in experiencing the moment.

I always felt that people are very much programmed by our experiences. I wonder if deprogramming is part of emptiness? Perhaps, not in the traditional meditation sense. But at some point our practices start to touch our lives.

I get the feeling that you’re a very courageous person Peter. How are you doing? I always enjoy talking with you.

Hopes and fears are complicated. Sometimes we are afraid things won’t be achieved. Sometimes things we hoped for aren’t appreciated once we attain them. I feel like vulnerability is key, the willingness to courageously experience things good and bad, without programming dictating behaviour. Perhaps a form of emptiness?

Wishing you all the best! 🙏