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Story · Ajahn Brahm

Six months alone and never lonely

As told by Ajahn Brahm in How To Be A Happy Hermit | Ajahn Brahm | 15-01-2010

1 min read

The story — as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

my record was 6 months by myself not speaking or seeing anybody and it was an amazing experience because throughout that whole 6 months never seeing anybody Not a Human Being no they just leave food in a box and I know when they were coming there and afterwards I go and pick it up I put my ball back there afterwards so they fill it up the next day never spoke to anybody for six months said didn't you feel lonely and the answer was I never felt lonely and I asked myself why I didn't feel lonely and the answer was because there was always someone there me and I quite like myself so because I quite like myself where throughout those whole six months I was with my best friend how can you feel lonely when you're with your best friend all day the reason was I was my best friend

▶ Watch Ajahn Brahm tell it from 5:55 (to 6:58)

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Six months alone, speaking to no one, and Ajahn Brahm never felt lonely: someone was always there, and he quite liked him. Solitude isn't escape; it's where you meet yourself. Learn to be your own best friend, and the quiet moments of life stop feeling empty.

In brief (our summary)

Ajahn Brahm's record is six months alone, not speaking to or seeing anyone; food was left in a box, and he left his bowl back there to be filled the next day. Asked whether he felt lonely, he says never — because someone was always there: himself, and he quite likes himself. For six months he was with his best friend.

Teaching point

When you befriend yourself, solitude is never loneliness.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Brahm in How To Be A Happy Hermit | Ajahn Brahm | 15-01-2010 · 2010-04-08 · ▶ watch from 5:55 to 6:58 · Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Caption notes: YouTube auto-captions: unpunctuated, words left exactly as captioned. 'my ball' = my bowl.

The narrative is Ajahn Brahm's own telling, quoted from the talk captions. The summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk. Markdown version

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