Solitude

 Solitude is something you ultimately have to do by yourself.  It does not mean that you have to be all by yourself, alone, but even if you are with others in a meditation room, each one of you is pursuing the deepening journey by yourself.  Nor does being alone mean that you are in solitude.  One can be by oneself, with a busy mind or fantasizing as escape from the now of you alone.  A mediation book, a bible, Vedanta, Tao Ta Ching, Sutra can be a lead in to solitude.  The book is not solitude, but a preliminary, a bridge from busy mind, to a focused mind, to then letting go of being in charge of your spiritual growth.  This is when the book is put aside, the prayer words, the petitions are all let go, and you are taken into the deep darkness where an Energy takes over.  It may be peaceful, but maybe not since you are not in charge of the results of this encounter.  In solitude you may get away from the world's problems as you see them, but you will most likely have to face "you" are the primary problem.  This part of solitude is the way of purification.  I seem to be there a lot at this time.  I am the problem. Yikes!