Find Your Middle Ground

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Loneliness is the illness of our time

Poignant words from Thich Nhat Hanh on loneliness.

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Excerpt from:

Source: What 5 Great Spiritual Leaders Have to Say About the Deadly Sickness of Loneliness – Waking Times

http://www.wakingtimes.com

July 21, 2017

Thich Nhat Hanh

Vietnamese Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, also the author of many books including You Are Here: Discovering the Magic of the Present Moment, gives us perhaps the most thorough assessment of the roots of loneliness. He discusses the idea that we must come home to ourselves to find peace and happiness.

Once we are home, we no longer feel lonely. Home is a place where loneliness is happiness. But where is home? It is within the self, it is an island, a place inside ourselves where we must return to in order to be happy. Many of us have forgotten how to take this place with us in our day to day lives, and as such we drift further away…

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Val T Boyko
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33 responses to “Loneliness is the illness of our time”

  1. 2gatherstones Avatar
    2gatherstones

    Profound, thank you – it spoke to me

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I’m glad it spoke to you 💛 Thank you for stopping by.

      Liked by 1 person

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  2. Kate Crimmins Avatar
    Kate Crimmins

    I believe this to be true. I grew up as an only child (both brothers are considerably older) with older parents. I learned how to entertain and amuse myself very early in life. I also knew what made me happy. Maybe it was my nature or maybe the circumstances but I find that I am very comfortable with myself. I am never lonely. If I want companionship, I seek it out but I also enjoy and treasure alone time. I don’t need anyone to make me happy.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      So well said Kate. 💛 We learn so much when we are young. Independence and being okay by ourselves is a valuable gift.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. IreneDesign2011 Avatar
    IreneDesign2011

    So very true Val, thanks for sharing this 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you for stopping by Irene. I’m glad it resonated with you too 💛

      Like

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      1. IreneDesign2011 Avatar
        IreneDesign2011

        Much more than you can imagine, Val.

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  4. Paul Handover Avatar
    Paul Handover

    Such an easily described philosophy yet so very hard for so many to follow. The journey inwards is the most mysterious and convoluted of them all! And so frequently commences from a realisation of being lost; of not knowing who one is!

    Sorry, what was the question again? 🤔

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Smiling … it isn’t the question that matters. You do Paul 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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  5. Sarah Avatar
    Sarah

    So true! Whenever I’m alone I get way more anxious-I think because the unknown in your heart can be scary! Better to face those insecurities though… 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Insecuties are created in our head … our heart knows the answer. Let go of the thoughts and tune into the breath this is the gateway to peace 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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  6. Lynn Thaler Avatar
    Lynn Thaler

    I really enjoyed reading that. It’s great advice and something I need to remember.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Connecting inwards is the answer, beyond remembering the words 💕

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  7. MK Avatar
    MK

    wise words Val, thank you for sharing

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  8. mubazbasheer Avatar
    mubazbasheer

    but some time loneliness give peace of mind !

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      And that’s when loneliness becomes solitude. There is no lack… simply being with ourselves. Thank you Mubaz 💛

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  9. David Kanigan Avatar
    David Kanigan

    Loneliness, the disease of our time. Sad, with a country with so much…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Makes me wonder what we have so much of … and what is missing for many 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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  10. Sunny Avatar
    Sunny

    This is wonderful! I love Thây and his special teachings.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I’m so glad it resonated with. You Shielagh 💕

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  11. Healing Grief Avatar
    Healing Grief

    To come home within and love our authentic self A gift for life.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      A gift indeed. Thank you Karen 🙏💛

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  12. Indira Avatar
    Indira

    Beautiful post. One has to learn it with perseverance.
    Loneliness is a negative state of mind. Aloneness is positive, notwithstanding what the dictionaries say. In dictionaries, loneliness and aloneness are synonymous — they are synonyms; in life they are not. Loneliness is a state of mind when you are constantly missing the other, aloneness is the state of mind when you are constantly delighted in yourself. Loneliness is miserable, aloneness is blissful. Loneliness is always worried, missing something, hankering for something, desiring for something; aloneness is a deep fulfillment, not going out, tremendously content, happy, celebrating. In loneliness you are off center, in aloneness you are centered and rooted. Aloneness is beautiful. It has an elegance around it, a grace, a climate of tremendous satisfaction. Loneliness is; beggarly; all around it there is begging and nothing else. It has no grace around it. In fact it is ugly. Loneliness is a dependence, aloneness is SHEER independence. One feels as if one is one’s whole world, one’s whole existence.
    -OSHO

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      I do enjoy how Osho is so forthcoming with his thoughts! Thank you Indira 💛

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  13. Eddie Two Hawks Avatar
    Eddie Two Hawks

    An excellent post Val. Thich Nhat Hanh is an
    incredible guide for our times. His brilliant words
    and teachings can help many understand the
    nature of the self and the world

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      He is incredible, and so relevant for us all today. Thank you for your kind words and sharing here Eddie. Namaste 🙏

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      Reply
  14. The Thrifty Campers Avatar
    The Thrifty Campers

    Well said. Enjoyed your post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Glad you enjoyed this 💛

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      1. The Thrifty Campers Avatar
        The Thrifty Campers

        Very much so😊

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
  15. elizabeth2560 Avatar
    elizabeth2560

    This meant a lot to me Val as I have been drifting a bit. I have dropped spending time in reflection each day. Maybe time to get back to that. Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      It just takes one thought and one action, and we find our path again. Nothing is lost. Thank you Elizabeth 💛

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      Reply
  16. marandarussell Avatar
    marandarussell

    Great post! I love Thich Nhat Hanh. I wrote about loneliness myself today.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Val Boyko Avatar
      Val Boyko

      Thank you Maranda. So glad it resonated with you 💛

      Liked by 1 person

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