What Does A Hermit Mean To You?

[Visitor]

There are different kinds of hermits (besides the crab).

The question is mainly pointing to your own thoughts about a hermit if you are or wanted to be a hermit.

Edited May 1, 2017 by Visitor
Change of topic because I had it in wrong sub-forum

[Prabhaker]

2 hours ago, Visitor said:

What Does A Hermit Mean To You?

       Society uses you and you use society. This is a reciprocal relationship. But life is not for use. It is non-utilitarian, purposeless, it is a play, a celebration. So when you move into solitariness to do this technique, be prepared from the very beginning that you are going to be useless, and enjoy it, don't feel sad about it.

    You cannot conceive of what arguments the mind will bring. You will say, "The world is in such trouble and you are sitting in silence here. Look what is happening in North Korea and what is happening in Pakistan and what is happening in China. What are you doing here meditation? What is the use? Will it bring socialism to the country?" Mind will bring beautiful arguments; mind is the great arguer. It is the Devil -- it will try to persuade you, it will convince you that you are wasting time. But don't listen to it. From the very beginning be prepared, "I am going to waste time. I will not be of any use. I will simply enjoy being here."

     And don't be concerned with the world. The world goes on. It is always in trouble. It has been always in trouble and it will remain always in trouble. That is the way of the world. You cannot do anything so don't try to be a great world reformer, a revolutionary, a messiah. Don't try.

    You simply be yourself and enjoy your solitariness, just like a rock or a tree or a river. Useless! What is the use of a rock just lying there under the rains, under the sun, under the stars? What is the use of this rock? No use -- the rock enjoys itself being that way. 

     Unless you are really prepared to be useless, you cannot be solitary, you cannot be in solitude. And once you know the depth of it you can come back to society. You must come back because solitariness is not a style of life -- it is just a training. It is not a way of life, it is just a deep relaxation to change the perspective. It is just falling out of step with society to have a look at yourself, who you are, alone. So don't think that this is a style of life. Many have made it a style of life. They are in error. They are absolutely in error. They have made a medicine food. It is not a style of life, it is just medicinal. You fall out for a time being just to have a perspective, a distance, to see what you are and what society is doing to you. When you are out of it, you can have a better look. You can observe. Without being concerned, without being in it, you can become an observer from the hilltop, you can become a witness. You are so far away. Unprejudiced, undisturbed, you can look.

     So note it, this is not a way of life. I am not saying leave the world and become hermits somewhere in the Himalayas -- no. But sometimes leave, relax, be useless, be alone, exist like a rock, be independent, free from the world, be a part of nature -- and you will be rejuvenated, reborn. Then come back and move in society and in the crowd again. And try to carry that beauty, that silence that happened to you when you were alone. Now carry it, don't lose contact with it. Move deep into the crowd but don't become a part of it. Let the crowd be there outside you -- you remain alone.

[Joel3102]

My current thinking is to dinstinguish between:

Low consciousness hermits - who can't socialise, play video games all day and have no direction in life

High consciousness hermits - people who've trancesnded excessive socialising/partying ect

I used to be more the first, then for a few years I was way too into partying/socialising/popularity, but it was kind of needed to up my social skills. Now I'm more and more interested in spending time in meditation or just being. People think I'm boring now lol.

[hinawashi]

@Joel3102Personality plays a huge role too. Think extrovert VS introvert, so this high VS low consciousness metric isn't entirely reliable. If I were you I'd suggest distinguishing the two based on whether its' because they have no choice (low consciousness) or because they choose to get rid of distractions in life (high consicousness).

@Prabhaker Being a hermit is a temporary way to get rid of distractions and I'd say it's pretty much a last resort if you can't live your everyday life without being distracted from self-awareness. The biggest trap that people fall into is thinking that aware equals abstaining from everything in your life.

[Prabhaker]

1 minute ago, hinawashi said:

I'd say it's pretty much a last resort if you can't live your everyday life without being distracted from self-awareness.

Most of the people can't live their everyday life without being distracted from self-awareness. Unless you get a taste of true meditation once, it will very difficult know it in everyday life for most of the persons. Once you know the knack of meditation , you can continue in everyday life.

[pluto]

My friends call me a Hermit sometimes

[Guest username]

11 hours ago, Joel3102 said:

My current thinking is to dinstinguish between:

Low consciousness hermits - who can't socialise, play video games all day and have no direction in life

High consciousness hermits - people who've trancesnded excessive socialising/partying ect

I used to be more the first, then for a few years I was way too into partying/socialising/popularity, but it was kind of needed to up my social skills. Now I'm more and more interested in spending time in meditation or just being. People think I'm boring now lol.

Don't cave to other people's expectations. I'm not sure if you need to hear this, but one of my biggest obstacles was just accepting the fact that I am not going to be able to get high status and material abundance the same way I would have if I didn't devote myself to seeking Truth. People fail to see the richness of this sort of life.

[Max_V]

Mutenrosh from dragon ball z.

[pluto]

Yeah well said @username Letting go of society's expectations is one of the first steps to finding and purifying the self.

[Visitor]

Some think I am more of a recluse than a hermit. They think this because I do not socialize as much as they do. As far as I know, a recluse is a person who avoids other people, but that is not me. I always welcome anybody who wishes to visit. Yet I am selective with whom I visit, unless invited. The reason is that most others prefer to talk about everything else except the truth. So all I end up doing is sitting and listening but not engaging to support their avoidance. Though in such cases I often engage in a quirky way, that points to a deeper meaning or truth. Some get it, others just think I am a strange one.

At home, I live in silence. No radio or TV. Though I do get on line like I am right now. It is part of my purpose in life; to be as true and loving towards myself and others. Often friends will ask what my view is on some latest news, but I am not aware of the news. Come to think of it, I don't even know who is our prime minister. They ask why I am not concerned about world affairs. My answer is 'Nothing is new, the stories are the same but different words.

I love being with the truth. Most people I meet do not. So I prefer to be with the truth, in my silence, than with others. My girlfriend is similar, We both see each other regularly yet we both prefer to live alone.

I am very happy with such an arrangement with her and others. I am happy when I have visitors and when I visit. And I am also happy when I am alone and when I am alone again (visitors leave).

So, what does that mean; am I a hermit, a recluse, celibate, or other?

[Loreena]

Prabhaker