On YouTube
Loneliness is a gift || Acharya Prashant, at BITS Pilani, Goa (2022)
Breaking Free
3K views
2 years ago
Loneliness
Aloneness
Freedom
Culture
Companionship
Self-improvement
Purpose
Books
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that loneliness is often the best gift life can offer, as the alternative is frequently being in the company of something terrible or neurotic. He suggests that most people have a low tolerance for loneliness and hastily fill their lives with the wrong jobs, beliefs, or people. A vacant spot in one's life is a pure spot that provides the freedom and opportunity to wait for the best, rather than settling for mediocrity out of compulsion. He notes that the urge to escape loneliness is often a cultural problem fueled by media and family expectations that suggest the ultimate purpose of life is to find a partner. He encourages viewing loneliness as a blessing and an opportunity for experimentation. Instead of seeking a person in flesh and blood to fill the void, one can find companionship in great books, which represent the best parts of a great person's life, or in a noble mission or purpose. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that a way of life should be founded on freedom rather than compulsiveness. He concludes by distinguishing between the loneliness of the mind and the aloneness of the true self, urging the listener to set aside cultural biases and recognize the potential for growth within solitude.