The Case for the Solitary Life and Solitude

 

 

For too long now the time-honored concepts of strict monastic life endured in isolated and secluded monasteries have become somewhat hazy figments of a past long gone and best forgotten.  The world has seemingly changed too much for those age-old practices to be continued and acknowledged as relevant and even appropriate.  What used to be such a laudable but very selective way of living a life has been set aside on the wayside, along the road to oblivion. This is true, if we have to admit it, for the most of us including those who still consider themselves quite religious and strict practitioners of their faith. 

Oh, there are still hardy bands of ardent adherents in some cloistered enclaves belonging to a few obscure religious orders who still practice old-time and challenging asceticism.  But they are largely though unwittingly ignored together with the other abbreviated practices devoted to them and intended to remind us of them.  Take for example the extended or closed retreats which were designed to accord laymen a foretaste of that kind of a dedicated life.  These used to be quite common during our school years.

So has the way to salvation been changed, revamped to attune to changed conditions?  Christianity has survived all these years, and takes pride in having kept intact and hardly changed the standards and precepts, the morals and ethics, the philosophy and natural laws, etc., that all have set it apart from all else.

But modern man has to put his nose to the grind and determine for himself what gives.  Best then to reexamine those old, staid and steadfast teachings we learned from the faith that has survived all these years.

In the subject then of solitude and the living of a solitary life, we begin the exercise of examination.

Are these admonitions still apt and relevance for our modern days?

As we begin our life journey on this earth, the first important impression we are given is that as a daily routine, we ought to set aside time and attention to focus on the benefits of God, and pushing aside all concerns and curiosities.  Better if we do this to begin the day and another one to end it.    In school, we learned this as our daily examination of conscience. A daily routine to be adhered to with no let-up and exception. So is this as true today as before?

Then the more detailed admonitions begin.

If you must have to read as to be informed, read matters that move thee to compunction, rather than occupation.  Because when we decide to withdraw from superfluous talks and idle visits, as well as all the news and reports that occupy our day, then we allow ourselves more time to devote to meditations.  The greatest saints practiced these, avoiding as much as possible the company of men, and choosing to live in the company of God in secret.  This they did learning that it is easier to be altogether silent than not to exceed in words when we talk long.  To stay alone and retired is much easier task than to constantly be on guard with ourselves when abroad.   John the evangelist counsels that for the followers of Christ, those aiming at arriving at interior and spiritual things must go aside from the crowd as He did.

“No man is secure in appearing abroad, but he would wittingly lie hid at home.”

“No man securely speaks but he who loves to hold his peace.”

“No man securely governs but he who would willingly live in subjection.”

“No man securely commands but he who has learned well to obey.”

“No man securely rejoiceth unless he has within him the testimony of a good conscience.”

Here is another we were taught from the Psalms IV:5.” Have compunction in thy chambers.”  Thus, if you would find compunction in your heart, retire into thy cell and shut out the tumult of the world.  Thus you shall find in thy cell what you shall often lose abroad.

Further we learn that that claustrophobic cell as we visit it often becomes welcoming and grows sweet, and will not stay tedious and distasteful for long.  Thus, later it becomes a friend, a haven to retire to when travails assail us.  In silence and quiet, we learn the secrets of our faith to guide us.

“There she finds floods of tears, with which she may wash and cleanse herself every night, that she may become the more familiar with her Maker, the farther she lives from all worldly tumult.” (Psalms VI)

From this fountainhead flows the valuable knowledge and wisdom we learn from the temporal things we encounter each day.

Thus, why do we desire or see the things that we cannot have, for “the world passeth away and the concupiscence thereof”.

The very strong urges of sensuality push us abroad, but what do they bring back home when the time comes?   Only heavy weight on conscience and dissipation of heart.

As they say, “a joyful going abroad often brings forth, a sorrowful coming home; and a merry evening makes a sad morning”.

So, man, the ball is in your court.