[vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″ el_class=”head-post”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n
By Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche \u2022 4 min read[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”sharepost”]\n\t\t\t\t
SHARE:\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t<\/p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”TRY FOR FREE” style=”outline” color=”peacoc” align=”left” el_class=”btn-post” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fjoy.tergar.org%2Fjoy-of-living%2F||target:%20_blank|”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]<\/p>\n If we\u2019re coping with a heavy, complicated problem, we\u2019re often too busy to feel lonely. But sometimes, loneliness itself becomes our major problem. What\u2019s happening is that our monkey mind<\/a> is zooming in on the feeling, exaggerating it. Sometimes we think, \u201cI don\u2019t really have any good friends,\u201d when what we really<\/i> mean is we do, but they\u2019re not around, or we don\u2019t feel connected to them at that moment. Sometimes we think, \u201cOh, I don\u2019t want to be around other people,\u201d and we isolate ourselves. Later on, when our mood has shifted and we want company, we forget that we ourselves created that environment, and we feel lonely.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column lms_has_clearfix=”0″][vc_single_image image=”109543″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1671113855502{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”hidden-xs”][vc_single_image image=”109545″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1671113881130{padding-top: 30px !important;padding-bottom: 30px !important;}” el_class=”visible-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text el_class=”subtittle-open-post” css=”.vc_custom_1673371933793{padding-bottom: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n I spent four and a half years on a wandering retreat. When I was in the mountains, there would be nobody around for miles.\u00a0 I would have to walk for two days down the mountainside and two days back up again, all without seeing another human being. Sometimes I felt lonely. But what I eventually discovered was that it\u2019s possible to be totally alone, but gain a different perspective on solitude, and come to appreciate it. On that retreat, I knew I was by myself \u2014 there was nobody there to talk to, unless I wanted to talk to the rocks or trees! However, although I was totally alone, I could still feel the connection between myself and my friends. They were not physically present at the moment, but they did exist. I still had the connection to my teachers. I still had connections to my students, even though none of them knew where I was. And especially, I had a connection with my path \u2014 my practice. My spiritual journey and my practice had become my best friends.<\/p>\n If you feel lonely, start by making a list of your friends. Most people don\u2019t have very many; maintaining more than one or two close friendships at a time is actually quite difficult. If you do have more than just a couple, appreciate it. Try to connect with some of your relatives. Don\u2019t feel shy about trying to reconnect with old friends or family members — it doesn\u2019t matter what the history of your relationship is, if you want to contact them, let go of the past and reach out. If you can have social gatherings, spend some time in good conversation with a few people. These things are all very beneficial.<\/p>\n Most important of all is that you have so many good friends within you. There is your awareness<\/a> \u2014 the basic quality of your mind. Awareness is your friend, source of refuge, and teacher. Plus, you have love, compassion, and wisdom. These great qualities are truly your best friends. Of course, in the beginning, it isn\u2019t easy to believe you have these wonderful friends within, but eventually, with meditation practice, you will come to believe it.<\/p>\n Developing a habit of appreciation<\/a> is also important. Each day, find three things to appreciate about yourself, the environment around you, and the world. Keep changing up the focus. For instance, maybe for one day, focus on being grateful for three things about yourself. Then the next day, express gratitude for three things around you. The next day, have appreciation for three things about the world. If you do this every day for one month, you will not feel so lonely![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-qoute-full”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n \u201cAwareness is your friend, and your source of refuge, and also your teacher. At the same time, you have love and compassion. They are your best friends!\u201d<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”autorquotepost”]\u2013 Mingyur Rinpoche \u2013[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-gris-mailing”][vc_column lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_hidden-xs”][vc_column_text]\n\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIf you enjoyed reading our articles, please join our mailing list\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tand we'll send you our news and latest pieces.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t [\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cai90WP_Wp4&t=35s” el_width=”80″ align=”center” css=”.vc_custom_1671114231180{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1618452751051{padding-bottom: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_inner width=”1\/12″][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5\/6″][vc_column_text el_class=”subtittle-open-post”]Speaking from personal experience during his four-and-a-half-year wandering retreat, Mingyur Rinpoche teaches us how to work with a sense of loneliness. Most importantly, he invites us to appreciate friends both near and far, extrinsic and intrinsic \u2014 as well as the very solitude itself.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/12″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_separator css=”.vc_custom_1618424580871{padding-top: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text el_class=”sharepost share-post-center” css=”.vc_custom_1619130357128{padding-bottom: 40px !important;}”]<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t SHARE:\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/i><\/a>\n\t<\/p><\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-cielo-post”][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog”]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog” css=”.vc_custom_1625157115208{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”free-text-blog” css=”.vc_custom_1625157098798{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”]Learn meditation under the skillful guidance of world-renowned teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche at your own pace.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text el_class=”txt-link-landing btn-mb20″]LEARN MORE <\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”92705″ img_size=”full”][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”1″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″ lms_row_bk_offset_section_classes=”bk-gris-post”][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”5\/6″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-8″][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n In his approach to teaching meditation, Mingyur Rinpoche integrates traditional Buddhist practice and philosophy with the current scientific understanding of the mind and mental health \u2013 making the practice of meditation relevant and accessible to students around the world. Mingyur Rinpoche is the author of the best-selling book The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness,<\/em> as well as Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom, In Love with the World: A Monk\u2019s Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying,<\/em> and many others.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_col-lg-2 vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row u_row_style=”1″ lms_row_has_bk_offset=”0″ lms_row_bk_columns_offset=”0″ u_row_enrollment_restriction=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”10\/12″][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/12″ lms_has_clearfix=”0″ offset=”vc_hidden-xs”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If we\u2019re coping with a heavy, complicated problem, we\u2019re often too busy to feel lonely. But sometimes, loneliness itself becomes our major problem. What\u2019s happening is that our monkey mind is zooming in on the feeling, exaggerating it. Sometimes we think, \u201cI don\u2019t really have any good friends,\u201d when what…","protected":false},"featured_media":109545,"template":"","tags":[126,160,209,241,240,134,188],"blog":[174],"class_list":["post-109541","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-awareness","tag-benefits-of-meditation","tag-happiness","tag-loneliness","tag-lonely","tag-mind","tag-mingyur-rinpoche","blogs-benefits-of-meditation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOur mind creates reality<\/h3>\n
Feeling connected in solitude<\/b><\/h3>\n
Get in touch<\/b><\/h3>\n
The friends within you<\/b><\/h3>\n
Appreciation every day<\/b><\/h3>\n
Join Our Mailing List<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
More Resources:<\/h2>\n
Joy of Living Online Training<\/h2>\n
Theory and practice of meditation, step-by-step.<\/h4>\n
About the Author<\/h2>\n
By Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche<\/a><\/h3>\n