Acharya Prashant: The word ‘loneliness’ or ‘lonely’ is actually a misnomer. The one who calls himself lonely is actually never ‘lonely’. If lonely means not being with anybody, not having anybody to accompany you, then the one who is lonely is actually never without company. He or she always has company. Yes?
And whose company does this person have? This person always has his own company. Okay?
This will make it easier for us to understand.
Traditionally, generally, it has been said that the lonely person is the one who is needing somebody else’s company, right?
You look at it a little differently. You go a little deeper into it. The lonely person is not just needing somebody’s company, in fact it is possible that at times, he may even think that he does not need anybody’s company. He may think that he is not in need of somebody’s company, because he already is in the company of his own thought.
The fellow is thinking that he does not need anyone. And why does he not need anyone? Because right now he has his thoughts to accompany him.
So, the lonely person is one who is always with himself. Do we understand this? The lonely person is one who can never leave himself. The lonely person is one who is always talking to himself, always looking at himself. Are you getting it?
