The journey from loneliness to this enriching state is open to all of us. It's about finding inner peace and purpose, then sharing that calm with the world

High in the Himalayas, i saw a lone yogi sitting on the edge of a cliff, watching the early sun scatter gold over the snow-capped peaks. The wind carried the scent of pine and silence. For days he had neither spoken nor heard another voice. Yet, in that very silence, it appeared to me he felt no lack. Instead, a fullness I saw  — so deep, so intimate — embraced him. He was alone, but not lonely. This was not isolation. This was presence. This was solitude.

That yogi could be anyone — perhaps even you or me — when we pause our lives and begin the deeper journey inward. I remember a time when I stood on a quiet hillside in Uttarakhand, seeking a break from the chaos of life. My phone had no signal, the roads were far behind, and the only sound was the gurgling of a distant stream. At first, the silence felt oppressive.

There were no distractions, no one to talk to, no list to check off. Just me. And in that stillness, something stirred. What I thought was loneliness slowly started shifting into something profound — a sense of being accompanied by God, by nature, and by my own soul. That was the beginning of my personal pilgrimage from loneliness to solitude.

Sri Ramana Maharshi once said, “Solitude is not about being in a forest; it is being free from the noise of the mind.” How true. Loneliness is often misunderstood as physical aloneness, but it’s really about disconnection — from our purpose, from meaning, and most importantly, from ourselves.

Guillermo Maldonado beautifully captured this with his words: “Loneliness is not lack of company, loneliness is lack of purpose.” We can be surrounded by people, and yet feel completely alone. And conversely, we can be physically isolated, but feel vibrantly connected — to our dharma, to nature, to the divine.

The journey from loneliness to solitude is not always easy, but it is deeply rewarding. It begins with acceptance. The first step is to stop resisting the silence. Most of us fear being alone because we’re afraid of what we might find within — the hurts we’ve buried, the dreams we’ve abandoned, the truths we’ve silenced. But once we sit with those parts of ourselves, like a compassionate friend, something magical happens. The inner noise lessens. Clarity arises.

In the sacred mountains — be it Kailash, Kedarnath, or the quiet hills of Kumaon — many sages sought this kind of solitude. Not to escape the world, but to align more deeply with it. Solitude offers space for integration. It’s where the soul breathes.

In solitude, prayer becomes deeper. Not a request, but a communion. I remember during my journey to Bhavishya Badri, I sat under a deodar tree, chanting softly. My words were not aimed at any deity in the sky but felt like echoes from within. In that moment, God was not a being outside, but a presence within and around. That moment of realisation - that I was not truly alone — transformed my understanding of solitude forever. Here’s how you too can walk this journey:

Find your space of silence. It could be a room, a temple, a mountaintop, or even a walk at dawn. Make it a ritual.

Replace noise with nature. Let the sound of rivers, birds, and wind remind you of the sacred rhythms of life. Nature holds you without judgment.

Connect with purpose. Ask yourself gently — What stirs my soul? What can I give? Even one small act aligned with your truth can dissolve loneliness.

Speak to God — then listen. Prayer isn’t always words. Sometimes it’s tears, or just sitting in awe. In silence, answers come without asking.

Be your own companion. Read scriptures, journal your thoughts, or write poetry. Learn to enjoy your own presence. This isn’t about turning your back on the world. In fact, solitude prepares you for deeper engagement with life. When you know how to sit with yourself, you stop expecting others to fill your emptiness. You begin to offer love, not from need, but from wholeness.

In solitude, you realise you are never truly alone. The mountains and sky are with you. Your breath is with you. And God, quiet and constant, walks with you at every step. So, if you’re feeling lonely, don’t run from it. Sit. Listen. Let it lead you inward. There you will find not emptiness, but eternity. And when you return from that sacred place of solitude, you’ll carry its peace like a fragrance, touching every life around you.

— The author is a civil servant at the Ministry of Defence and a spiritual speaker. Views are personal