Quieting the mind... lonely feeling?

[Erock]

Hey guys I've been really working on keeping my mind quiet 24/7 and staying in the moment. I've got to the point where my mind stays fairly quiet most of the time which I'm very happy about. The issue is that I feel lonely when I'm by myself and my mind is silent, almost as if I'd like lost a best friend that was always there. Is this common? Has anyone encoutered this?

Erock

[estrella]

Yes. I did encounter that.
And I did realize that these thoughts that were not longer there, created a lot of illusions, so I am glad to feel "alone". But I for myself I do believe in a sort of Sepreme Consciousness (I try to put it in any term you might understand) and so, I think (believe) that I am never alone: as being part of that or coming from that, *that* is always there.
I read through some of your recent posts to see a bit "where you come from" and I think I understood that you do not believe in a supreme something, but rather in our consiousness alone. So yes, it is true, we *are* alone. btw, many philosophies etc state that even in company you are alone. All what you experience, you experience it alone. All what you tell others about that, they will make up their own version (in their *mind*) of it, and you will be at last, alone.
But see above, I do not "quite" think so. But that's a kind of perception.

In any case, I think to give up illusions, we have to experience this state of loneliness. Though I know that in my mind (and soul and heart), I've been crying about that. But it's a step to other perceptions, broader views.

[Erock]

Thanks for the insight. I have a feeling it will pass with time, and I've hit this spot before and it made me go back into the mind, so this time I'm going to try not to cave.

[Alison Jenkins]

Yes I have experienced that and it did pass. It took me a long time to learn to meditate as I couldn't bear to sit quietly. Now when my mind is busy I love to sit and meditate to calm my thoughts

Alison

[Old Soul]

The issue is that I feel lonely when I'm by myself and my mind is silent, almost as if I'd like lost a best friend that was always there

I love that place, I am grounded, my spirit is at peace... it is like a little gem inside of oneself

[Gary]

After the layer of thoughts pass there is still a layer of emotions. Being present with those emotions will allow them to move and change faster until the dissipate. Often those emotions are related to earlier experiences in our life.

This is not a linear process as there may be the appearance/feeling of ups and downs as the intensity of different emotions vary.

Before reaching levels of love and joy in meditation you will also move through shifts in perception. Difficult to describe but let's say that your Point of Perception shifts and expands.



God Speed,

Gary

[Mags]

I do remember it being a bit scary initially to let go of my ego's constant presence, although I wouldn't have gone so far as to call it loneliness.

When I got to the place of peace underlying all the incessant chatter, I found it to be a place of the most profound love and joy I've ever experienced. I started to find that I really enjoyed being in that place and that it was, ironically, more "full" than the incessant chatter ever had been

[dancer]

I recently discovered Tolle and since reading the Power of Now, my mind has silenced. I don't feel lonely, but when I first noticed the long silences, I felt bored. Crazy I know, but true. Ha, my ego was bored. Just realised this.

Although, I now have come to relish in the peacefulness of the silence, I question if I am in awareness or if I have only reached a place of limbo. It feels like I'm not quite there yet.

[estrella]

Originally Posted by dancer

I recently discovered Tolle and since reading the Power of Now, my mind has silenced. I don't feel lonely, but when I first noticed the long silences, I felt bored. Crazy I know, but true. Ha, my ego was bored. Just realised this.

Although, I now have come to relish in the peacefulness of the silence, I question if I am in awareness or if I have only reached a place of limbo. It feels like I'm not quite there yet.

I join your thoughts
Once someone told me that if there is no certainty about something, it is not *that*. So I think you are right, and I feel the same. I think it's really glimpses we get, but just "seen from far". Like one sees the sea from some corner of roads from far off, but not yet being at the cost.

[Calisto]

I felt like I had lived with a hundred voices in my head all talking at once all the time and then the silence came, I found it very overwhelming to begin with. It took some time to get used to the silence. I felt like I was completely alone for the first time in my life. I did feel lonely but then I read that being alone needn't mean being lonely. This helped as did getting more serious about relaxation and meditation. It felt a bit like when I gave up coffee, I felt a little uncomfortable for a few days then I began to feel very calm and relaxed. As time went on I experienced the 'blank' moments, moments when my mind was so quiet and calm that I had to struggling to think of something to do. To keep the 'panic' at bay I began to repeat affirmations and mantras. I'm still working on it but I simply go with the flow today.

[eblight]

Accepting and allowing what is happening in any moment will enable you to move through the loneliness. It's like, "So this is loneliness. This is what it feels like. These are the sensations in my body when I feel lonely. Interesting." Become the observer of what is happening to you. Sooner or later it will pass.

[evelynlim]

It took me quite a while to be able to sit quietly and meditate.

I kind of enjoy the silence. It is a release for my mind to be away from the constant chatter that goes on in my head. In that silence, I feel peace. In peace, I feel pure bliss.

Evelyn

[Parthon]

That loneliness sounds more like a triggered emotion in the body that the mind uses to bring your awareness back. I think when you are silencing that you should focus on the feeling, feel the presence and being of it, then let it go. Feel the energy underneath the feeling and let that energy flow back out into the world.

You will know without a doubt when you have silenced the mind fully. It feels like you have emerged or escaped into another world. Everything is all connected and one, you are everything, and everything is you. There's nothing but joy, harmony and love. It's impossible to feel lonely amongst all of that.

All there is to do is keep stilling the mind and focusing on the present. You fill feel the world open up before you sooner than you think.

[Calisto]

Parthon,

Thanks. I found that strangely comforting. Something else I have noticed, the lives of the people around me seem to have become much more hectic. I can sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by this. I also feel quite frustrated because I know things might be better for them if they could just settle down a bit. More. I feel myself growing away from them. I don't really mind but I think they think I'm getting above myself. I'm not. I have tried to talk to them about my beliefs but they don't understand.

[Parthon]

Yeah, that's an experience I know well. You can really only discuss your beliefs with those who hold similar, and those who have a really open mind, not many people do though.

The best thing I've found is to just accept other people just the way they are. Let them have their beliefs, and know that they are the best beliefs for them in this moment, because they couldn't have any other beliefs else they would already have them. Life will unfold for them according to their beliefs and all we can do is accept it.

There's one saying I loved and it was "There are three things you can't change: The weather, the past and other people." It's so true!

[Calisto]

Parthon,

Thanks. I find that quite reassuring. I am managing it better. If I need to be there while some chaotic situation is going on I find asking if there is anything I can do helps. If there is something I can do, I'll do my bit. But I do feel like I'm on the outside looking in a lot of the time. Strangely the drama doesn't seem to affect me like it once did.