Vedanta Society of New York--Solitude---the third of the four watchwords of Vedanta

--The Bhagavad-Gita,6-10


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"Adore me only with heart undistracted; Turn all your thought toward solitude, spurning the noise of the crowd, its fruitless commotion." --The Bhagavad-Gita, XIII-10, fr, The Song of God, p. 102

"The mind cannot dwell on God if it is immersed day and night in worldliness, in worldly duties and responsibilities; it is most necessary to go into solitude now and then and think of God. To fix the mind on God is very difficult, in the beginning, unless one practises meditation in solitude.... To meditate you should withdraw within yourself or retire to a secluded corner or to the forest.... one must go into solitude to attain this divine love.... you must put aside all other duties, sit in a quite spot, and churn the curd. Only then do you get butter. Further, by meditating on God in solitude the mind acquires knowledge, dispassion, and devotion.... So, practise spiritual discipline in solitude and obtain the butter of knowledge and love.
M: "Is it possible to see God?"
Master: "Yes certainly. Living in solitude now and then, repeating God's name and singing His glories, and discriminating between the Real and the unreal---these are the means to employ to see Him." --The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, pp. 81-83

"From time to time he (worldly person) should live in the company of holy men, and from time to time go into solitude to meditate on God." --Ibid., p. 87

"Why shouldn't one realize God while living in the world? But, as I said, one must live in holy company, pray to God weeping for His grace, and now and then go into solitude." --Ibid., p. 98

"The rishis of old attained the knowledge of Brahman. One cannot have this so long as there is the slightest trace of worldliness. How hard the rishis laboured! Early in the morning they would go away from the hermitage and would spend the whole day in solitude, meditating on Brahman. At night they would return to the hermitage and eat a little fruit or roots. They kept their minds aloof from the objects of sight, hearing, touch, and other things of a worldly nature. Only thus did they realize Brahman as their own inner consciousness." --Ibid, p. 103

"The yogi seeks to realize the Paramatman, the Supreme Soul. His ideal is the union of the embodied soul and the Supreme Soul. He withdraws his mind from sense-objects and tries to concentrate on the Paramatman. Therefore, during the first stage of his spiritual discipline, he retires into solitude and with undivided attention practises meditation..." --Ibid., p. 134

"Even if one lives in the world, one must go into solitude now and then. It will be of great help to a man if he goes away from his family, lives alone, and weeps for God even for three days. Even if he thinks of God for one day in solitude, when he has leisure, that too will do him good.... Now and then one must go into solitude and practise spiritual discipline to realize God." --Ibid., p. 139

"Brahmo: "But what about our worldly duties---duties associated with our earning money, and so on?'
Master: "Yes, you can perform them too, but only as much as you need for your livelihood. At the same time, you must pray to God in solitude, with tears in your eyes, that you may be able to perform those duties in an unselfish manner." --Ibid, p. 142

"Those who lead a householder's life should practise spiritual discipline; they should pray eagerly to God in solitude.... God cannot be realized through scholarship. Who, indeed, can understand the things of the Spirit through reason? No, all should strive for devotion to the Lotus Feet of God." --Ibid, p. 183

"You must practise spiritual discipline a little. It will not do simply to say that milk contains butter. You must let the milk set into curd and then churn it. Only then can you get butter from it. Spiritual aspirants must go into solitude now and then. After acquiring love of God in solitude, they may live in the world." --Ibid., p. 241

"The situation is very difficult. There is so much confusion in the world. If you go this way, you are threatened with a shovel; if you go that way, you are threatened with a broomstick; again, in another direction, you are threatened with a shoe-beating. Besides, one cannot think of God unless one lives in solitude. The goldsmith melts gold to make ornaments. But how can he do his work well if he is disturbed again and again?.... You have to spend a few days in solitude." --Ibid., p. 246

"Householders should go into solitude now and then, to practise spiritual discipline in order to cultivate devotion to God; they should renounce mentally. But sannyasi should renounce both mentally and physically.... One doesn't really need to study the different scriptures. If one has no discrimination, one doesn't achieve anything through mere scholarship, even though one studies all the six systems of philosophy. Call on God, crying to Him secretly in solitude. He will give all that you need.... Devotees endowed with sattva meditate in a secluded corner or in a forest... One should first realize God through spiritual discipline in solitude, and then live in the world." --Ibid., pp. 291-293

"It is good to prepare for death. One should constantly think of God and chant His name in solitude during the last years of one's life.... Why do I ask you to think of God and chant His name in solitude? Living in the world day and night, one suffers from worries. Haven't you noticed brother killing brother for a foot of land? The Sikhs said to me, 'The cause of all worry and confusion is this three: land, woman, and money." --Ibid., p. 310

"Is there, then, no hope for householders? Certainly there is. They must practise spiritual discipline in solitude for some days. Thus they will acquire knowledge and devotion. Then it will not hurt them to lead the life of the world. But when you practise spiritual discipline in solitude, keep yourself entirely away from your family.... While thus practising discipline in solitude, you should think: 'I have no one else in the world. God is my all.' You must also pray to Him, with tears in your eyes, for knowledge and devotion." --Ibid. p. 313

"If you ask me how long you should live in solitude away from your family, I should say that it would be good for you if you could spend even one day in such a manner. Three days at a time are still better. One may live in solitude for twelve days, a month, three months, or a year, according to one's convenience and ability. One hasn't much to fear if one leads the life of a householder after attaining knowledge and devotion.
The mind is like milk. If you keep the mind in the world, which is like water, then the milk and the water get mixed. That is why people keep milk in a quiet place and let it set into curd, and then churn butter of knowledge and devotion from the milk of the mind." --Ibid., p. 313

Neighbour: "Must one leave home then?"
Master: "No, not altogether. Whenever you have leisure, go into solitude for a day or two. At that time don't have any relation with the outside world and don't hold any conversation with worldly people on worldly affairs. You must live either in solitude or in the company of holy men." --Ibid., p. 326

A Devotee: "Sir, how should one live in the world?"
Master: "Live in the world as mud fish lives in the mud. One develops love of God by going away from the world into solitude, now and then, and meditating on God. After that one can live in the world unattached. The mud is there, and the fish has to live in it, but its body is not stained by the mud. Such a man can lead the life of a householder in a spirit of detachment." --Ibid., p. 336

"The Kundalini is speedily awakened if one follows the path of Bhakti. God cannot be seen unless She is awakened. Sing earnestly and secretly in solitude." --Ibid., p. 363

"Therefore, you see, spiritual discipline is necessary. When the aswattha tree is a mere sapling, it must be enclosed by a fence; otherwise the cattle will eat it. But the fence may be taken away when the trunk grows thick and strong. Then even an elephant tied to the tree cannot harm it. Therefore, at the beginning the aspirant should go into solitude now and then. Spiritual discipline is necessary." --Ibid., p. 368

"Therefore, like Valmiki, one should at first renounce everything and cry to God in solitude, with a longing heart. The first thing necessary is the vision of God; then comes reasoning---about the scriptures and the world." --Ibid., p. 376

"What are the spiritual disciplines that give the mind its upward direction? One learns all this by constantly living in holy company. The rishis of olden times lived either in solitude or in the company of holy persons; therefore they could easily renounce.... and fix their minds on God. They had no fear nor did they mind the criticism of others." --Ibid., p. 401

"You are leading a householder's life. That is very good. It is like fighting from a fort. There are many disadvantages in fighting in an open field. So many dangers, too. Bullets may hit you. But one should spend some time in solitude and attain Knowledge. Then one can live the life of a householder." --Ibid., p. 411

"Yes, work is very troublesome. It is now good for you to meditate on God for a few days in solitude. No doubt you say that you would like to give up your work.... Worldly people talk that way; but they don't succeed in carrying out their intention." -- p. 419

"It is extremely difficult to realize God while leading a worldly life....one should go into solitude now and then to practise spiritual discipline." --Ibid., p. 434

"It is one thing to learn about God from the scriptures, and quite another to see Him. The scriptures only give hints. Therefore to read a great many scriptures is not necessary. It is much better to pray to God in solitude.... One attains God through japa. By repeating the name of God secretly and in solitude one receives divine grace...Renounce everything for a few days, retire into solitude, and call on God with all your soul." --Ibid., pp. 587-589

Sub-Judge: "Sir, must we renounce the world?"
Master: "No. Why should you? A man can realize even in the world. But at the beginning he must spend a few days in solitude. He must practise spiritual discipline in a solitary place. He should take room near his house, so that he may come home only for his meals." --Ibid., p. 623

"If you practise spiritual discipline for some time in a solitary place like Hrishikesh, you will find that your mind has gained in strength, and then you can live in any place or in the company of anyone without being in the least affected by it. A sapling must be protected by a fence all around, but it grows big not even cows and goats can injure it. Spiritual practice in a solitary place is essential. When worldly thoughts crop up in your mind, and they possess it, then you should go away from the company of others and pray to Him with tears in your eyes. He will remove all the dross of your mind, and will give you understanding also." The Gospel of Holy Mother, p. 214