thanks to Michael Olds, below is a nice little passage which he
offers me offline, and I would like to share with everyone. This
passage speaks of the value of solitude as a cherished Buddhist
tradition:
It is not brilliant, Ananda,
for a beggar to resort to association,
to resort to taking pleasure from association,
to be intent on the pleasure of resorting with associates,
to resort to gatherings,
to resort to taking pleasure from gatherings,
to enjoy gatherings.
For a beggar, Ananda,
who resorts to association,
who resorts to taking pleasure from association,
who is intent on the pleasure of resorting with associates,
who resorts to gatherings,
who resorts to taking pleasure from gatherings,
who enjoys gatherings
that such a one should get pleasure from renunciation,
get pleasure from solitude,
get pleasure from calm,
get pleasure from self-awakening,
that such a one should enjoy the pleasure
of progress without trouble,
without aggrivation
such a thing is not to be seen.
But, Ananda, for a beggar,
who lives alone,
secluded from associations
that such a one should get pleasure from renunciation,
get pleasure from solitude,
get pleasure from calm,
get pleasure from self-awakening,
that such a one should enjoy the pleasure
of progress without trouble,
without aggrivation
such a thing is to be seen.
For a beggar, Ananda,
who resorts to association,
who resorts to taking pleasure from association,
who is intent on the pleasure of resorting with associates,
who resorts to gatherings,
who resorts to taking pleasure from gatherings,
who enjoys gatherings
to enter into and reside in
either the time-bound and happy,
or the non-time-bound and unshakable hearts release
such a thing is not to be seen.
But, Ananda, for a beggar,
who lives alone,
secluded from associations
to enter into and reside in
either the time-bound and happy,
or the non-time-bound and unshakable hearts release
such a thing is to be seen.