All this is part of education, to face the ache of loneliness

All this is part of education, to face the ache of loneliness, that extraordinary feeling of emptiness which all of us know, and not be frightened when it comes, not to turn on the radio, lose oneself in work, or run to the cinema, but to look at it, go into it, understand it. There is no human being who has not felt or will not feel that quivering anxiety. It is because we try to run away from it through every form of distraction and gratification through sex, through God, through work, through drink, through writing poems or repeating certain words which we have learnt by heart that we never understand that anxiety when it comes upon us.

So, when the pain of loneliness comes upon you, confront it, look at it without any thought of running away. If you run away you will never understand it, and it will always be there waiting for you around the corner. Whereas, if you can understand loneliness and go beyond it, then you will find there is no need to escape, no urge to be gratified or entertained, for your mind will know a richness that is incorruptible and cannot be destroyed.