Jinxed P:
I'm starting a bit of a personal retreat -in my house - as I still have to go to work for about 4-5 hours per day.
but this first week I have been overcome with loneliness, and that I'm missing out on all these fun activities my friends are up to. Especially when the weekend rolls around. I would suppose that you all would tell me to observe the loneliness and dissect it, although I'm not sure on how to do that? Perhaps that is the best advice, however I have yet to begin insight meditation. I'm still working on building my concentration skills. Not even close to having reached access concentration in my opinion. Does that matter?
Any help appreciated.
Hi,
Are you dealing with loneliness or boredom? Either way, it's okay to go out. That is great practice too.
If you should create the experience of "isolated retreat" this will certainly
not be better or worse than "weekending with the friends" unless one creates a bunch of negative experiences/outcomes in either "going out with friends" or "isolated retreat".
And if you feel you wasted the time or created regret/something unhelpful, then just do a different experience the next weekend.
This is not an easy practice often, just meeting with own arising mind, own habits...
Good luck and thanks.