Loneliness makes me so happy

Author: Wang Jie
Publisher:
Publication Date: 2002-11-01
Features: In my small study, I lit a fragrant incense, and a wisp of smoke rose straight up, piercing the ceiling. It seemed as if the air in the room was absolutely still, my breath not stirring a single ripple. I gazed silently at the trail of smoke, lost in thought. Outside, in the courtyard, the lilac bushes still bore many withered, crimson, and yellow leaves. The sound of dry branches rustling could be heard very clearly—a first, a crisp breaking sound, then a clattering against the limbs, and finally the thumping sound as they landed on the empty steps. At this moment, I felt lonely. In this loneliness, I became aware of my own existence—a fleeting sense of isolation. This state is not easily achieved; it is related to the environment, more so to the state of mind. One does not have to seek solitude in deep mountains or vast wildernesses. As long as the heart is calm, one can feel a transcendent and serene state in bustling markets or humble lanes. It is said, "When the heart is distant, the place becomes naturally apart." In this state, we can soar in imagination, rise above the impurities of the mortal world, and wander with the sages of the past. That is why I say, loneliness is a kind of pure blessing.