FREEDOM OF THOUGHT . . . AND SOLITUDE

Thich Nhat Hanh, Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices (Berkeley: Parallax Press, 2009) ("THE THIRD MINDFULNESS TRAINING: FREEDOM OF THOUGHT. Aware of the suffering brought about when we impose our views on others, we are committed not to force others, even our children, by any means whatsoever--such as authority, threat, money, propaganda, or indoctrination--to adopt our views. We will respect the right of others to be different and to choose what to believe and how to decide. We will, however, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness through compassionate dialogue." Id. at 122. "Without the capacity for being alone, we become poorer and poorer. We don't have enough nourishment for ourselves, and don't have much to offer others. Learning to live in solitude is very important. Each day we should devote some time to being physically alone, because then it's easier to practice nourishing ourselves and looking deeply." "Solitude is not about being alone high up in the mountains, or in a hut deep in the forest. It's not about hiding ourselves away from civilization. Real solitude comes from a stable heart that does not get carried away by the crowd or our sorrows about the past, our worries about the future or our excitement about the present. We do not lose ourselves, we do not lose our mindfulness. To take refuge in our mindful breathing, to come back to the present moment, is to take refuge in the beautiful, serene island within each of us." Id. at 99-100.).