Let's talk about loneliness first In my opinion, there are four levels of loneliness:
First, I feel lonely because I am far away from my relatives, friends and people.
Because of study, work or livelihood, we often have to stay away from our relatives, friends and even people for days, months or even years. I can't see the familiar faces of my relatives and friends, and I can't hear the familiar greetings from my relatives and friends. I am alone, accompanied by a lonely lamp, and loneliness arises spontaneously. This kind of loneliness caused by the barrier of time and space is the most unbearable, but it is also the shallowest.
Second, the loneliness caused by estrangement and inner diaphragm.
The relationship between people is very complicated. If it is not handled properly, it will easily lead to misunderstanding or contradiction between each other, and once misunderstanding and contradiction occur, it will cast an invisible shadow on the relationship between each other forever, and the distance between heart and heart will be farther and farther, as well as between husband and wife, relatives and friends. In this case, no matter how close we are and how warm the atmosphere is, people's hearts are still cold and lonely. This sense of loneliness is deep-rooted and often difficult to thaw.
Third, it is difficult to find a bosom friend and the loneliness caused by lack of sustenance.
There will be an ideal realm beyond reality in people's hearts, but this ideal realm can't be found in the real world anyway. Even if you can't find it, it's hard to share it with others, which will inevitably lead to loneliness. This is a kind of advanced loneliness, which should be owned by sages or people with spiritual pursuits.
Fourth, the soul loneliness caused by not knowing the fundamental ownership.
In a sense, everyone's life is an ignorant and helpless existence. Because no one can tell where people come from and where they will go after death. Questions like "Who am I" and "Where is my home" always torment people's inner souls from time to time like ghosts. This kind of soul loneliness caused by not knowing the fundamental ownership should be the highest level.
Understand the generation and level of loneliness, and then talk about the solution of loneliness.
As far as the loneliness of the first two levels is concerned, its essence is caused by practical reasons and can be alleviated by substitution or transfer. For example, feeling lonely because you are far away from your loved ones can be alleviated by looking at photos of your loved ones. Loneliness and helplessness caused by the deterioration of relationship can be eliminated by changing the environment or making new friends.
The loneliness of the latter two levels is caused by spiritual reasons and must be solved from the spiritual level. It can be eliminated by the spiritual cultivation method that reality is ideal, the present belongs to it and self is perfect.
In a word, "ego" is the root of loneliness, and "no ego" is the end of loneliness.