When Walking Away Is the Only Answer | The Path of the Hermit

What moved people in the past and present to become hermits? What does a life of seclusion offer? And is the hermit life possible today?

Video: When Walking Away Is the ONLY Answer (A Hermit’s Philosophy)

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#solitude #hermits #laotzu

00:00 Introduction
01:49 Renouncing society
05:40 The Priceless Joy of Seclusion
09:12 The Modern Day Hermit
11:30 Hybrid Hermits

[Einzelgänger]

Sources for further exploration:

Hermits; The Insights of Solitude (Peter France)
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit (Michael Finkel)
Stop Reading the News: A Manifesto for a Happier, Calmer and Wiser Life (Rolf Dobelli)

[elysianfields]

Nothing beats walking away. Better than fighting, arguing, trying to change the other person.

[Syon]

“It is difficult to find happiness within oneself, but it is impossible to find it anywhere else” A.Schopenhauer - never gets old. Love your stuff

[lonewanderings]

My mother just recently passed from cancer and now I truly feel alone. 43, no wife, no kids and an over 22 year art career I’ve fallen out of love with. I’m selling/storing everything at the moment, getting a campervan, my mom’s dog and I’m heading out to live life on the road as a nomad/hermit. Hopefully I can find my creative spark again and maybe finally some much needed peace. I have always been quite the loner and I feel more myself, free and comfortable alone out in nature. Becoming willingly ”homeless” is pretty terrifying to be honest though but this is the path I feel I need to take.

[YuNherd]

"Seek nothing outside of oneself"
Has a profound impact on me

[DisasterxUs]

being alone is the only way I can fully be myself

[caronte]

This channel is the most precious thing of the whole platform.

[Trinzzler]

Today I learned I'm an urban hermit. I moved to a large downtown area to disappear and get a fresh start. Being able to disappear in a crowd, in the last place anyone would ever think to look for me, has been incredibly life changing for me. Keeping society at arms length is really the best of both worlds. I'm alone with everyone around me and I'm at peace.

[caseygreyson]

When I graduate university this spring, I’m planning to move to a different country, get a flip phone, and just become a new person. I need to find peace and meaning and a sense of self that doesn’t rely on others. Right now, when I think of myself, I only think of what others have said about me. I need to know what kind of person I REALLY am, when no one else is watching.

[the_endling]

All my life, from 18 to almost 35 I was exactly that, a city hermit.. for the last 6 years I tried out the "friendships" and "community" thing, being part of society.. Never been more miserable. This video found me at the right time, I'm slowly transitioning back to that lifestyle, probably for good this time.

[tomc]

@11:00 reminds me of a quote by Emerson “It is easy in the world to be of the worlds opinion; it is easy in solitude to keep after one’s own, but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with him in perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.”

[tjwilliams]

Your videos have helped change my life. Just so you know. So thank you for doing this for all those who have a hard time reading.

[kenneth]

There is a Sufi approach to this as well: “Solitude in the Crowd’ - outwardly being with people, inwardly being with ‘God/The Beloved’. - Akin to the quote you shared about the forest Hermit / city dweller hermit. - Thank you for your offerings.

[JR-xzvd]

A life of non compliance, thank you🧙‍♂️

[lancelotdufrane]

My adult children can’t stop telling me that my dissatisfaction is because I’m alone too much. There’s no way to explain without sounding like an absolute downer. I don’t want to spread such dark perspectives on those who don’t see it. Beautiful post.. Thank you. Perfect timing today.. I needed this.

[mopsydizzle]

I'm already most of the way there, having chiseled pretty much all social media out of my life and overcoming my smartphone dependency. I spend less than 12 minutes a day on my phone, and I have regained a level of peace of mind I haven't had for 15 years.

[sandalwood]

The only thing stopping me from being a total hermit is the fact I live with my family and can’t afford to live on my own. But once I move out this described exactly how I want to live my life. I’ve felt extremely disconnected from my current relationships and truly only feel connected to myself. I’ve lived in “internal solitude” my whole life and I think the digital nomad or rural hermit would suit me for the rest of my days on this planet. Absolute freedom and peace, all I’ve ever wanted. Thank you.

[WizardOfCause]

I've lived in a bus, working and traveling as I could, as a voice actor and writer for about three years. I left society after it made it clear it didn't care for me. But try as I have, I've never stopped caring for them. And I help where I can. That's where I find the peace and balance.

[jelle]

This video is exactly what I needed. Thank you Einzelgänger for providing these videos.

[tomg]

I was an orphan and never entered society. I can go significant periods of time without talking to others. Very fascinating, thank you sir 🙏