Mindful Solitude as an Antidote and Antonym to Loneliness: A Historic and Therapeutic Buddhist Perspective

Abstract

settingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Mindful Solitude as an Antidote and Antonym to Loneliness: A Historic and Therapeutic Buddhist Perspective by Heather Kempton 1,*ORCID andKamla Waila 2ORCID 1 School of Psychology, Massey University, Auckland 0632, New Zealand 2 School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Religions 2025, 16(11), 1439; https://doi.org/10.3390/rel16111439 (registering DOI) Submission received: 9 October 2025 / Revised: 3 November 2025 / Accepted: 7 November 2025 / Published: 12 November 2025 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Buddhist Meditation: Culture, Mindfulness, and Rationality) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figure Versions Notes Abstract This article explores the concept of mindful solitude as both an antidote and antonym to loneliness, integrating Buddhist doctrinal insights with contemporary psychological research. While solitude is often conflated with isolation or loneliness, we argue that when chosen intentionally and cultivated mindfully, it becomes a space of healing, insight, and relational depth. Drawing from classical Buddhist texts, historical exemplars such as Shakyamuni and Milarepa, and modern scholarship, we trace the evolution of solitude within Buddhist traditions, highlighting its role in ethical transformation and meditative insight. We contrast this with secular mindfulness programs, noting their therapeutic benefits while acknowledging their divergence from traditional Buddhist ethics and soteriology. Through interdisciplinary analysis, we propose a framework in which mindfulness mediates the experience of solitude, fostering autonomy, inner-directedness, and meaningful solitary activities. This reframing positions solitude not as absence but as presence: an intentional engagement with the self that enhances emotional regulation and social connectedness. In an age marked by hyperconnectivity and rising loneliness, mindful solitude offers a counter-narrative: a spiritually and psychologically enriching state that supports wellbeing and compassionate re-engagement. By bridging Buddhist contemplative traditions with empirical psychological findings, this article affirms solitude as a vital condition for both personal and collective healing.