“Judge not …”

In relating with another person, we are not dealing with that person only but with everyone that person has known or who has been an influence. This is why we are always admonished by sages not to judge. This does not mean that we cannot figure out whether the other person’s presence will be salutary or not. The insight of the solitary is that the solitary has “transcended” people and does not intend to pursue anything with people at all or anything about them. Not out of pride or arrogance but because we are all alone, all prey to our experiences, influences, fears. Solitude means being free to live in harmony with the universe and, therefore, with others. Solitude means not being bound to contrivances, willful or unfortunate — our own or that of others. We wish this peace on everyone.