Loneliness is one of the most pervasive struggles of our time. It’s not just about being physically alone but about the deep sense of disconnection that can arise even when surrounded by others. Yet, what if loneliness isn’t only something to be avoided or cured—but something that can teach us? Loneliness forces us to confront ourselves, to question norms, and to open toward responsibility and freedom. It can even become a space of creativity and transformation.

The French philosopher Gilles Deleuze once wrote that “Writing is a question of becoming, always incomplete, always in the midst of being formed.” This insight resonates with the work of Terrance Keenan, Buddhist monk, artist, and author of Zen Encounters With Loneliness. His book explores how facing loneliness—alongside

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