Obviously, it is not easy to advance along the Buddha path. You must first work with the body and environment. If you could immediately isolate yourself from the mind, there would be no need for Ch'an retreats. Once you completely isolate the mind from internal and external phenomena, you must then break apart the isolated mind. The result is enlightenment. However, you should not think about enlightenment. All you have to do is stay on the method and ignore everything else. Refrain from comparing yourself to others. Whether or not they are doing well is not your concern ─ this is good advice for daily life as well as for a retreat. Only with such an attitude will it be possible to enter the door of Ch'an.
Realize that isolating yourself from other people does not mean going into seclusion. It is possible to be in a crowd and still be isolated. Envision yourself as being alone, because in truth, you are alone. You are born into this world alone, and you will die alone. Even if you tie yourself to your lover, take poison together, and die at the same instant, you will still leave the world alone. Your karma is uniquely your own.
Isolating yourself from everyone and everything is a difficult skill to develop. For this reason, serious practitioners are often encouraged by their teachers to practice ─ at least for a while ─ alone and away from society. In ancient China and Tibet, many great practitioners spent long periods of time practicing in seclusion. In modern times as well, many practitioners go on personal retreats. I spent six years practicing alone in the mountains of Taiwan. I would not have ignored people had they approached me, but no one ever visited. I had no telephone, no mail, no company. It was a humbling experience. I felt free, yet somber. In general, it would benefit your practice if people ignored you, or even despised you. If people treat you like a celebrity or hero, then your practice will probably suffer.