Longest period of Meditation!

[Alex E]

The longest sessions i've done up to now may be something like 3 days of medium intensity meditation and 5 hours of high intenisty kind. Usually though, sessions tend to last an hour or two. And i include many short ones through the day as well. The thing is, after some progress, one is more or less always in a meditative state. So a session as such does make one peak, but from the point of vue of a beginner, it could be said the advanced one is meditating full time.

[DalesRealMeditation]

Originally Posted by cedartree

Many of us know about places of intensive meditation and practice.

On the Zen side places like Antai-ji in Japan & Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery in America come to mind.

For Theravada, Panditãrãma or Pa Auk Forest Monastery.

I am curious what are the longest stretches of intense meditation you have heard and also completed yourself!

It can be a folk story or true.

I am having a hard time finding the information now but one of the longest periods of meditation I have heard of is the 100 day Sesshin! I guess it all depends on the time-table of each day but if it is a standard Sesshin that would be beyond intense.

For myself I had a period a few years back while watching a property. I would do some simple chores and then walk over to a close park and sit. I probably was sitting around 7-10 hours a day and I think the period was about a month and a half or two.

I had a point were I had an incredible absorption/mystical experience. Almost like a powerful psychedelic experience although it was totally clear and there was no background feelings.

In it I experienced what felt like the massiveness of Samsara and were I was and had developed so far. Also seemed I had taken Bodhisattva vows in the past as I was experienced as a Bodhisattva. The interesting thing is at this time I was practicing very intensely on the Theravada perspective and so hadn't thought about Bodhisattvas in a long time to my knowledge lol

It was a very powerful experience.

I enjoy 2.5 to 3 hour blocks.

a man's gotta drink water and use the rest room!

[Bindu*]

.



Short meditations are good too....




The VijnanaBhairava is one of the foremost manuals of enlightenment in the Tantric tradition.
It have 112 dharana's (meditations), that can performed for a few minutes or longer, several times a day...

This can flip your Consciousness totally...

http://www.shivashakti.com/vijnan.htm

Some of my favourites:

Dharana nr: 83
"83. Contemplate that the same consciousness exists in all bodies."


nr:91. Whether outside or inside, Shiva is omnipresent.


92. Every sensation is an expression of pure consciousness.


106. Look for the I which exists in all limited "I’s"


And this one is great...

108. The whole universe has the reality of a magic show.


69. Concentrate on one’s own self as a vast unlimited expanse.

[A human Being]

Love it, Bindu*, given me a lot to ponder - thanks!

[CrystalSong]

One time I did a half a day. By that evening Beings were trying to speak through me and I kept having to cover my mouth because I knew not what would speak through it in public! I'd turned into a completely open vessel!

Of that half day I spent at least 40 mins out of every hour out-of-body in birds around the building, small mammals, generally floating free but near-ish the body. It was a Zazen practice of sitting meditation and then walking meditation. Sit , walk, sit, walk, sit, walk. Evvery sit I was OBE within moments.

Unless I keep the ego attached (occasional thoughts) and deliberately stay in body I leave body in less than 10 minutes when meditating.

Honestly I can't imagine what would happen if I meditated a whole day, much less say a week.

[Divine Consciousness]

One good impact og long sitting in meditation posture is spine becomes more strong and other benefts of meditation comes too.

[pause]

With Pause you can try to meditate in a long time, you're free to choose your time. You can also doing guided meditation, very usefull !