Personal Regular Practice of Advanced Meditator

[Bakary DieyeMember]

Hello Guys,
I was wondering if some of our experienced meditators on this Board would accept to share some details about their own practice.
How often and how long do you meditate on average ?
Do you go on retreats regularly and for how long ?
What were your toughest obstacles on the path of becoming an Adept ?
Please be generous and spare no dirty secrets…

Thanks

Bakary

[Matthew ImmergutMember]

Hi Bakary

1. I try to meditate 1.5 – 2 hours a day on average.
2. I go on retreats regularly. I’d say on average 2-4 weeks per year. This past year much more because I’m on sabbatical
3. I’ve hit lots of obstacles – pretty much every one outlined in the book and even a few that aren’t in there.

I hope this helps

Matthew

[Bakary DieyeMember]

Hi Matthew,
Many thanks for your feedback. it does help !
What about you guys ?? there are a lots of you here…Don’t be shy ..
Hearing about advanced practicioner experiences is always inspiring and motivating

Cheers

Bakary

[Blaz SimcicMember]

Matthew,

thanks for your answers. Can I ask you some additional questions?

1. How do you structure your meditation sessions? (do you emphasize insight practices, jhanas, anapanasati, walking meditation,…)?
2. Do you practice loving-kindness meditation and Mindful Review? How often?
3. There are so many recommended practices in the book from stage seven on. Is it necessary to practice all of them?

Best regards,

Blaz

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by  Blaz Simcic.

[Ivan GanzaMember]

Hi Bakery,

Most people would have a solid habit of sitting formally every day, and practicing informally during the rest of the hours of day. Retreat is very beneficial if possible.

The amount of hours one sits are not as important as having a solid and consistent daily practice. You need to find what works for you. I hope you have started to sit everyday with consistency? 😉 (If not make that #1 priority asap!)

Finding out too many details about other people’s practice and experience is not always helpful. Meditation practice is very personal and even though there are maps and similarities, it is still somewhat of a unique experience for each person. It may not always be helpful to find out too many details of someone else’s practice. There is a danger of grasping onto those details, perhaps measuring ourselves against them, or even trying to replicate them, judging ourselves, etc…; it may not have the desired result. Better to just concentrate on your practice.

For some great inspiration I suggest to study the Pali Suttas or read up on the lives of some famous and well known practitioners. Personally I find that highly inspiriting.

The most important thing is to grab the map Culadasa has given us, and start sitting!

—
Let me leave you with a quote that I felt like sharing with you:

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. T. S. Eliot

Cheers,
-Ivan/

[Ivan GanzaMember]

Hi Blaz,

I would not presume to reply for Matthew, so if I am off the mark, I hope I will be corrected.

Once one is at stage 7, there should be an element of a self guidance surfacing. Kind-of like there has been a good steady acceleration and now sufficient velocity has been achieved.

I don’t think you need to do each and every practice necessarily. The practices are just keys opening the same door. One key may be sufficient. Maybe not — it all depends on your situation and where your heart is leading you to. What feels and is most beneficial to you. You can certainly try all the practices, gain some ability in them, but it is not strictly required.

Keep your eyes open and see what works for you!

Cheers,
-Ivan/

[Bakary DieyeMember]

Hello Ivan,
Many thanks for your post which had me frustrated…and made me reflecting on the premisses of my way of learning. I thank you for that.As far as I can remember when entering a new discipline or studying any sets of skills , I always had my eyes on more experienced people at least on the beginning. You rightfully pinpoint the danger of getting entangled in other ” people’s details” and I do realize that this question can appear a bit intrusive as well. I apologize about that.
However being humans, social animals learning a LOT by example…I don’t really see any harm in keeping an eye on our “elders”…a bit like subtle distraction usefulness ONLY in the early stages of Meditation…

Cheers

Bakary

[Blaz SimcicMember]

Ivan, thank you! Best regards, Blaz

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