Ramarastra
Chile
2 Posts
Posted - Mar 31 2020 : 11:38:18 AM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Topic Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Message Delete Topic
Hey there,
I've read the lessons on self-pacing and also posts here on the forum about how powerful the twice a day 20 minutes meditations, I don't underestimate it.
But these days I find myself with a lot of time and not much contact (if any) with people, so I thought it'd be a good chance to do longer sittings and not worry about too much purification and lashing out on people.
I haven't added time to DM but I've been adding "silence witnessing" sessions after DM, is that alright?
That's another idea I had, to keep doing DM as usual but adding some silent hour-long meditations.
What are your thoughts on it?
Christi
United Kingdom
3684 Posts
Posted - Mar 31 2020 : 12:11:11 PM Show Profile Email Poster Visit Christi's Homepage Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
Hi Ramarastra,
Yes, there is something called "retreat mode" in AYP, where we can increase the number of practise sessions we sit each day, when we are in a position where we have no responsibilities or duties. With retreat mode, we can increase the number of sittings we do each day to 3 or 4, increasing gradually and reducing gradually at the end.
Three practices a day would typically be done with two in the morning, back-to-back, and one in the afternoon. Four sessions a day would be done with two in the morning, back-to-back, and two in the afternoon, back-to-back.
It is better to increase the number of sessions each day, rather than the duration of meditation. That way, you are less likely to experience overload.
If you are not used to doing solo retreats, it is best to start out gently, maybe with just one extra practice session per day, and see how it goes. It can be very powerful.
There is more on solo retreats on the AYP Plus site here:
Addition 387.3 - Solo RetreatsAnd in the AYP retreats book here:
Online streaming retreats book,
Physical retreats book.
As for adding other practices, that would come under making modifications to the baseline system. We basically cannot predict what the results would be, so it would be your own experiment. See here:
Lesson 384 - Baseline Systems of Practice and Research on ModificationsI would strongly recommend sticking with the AYP practices only, if you are experimenting with solo retreats for the first time. They are tried and tested.
Christi
Ramarastra
Chile
2 Posts
Posted - Mar 31 2020 : 9:06:55 PM Show Profile Email Poster Edit Reply Reply with Quote View user's IP address Get a Link to this Reply Delete Reply
Thank you, Christi!
