Controversy About How Long to Meditate Daily

Last Updated on February 23, 2023 by pg@petergamma.org

1. Richard Davidson (20 min daily):

  • According to Richard Davidson, already a practice of 20 minutes results in changes in the brain which can objectively be measured.

2. David Golemann (?)

  • The co-author of Altered Traits answered once this question. We do not remember the answer, but since he was the co-author of Richard Davidson book, we suppose that he does not have a view which is completely in conflict to Richard Davidson.

3. Matthieu Ricard (20 min daily, but people who retreated meditate 4 hours, as he said)

  • as he said in one of his YouTube videos
  • but Matthieu Ricard also mentioned, that there are people who do meditation retreats, and that they mediate after the retreat about 4 hours a day.

4. Cody Rall MD with Techforpsych (20 min daily)

5. Mingour Rhinpoche (1 hour a day)

6. Osho (2 hours a day in the bathtub)

  • But Osho also said: “and whenever you can find time for just be”.

7. Dalai Lama (3-4 hours a day)

  • according to different sources
  • the Dalai also advices to not to retreat completely.

8.Thích Nhất Hạnh (4 hours a day)

  • information can be found in one of his YouTube videos

9. Yogi Bhajan (2 hours of Yoga practice in the morning and 2 hours the evening)

10. Shantideva (“whe should completely renounce all activities which are focused on this present life, and train in the discipline of training the mind”)

“In “The Way of the Bodhisattva, the Bodhicaryavatara”, Shantideva said, knowing that conflicting emotions are overcome throug clear-seeing, Vipashana, joined with calm-abiding, Shamatha, you should first search for the peace of Shamatha, which is accomplished with joy and non-attachment for the world.

The Buddha said, happiness comes from taming one s mind. Taming the mind is excellent.

When we first enter the teachings, it is important, that we begin our practice of the Dharma by taming our minds.

As Shantideva said, it will be accomplished with joy and non-attachment to the world.

Because unless we give up all attachments to worldly matters, and the affairs of this life, we will never accomplish calm abiding and clear-seeing.

So we should completely renounce all activities that are focused on this present life, and train in the discipline of taming the mind.

By doing so, the concentration that unites calm abiding and clear-seeing, Shamatha and Vipassana will arise in our minds.

And gradually, through clear insight, and the wisdom that realizes selflessness, on the basis of our understanding, experience and realization, we will reach the ultimate stages of the path.”

10. is taken from the YouTube video: “Dilgo Khyentse – profound advice”.

Dilgo Khyentse spent 13 years of his life in solitary retreat, from the age of fifteen until he was twenty-eight.