how many HOURS a day do you meditate?

[Diana]

Before I answer the poll:

Does gardening count? I'm in a very Zen state when I garden...no thoughts whatsoever. Should I factor that in?

It definitely counts, but in my life, it is somewhat different than meditation proper. For me, there are 2 types of meditation:

1) Meditation that is the result of a one-pointed focus on any daily activity such as gardening, writing, work, walking, cleaning, anything. These things can be done with total focus and relaxation, emptying the mind of everything. However, there is still some consciousness of the task, which produces a dynamic. The mind can open to messages, contact with higher self, but it seems to be colored by the purpose.

While gardening, one might realize the beauty of all things while opening to the miracle of plants. While writing, painting, or any other creative adventure, one might open to channeling information as one's focus becomes greater, and the mind let's go of extraneous influences, but it is still in dynamic with the task.

2) Meditation for meditation's sake. This is when one endeavors to completely empty the mind of all, and there is no dynamic or task in place to possibly limit access to information. One opens oneself to the infinite, and the infinite is tapped.

Because of my creative work, and the fact that I work from home, I have gotten really good at one-pointed focus on tasks. One learns to "get in the groove" where time is no longer comprehendible, much like gardening I would guess.

I have meditated sporadically with groups or at home, in the traditional way. For a few years, I was meditating 2 hours a day. I must say that that much meditation yielded far more profound results, and more "out there" as far what I experienced as a result.