How many hours a week do you meditate?

[Jechbi]

What do you think is the ideal ratio?

I think the ideal ratio will always depend on the individual. For me at this stage I'd like to get it closer to 1:1.

[alan]

And where does contemplation enter in as a factor of study?

[alan]

Off to bed. I hope this little spark starts a flame of conversation. If not I'll just start a new thread, if you don't mind.

[Reductor]

And where does contemplation enter in as a factor of study?

Hmm. I think contemplation is contemplation, study is study. Do you mean contemplation of the doctrine, or contemplation of events as they arise in your day? All through the day we should be contemplating events as they arise and disband, and how they affect us (ie, was I better with or without?). As for contemplation of doctrine, I would class that with study. How do you put all the information together into a mental construct unless you contemplate everything that you are learning?

As for another question about study vs sit, and where the balance is. For me there was a time when I only studied, and did not sit. Or when I tried I had no resolve and would abandon it. I have never been a 'just sit' kind of guy, and so now I study some but sit more. My study is for direction on how to make the best use of my time in meditation, and for inspiration (I've been reading more biographies or thai monks).

It is common for me to meditate for 1 hour, some days getting up to 2 and 3 (from 7hr/wk to 12hr/wk). For those over an hour I usually go from sit to lions-position back to sit just to break it into several smaller 'sittings'. If there is stiffness in my legs I will walk. Once I hit on absorption it is all good and there is very little resistance to going in and out for long periods. Usually good sense prevails and I go to bed (since I don't start until 11pm at the earliest I am in bed by 2 am)

[GrahamR]

Hello

I have a young family, so if the baby wakes me up at night I do half an hour or so.
I try to get to work a bit before everyone else and do 10 minutes then, and again 10 minutes at lunch time.
I used to get up early in the morning and do half an hour then, but with the baby it's just too much

[fivebells]

Yeah, very early in the morning when you've been woken up by something is one of the best times to meditate.