What are the benefits of solitary practice?

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If one has the maturity, will and energy, this can be very good. Unfortunately, most lack that kind of will until they have progressed a good distance already. Bodhidharma, the Zen patriarch practiced this way for nine years.

Isolated practice can only cut us off from humans, when concentration deepens, it can often lead to encounters with non-humans :-) It's never possible to cut us off from all sentient existence.

There are dangers and rewards with everything. Reintegration with society can be difficult, if we are not mature and stable enough, some experiences in solitary meditation can be very scary and disturbing, especially if we choose to practice in places with spirits, like graveyards.

It's like free climbing without a rope, not for beginners.

p.s. if you have not already, read the biography of Ajahn Mun Bhuridatto Thera

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There is no special way of practise here, apart from having samadhi. If there is no samadhi, there is no bliss. If there is no bliss, such solitude will be torture. Samadhi is ideally developed in an ordinary retreat.

This said, there are no special benefits of such solitude, if the solitude is physically comfortable. When the Buddha used the word 'solitude' ('viveka'), he was primarily referring to mental solitude from the five hindrances. Thus, for a mind with samadhi, physical solitude makes little difference.

However, living in a forest or cave, where there are animals, snakes & creeping things, this is challenging & has the special benefit of fearlessness.

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Meditation puts the body into a sort of state of hibernation, doesn't it, to some extent? The passage of time becomes very relative, and if the practitioner is accessing a bliss state, then...who needs human company? Monks in isolation are involved in repeated intense inner-directed mental exercises. [here] you might find this useful

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Such practice is not wished by the Buddha, actually the whole issues of storing food and cooking for themselves are meant also for that purpose. There was a question about livelihood of hermits here, which touches the issue outwardly.

Inwardly the Buddha often "begged" monks to stay with the Sangha, since solitude life (even if still for alms out) is not good for one having not developed Samadhi, e.g. not beyond sensuality at its gross form.

In one case, to Upali, he made the example of cats and rabbits, willing to follow the elephant and jumping into the lake, finding no ground and get lost.

To develop right view, as well to abstain from sensuality for the next step, is good done when having the "controlling" support of admirable friends.

So for a worldling of no benefit, and for someone on the path, it's better to depend on admirable friend, Nissaya, Nyom Lanka.

Practising people are always in solitude (turned inwardly, what ever they do) and if not talking about Dhamma.

[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant for commercial use or other lower wordily gains by ways of exchange or trade]

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