[microtonal]

To me, it seems like 10 days can barely begin cracking the ice, so to speak. [...] But of course, very few people can afford the luxury of spending so much time away from work, family, etc.

I have an acquaintance who meditated in the East for some years. He told me that one of the biggest disappointments was that monks who spent years of their life meditating, could be very arrogant and selfish.

I also know of persons who meditate regularly, but never or rarely attended retreats, who seemed very enlightened.

Daily life and retreat may be a false dichotomy, I think the latter group of people were able to see every single moment of life as practice.