Talk:Chilla (retreat)

Is it possible?
I'm wondering if its possible to stay without food and water for 40 days. I think its humanly impossible to stay without water for 3 days. Also on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Ghulam_Ahmad#Early_life its said that a companion would give him food and leave without talking, so how does that qualify as doing it successfully? digitwoman (talk) 21:29, 12 December 2008 (UTC)
 * They mean that they fast for 40 days, they do eat food, but during iftar. But usually they eat lesser food, and its mostly vegetarian. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.14.10.10 (talk) 09:34, 10 December 2010 (UTC)

Removal of devotee-published sources
I have removed the reference to Kalchuri, Meher Prabhu. For discussion, see RS/N and this Talk page. Simon Kidd (talk) 08:38, 7 April 2012 (UTC)

There is nothing in the RSN page you link to that gives you the right to remove referenced text. You are removing valid information from articles acting against consensus. Hoverfish Talk 20:41, 7 April 2012 (UTC)


 * I linked to two pages. Fifelfoo said on his Talk page: "I'd suggest editing out OR and inappropriately sourced content, citing policy and appropriate discussions, and discussing at length on the talk page." The relevant policy/guideline says that an article "must be based upon reliable third-party sources, and meets this requirement if [among other things, it] is independent and unaffiliated with the subject, thus excluding sources such as self-published material by the subject, autobiographies, and promotional materials". Kalchuri fails this test, since he is published by an organisation affiliated with the subject. Simon Kidd (talk) 22:58, 7 April 2012 (UTC)

You can't unilaterally decide that Lord Meher is not a reliable source. You can't unilaterally decide that it is devotional and not a reliable biography. What is "Devotional"? and who decides. Not You, Mr Kidd. Hoverfish Talk 16:15, 8 April 2012 (UTC)

Assessment comment
Substituted at 18:12, 17 July 2016 (UTC)

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Biblical Reference
There are a number of references in the Bible to 40 days and 40 nights… Is there any relation between this practice noted in this article and the biblical references? Thanks SUOMYNOPE (talk) 20:13, 19 September 2021 (UTC)


 * , none whatsoever. Chilla is not limited to 40 exact days and nights and it originated from the independent jurisdiction of an islamic scholar. - Sulṭān ʿAbdullāh al-Hindi Talk 15:18, 30 September 2021 (UTC)

Why is Chilla related to certain practices mentioned in the "See also" section?
May I remind you to kindly assume good faith? It's not about being from other religions. If I may ask, could you kindly explain how those other practices are related to the Chilla? - Sulṭān ʿAbdullāh al-Hindi Talk 17:44, 20 April 2022 (UTC)


 * @Sultan.abdullah.hindi With all due respects brother. We all are here in good faith. Kindly let me explain how they are similar:
 * Chilla is a ritual where mendicant or ascetic attempts to remain seated practicing meditation techniques without food for days and nights.
 * Sadhana is done for attaining detachment from worldly things (Same as Chilla just different set of words used ...... its done same as seating meditation and without food day and night and some elements are extra there as no limited to no. of day and sometimes some extra ritual is involved but everything else is same as Chilla where person shuts (detaches) himself from the world for no of days in Chilla-khana)
 * Shugendō a Gen-practice where they enter in to the mountain for a certain period of time," a kind of mountain retreat during which yamabushi do various ascetic practices and receive esoteric knowledge and initiations. (Similar to Chilla or Sadhana both are also retreat ... different is this that Chilla is done in chilla-khana or in quite place like forest or hills etc, Sadhana is done generally in hills and in Shugendō everything is focused to hills/mountains.
 * Vision quest a Native American practice of complete fast for days and nights, alone at a sacred site in nature during which the young person prays and cries out to the spirits that they may have a vision, one that will help them find their purpose in life. (In this practice person fasts, and stays awake and concentrates on their quest .... same story fasting, meditation and quite & sacred site sameas Chilla or Sadhana or Shugendō .)
 * So all 3 are retreats involving meditation like practices, done in quit places like hills/mountains, to obtain other worldly knowledge. They all are quite similar practices just done in different parts of the world. So we find them similar to be relevant to keep in the See also section of respective pages for interested audience and knowledge. I really hope my answer satisfies you.
 * With all regards. talk 20:40, 20 April 2022 (UTC)


 * I see. It's the lack of information in the main article which leads you on to this confusion. Chilla is specifically a 40-day long duration of time and is actually much wider than it has been presented to be in the article. It can be done for a variety of purposes and with varying sets of rules. It's actually not restricted to esotericism. People don't necessarily meditate in a Chilla, in general, unless it also involves Khalwa/Uzla. A chilla is not even restricted to specific locations/settings (like a Chilla-khana) but can be done with other people and even in a Masjid filled with people. It does not necessarily involve isolation, though it can. So, a chilla is much wider. Vision quest is definitely not relevant, as far as I can see. - Sulṭān ʿAbdullāh al-Hindi Talk 14:43, 23 April 2022 (UTC)