After the development of a basic psychological understanding of the meditation process, there was a need to go one step further. On ordinary week-long retreats, participants normally meditate three to four hours a day, and often there is an opportunity to meditate up to six hours one day during the retreat. Deepening retreats have meditation periods of six to ten hours a day.
A two-week meditation retreat was held for the first time in 1988. At this retreat, the concept of process groups was introduced. The regular one-week retreats had daily technical guidance groups that focused on the technical aspects of performing meditation. At this two-week retreat, the guidance groups also opened for reflecting on the content of the spontaneous mental activity during meditation, including thoughts, emotions, images, etc. This helps participants come in contact with deeper aspects of their psychology, which may to some degree have been unconscious.
The retreat also opened for participating only one week, but those participating for two weeks had their own program to a large extent. This arrangement was repeated in 1990 and 1993.
Then came 1995, with a two-week deepening retreat at Geijerskolan in Värmland, Sweden. This was a milestone. The retreat was only for those who stayed both weeks, so that the program could be fully focused on the deepening aspects of the meditation process, and the meditation time was longer than in the previous twoweek retreats. At this retreat, the participants worked with exercises to enable an advanced repetition of the meditation sound, also called a more mentalistic way of repeating the sound. This implies trying to let go of hang-ups about bodily aspects such as the breathing, pulse, muscles in speech organs, etc. Several consecutive days with long meditations are needed to be able to work with these exercises in a productive way. Therefore, such exercises are not to be used in daily meditations. These exercises have been further developed over the years.
Acem has held at least one one-week deepening retreat every year since 1995, and some years two-week and three-week retreats in addition. The first threeweek retreat was held at Acem’s center Skaugumåsen in 2001. This was another milestone. For the first time, meditations of more than 24 hours were introduced— so-called round-the-clock meditations. This does not imply sitting in meditation without moving for 24 hours or more. It’s possible to lie down and sleep when this comes naturally, go to the toilet whenever the need arises, do physical yoga exercises, or eat and drink a little when needed. In most cases, however, meditators stay in their individual rooms with closed eyes nearly all of the time.
Acem puts much emphasis on process groups after each long meditation. With the exception of days spent in round-the-clock meditations, participants are encouraged to walk at least three to five kilometers every day to obtain some daily physical exercise. Often, these walks are combined with talking with another meditator about one’s experiences—so-called walk-and-talk. Meditating for so many hours opens up for inner aspects of one’s life, often partly unconscious aspects connected to present, past, and future. It can be very helpful to be able to reflect on these topics when meditation has brought one closer to them. The process contributes to a deeper understanding of existential issues.
In order to qualify for a three-week deepening retreat, meditators must have participated in six one-week deepening retreats in Acem. After a three-week retreat, meditators are qualified for learning additional meditative techniques to help amplify the process. The development of these additional techniques has continued over many years.
Acem held three-week deepening retreats in the summers of 2001, 2004, and 2007. From 2005, threeweek deepening retreats took place in November– December every year until 2015, when more or less the same concept was realized through an intensive program lasting only 16 days. To qualify for a 16-day retreat, previous participation in at least two three-week deepening retreats was required. From 2008, a threeweek retreat has been held every year in January. Some years, a three-week or 16-day retreat has taken place around Easter.
Some people enjoy this type of retreat and come back several times, some participate only once, and some prefer only one-week deepening retreats or regular retreats. Each person must decide what he or she prefers.