Japa and meditation are the food of the mind, and their practice is most essential. Even if you don’t relish it in the beginning, you must practice regularly. Even through mere practice, you can gain a good deal. Daily at least two hours of Japa and meditation is required. Solitary retirement is also a great help to the spiritual aspirant. Simply by sitting silently in the secluded nook of a garden or on lonely outskirt of a cast, open field, or shut up within your own room, you can profit much.
(p.168, Eternal Companion, Swami Brahmananda’s words on 6 Feb,1918 in Balaram Mandir)