The ability of Hindu Yoga practioners to be buried alive for long periods of time and survive is very fascinating imo. --L.B.
In deep Samadhi the meditator is able to voluntarily reduce vital functions such as respiration and metabolism dramatically. In public demonstrations the Yogi or Yogin is normally buried in an underground pit for 72 hours. Clinical studies of the practice have documented that dramatic voluntary control over respiration and metabolism is involved. Mahayogi Pilot Baba has also demonstrated a more extreme variation of this practice, the underwater or jal samadhi for four days (reported by CNN World News, November 5, 1992).