user-1: I have heard about buddhist monks who undertake strictly solitary practice for 6 months where they practice entirely by themselves. They have no human contact and some of the other monks will come and bring them their food. The other monks will leave the food at the entrance and only when they leave the solitary monk will come out to take the food. 
I'm very interested in this way of practicing and would like to know what the benefits of such concentrated practice is and the fact that there is no human contact or contact with the outside world.

user3532: Meditation puts the body into a sort of state of hibernation, doesn't it, to some extent? The passage of time becomes very relative, and if the practitioner is accessing a bliss state, then...who needs human company? 
Monks in isolation are involved in repeated intense inner-directed mental exercises.
[here]
you might find this useful

user12858: Such practice is not wished by the Buddha, actually the whole issues of storing food and cooking for themselves are meant also for that purpose. There was a question about livelihood of hermits here, which touches the issue outwardly.
Inwardly the Buddha often "begged" monks to stay with the Sangha, since solitude life (even if still for alms out) is not good for one having not developed Samadhi, e.g. not beyond sensuality at its gross form.
In one case, to Upali, he made the example of cats and rabbits, willing to follow the elephant and jumping into the lake, finding no ground and get lost.
To develop right view, as well to abstain from sensuality for the next step, is good done when having the "controlling" support of admirable friends.
So for a worldling of no benefit, and for someone on the path, it's better to depend on admirable friend, Nissaya, Nyom Lanka.
Practising people are always in solitude (turned inwardly, what ever they do) and if not talking about Dhamma.
[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant for commercial use or other lower wordily gains by ways of exchange or trade]

user715: If one has the maturity, will and energy, this can be very good. Unfortunately, most lack that kind of will until they have progressed a good distance already. Bodhidharma, the Zen patriarch practiced this way for nine years.
Isolated practice can only cut us off from humans, when concentration deepens, it can often lead to encounters with non-humans :-) It's never possible to cut us off from all sentient existence.
There are dangers and rewards with everything. Reintegration with society can be difficult, if we are not mature and stable enough, some experiences in solitary meditation can be very scary and disturbing, especially if we choose to practice in places with spirits, like graveyards.
It's like free climbing without a rope, not for beginners.
p.s. if you have not already, read the biography of Ajahn Mun Bhuridatto Thera

-1: <p>I have heard about buddhist monks who undertake strictly solitary practice for 6 months where they practice entirely by themselves. They have no human contact and some of the other monks will come and bring them their food. The other monks will leave the food at the entrance and only when they leave the solitary monk will come out to take the food. </p>

<p>I'm very interested in this way of practicing and would like to know what the benefits of such concentrated practice is and the fact that there is no human contact or contact with the outside world.</p>
 3532: <p>Meditation puts the body into a sort of state of hibernation, doesn't it, to some extent? The passage of time becomes very relative, and if the practitioner is accessing a bliss state, then...who needs human company? 
Monks in isolation are involved in repeated intense inner-directed mental exercises.
[here]
you might find this useful</p>
 12858: <p>Such practice is not wished by the Buddha, actually the whole issues of storing food and cooking for themselves are meant also for that purpose. There was a <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/24000/12858">question about livelihood of hermits</a> here, which touches the issue outwardly.</p>

<p>Inwardly the Buddha often "begged" monks to stay with the Sangha, since solitude life (even if still for alms out) is not good for one having not developed Samadhi, e.g. not beyond sensuality at its gross form.</p>

<p>In one case, to Upali, he made the example of cats and rabbits, willing to follow the elephant and jumping into the lake, finding no ground and get lost.</p>

<p>To develop right view, as well to abstain from sensuality for the next step, is good done when having the "controlling" support of admirable friends.</p>

<p>So for a worldling of no benefit, and for someone on the path, it's better to depend on admirable friend, Nissaya, Nyom Lanka.</p>

<p>Practising people are always in solitude (turned inwardly, what ever they do) and if not talking about Dhamma.</p>

<p><em>[Note: This is a gift of Dhamma, not meant for commercial use or other lower wordily gains by ways of exchange or trade]</em></p>
 715: <p>If one has the maturity, will and energy, this can be very good. Unfortunately, most lack that kind of will until they have progressed a good distance already. Bodhidharma, the Zen patriarch practiced this way for nine years.</p>

<p>Isolated practice can only cut us off from humans, when concentration deepens, it can often lead to encounters with non-humans :-) It's never possible to cut us off from all sentient existence.</p>

<p>There are dangers and rewards with everything. Reintegration with society can be difficult, if we are not mature and stable enough, some experiences in solitary meditation can be very scary and disturbing, especially if we choose to practice in places with spirits, like graveyards.</p>

<p>It's like free climbing without a rope, not for beginners.</p>

<p>p.s. if you have not already, read the <a href="https://www.abhayagiri.org/books/aacariya-mun-bhuridatta-thera" rel="nofollow">biography of Ajahn Mun Bhuridatto Thera</a></p>
