Josiah, perhaps it didn't come up as a topic on its own, but it has appeared on the forum a few times. Personally, I when I started it was a labour to get up that extra hour early (5 am) and to SFQ. However, after a couple of months my about to meditation time was over two hours daily and I woke up easily at 5 am. I felt I didn't need to sleep as much. I could meditate to 11 pm or later and still rise fully refreshed at 5 am. My belief was that I only needed about 5 hours a night. I understand that Master Lin only sleeps about 4 hours a night.
If you search the internet you many find information about meditation be equivalent to sleep. I seem to remember something like good deep meditation being equivalent to about twice the amount to time of sleep. However, I've not heard about anyone meditating instead of sleep.
I'm still curious about the long fast and meditation sessions. Just was happens? Is the sleep time? It sounds like you may not be passing waste, but I'd like to know more. Oh, how can I get Master Lin alone for hours of questioning. 
You are perfection,
Iam2 
