Come, Fall Asleep

How much do you sleep on an average? They say we must sleep for at least seven hours at a stretch. The actual figure varies from person to person. After a little experimentation, you can find out how many hours would be optimum for you to beauty sleep. For my family the ideal level is more than what it is for most people. Like way more. 

Okay, we inherited the lazy genes. But I also feel that there is something in our house. No, not a sleep-ghost. But our home has this languorous energy that could make anyone fall asleep and rest assured that the person will get a good sleep. I think even insomniacs would rest like the sleeping beauty in this house. So much so that I have also thought of turning a couple of rooms into sleep lounges for an earning. Or maybe not. May be its just us. 

We love to sleep. All of us. Some are more slumberous than others. But even our pets imitate their humans. Picture us. Four humans and two dogs sleeping away to glory. There’s no shame in that. But our relatives get irritated with this. We try to nod in sympathy with their point of view but often end up nodding off behind their backs.

If ever there was a slumber marathon, all of my family members would surely take the top positions. Hands down. Or we could be professional sleepers, if ever there was such a job profile. If only sleeping could pay! We would be the Ambanis of this trade. 

And you know what works like the best tranquilizer for me?

Meditation. It can be during or just after my meditation or even some other activities like japa or even yagna (the virtual one of course). I can vouch for their calming effects on the mind. If I am not alert enough, I end up drifting into a sweet nap. In fact, this should be popularized as an advantage of meditation. It would save face for anyone dealing with the guilt of dozing off in-between their mediation. 

It’s not that bad actually. You reach a state where you cannot discern if you are meditating or sleeping. It’s just a zone of tranquility. To the onlookers too, often the two activities may be distinguishable only by the difference in postures. All they see is you doing nothing. 

However, in the eyes of an adept practitioner, only incorrect mediation leads to sleep so both these activities cannot be equated with each other. Meditation requires being mindful of one’s thoughts while for sleeping you must let go of your thoughts and surrender to the unknown realms of the mind.  

Swamiji says that when you go to sleep, assume that you are going to sleep in the lap of the Mother Divine. So, sleep can be a spiritual experience too if done the Swamiji way. So blissful! 

Okay, let me confess. In our case, idleness has triumphed over the ideal and we have succumbed to our slothful selves quite unabashedly. However, as much as sleeping is good for you, they say too much of anything is bad. So, we really need to cut down on our sleep and spend more time doing sadhanas instead. And do them attentively. May God help us. 

If anyone is having trouble sleeping then they may not be able to come to our house (we are not going ahead with the ‘sleep lounge business plan’ lest it disturbs our sleep). But what they can do is to read any stuff especially anything bland or boring but positive before sleeping. It works for me and I hope it helps you float into a deep sweet sleep. 

Sleep tight. Sweet dreams.