How do Buddhist monks sleep?

[Purple Jay]

I use the Marathon Monks of Mt. Hiei as my role models. I try not to envy anyone because a master once told me not to, but to me these guys are basically super heroes - even the ones that aren't doing that insane marathon ritual. I am currently trying to alter my sleep schedule more towards what a Buddhist monk would do. I know that the monks at Mt. Hiei sleep from 8-9 in the evening to around midnight which happens to be about 4 hours of sleep. But other than that I know nothing of what other monks do.

 

Does anyone know what other Buddhist monks do (not the ones at Mt. Hiei) as far as sleep goes? What is their schedule and number of hours slept? Does anyone have experience with this?

Edited December 11, 2017 by Purple Jay

[Ether]

Dude, pay close attention, i mean REALLY.

 

They got to bed

 

Watch out, this is the crazy part!

 

AND THEY CLOSE THEIR EYES!

 

DUDE! SECRETS! EXPOOOOOSED

[Purple Jay]

@Ether I wish I could laugh with you but this is just not my kind of humor. x) Have a good day.

[Ether]

@Purple Jay just a joke maine

[cetus]

@Purple Jay

SLEEP

Sleep (niddà or seyyà) is a natural state characterized by reduced bodily movement, limited reaction to external stimuli and loss of consciousness. It has been estimated that the average person spends about a third of his or her life sleeping. The biological function of sleep seems to be to rejuvenate the body and the mind by giving them complete rest. However, sleeping beyond the required amount, insufficient or irregular sleep can seriously affect one's physical and psychological well-being, a fact that the Buddha was fully aware of. He told his lay disciples that sleeping after daybreak and being up all night would have a negative impact on their lives (D.III,185). He also realized that because monks and nuns do not have to work and have ample free time, that they can all too easily slip into the habit of sleeping rather than meditating or studying. Hence his frequent reminder to them that they should not be `fond of sleeping' (niddàràma, A.III,116; It.72; Sn.96). He said: `When one is lazy, gluttonous, snoozing and lolling on the bed like a great fat pig, he will be reborn again and again'(Dhp.325).

            We read that the Buddha would sometimes take an afternoon nap or siesta (divàseyyà), although this was probably only after he had become quite old. An ascetic named Saccaka once asked the Buddha if he slept in the afternoon and he replied: `I can recall that in the last month of the hot season after returning from my alms round and having eaten my meal that I would fold my robe into four, spread it out, lie down and go to sleep mindfully and fully aware.' Saccaka sniffed: `Some would call that abiding in delusion' (M.I,250).

            The Buddha observed that our behaviour while awake can sometimes have an effect during sleep. Being immoral or cruel, for example, can cause insomnia or restless sleep. `When the fool is on his couch or bed or lying on the ground, the evil actions he has done in the past descend on him, settle on him, lie on him, just as the shadow of a mountain in the late afternoon descends, settles and lies on the earth. At that time the fool thinks ßI have not done what is beautiful or skilful. I have not protected myself against the fearful û Then he is uneasy and troubled, he weeps and despairs' (condensed, M.III,164-5). Likewise, a person who has a loving disposition `sleeps happily, wakes happily and has no bad dreams' (sukhaü supati, sukhaü pañibhujjhati, na pàpakaü supinaü passati, A.V.342).

            The Buddha said that sound and peaceful rest is one of the many positive results of being enlightened. `The enlightened one, done with sensual pleasures, free from acquisitions and with a cool heart, always sleeps happily. When attachments are chopped off, the heart is carefree, and the mind is at peace, and the serene one sleeps well'(S.I,212).

            Those practising meditation sometimes find that they become drowsy after meals (bhattasammada), start nodding (pacàla) and have to struggle to keep awake despite having had sufficient sleep. This is one of the recognized hindrances to meditation and the Buddha gave this practical advice for helping overcome it. `When thoughts that encourage drowsiness arise you should not give attention to them. If having done this the drowsiness does not go you should ponder the Dhamma as you have learned it, you should examine it and think about it. If having done this the drowsiness does not go you should recite the Dhamma as you have learned it. If having done this the drowsiness does not go you should pull both ear lobes and rub your limbs with your hands. If having done this the drowsiness does not go you should get up and having washed your face look around and gaze upwards to the starry constellations. If having done so the drowsiness does not go you should imagine a light and focus on it whether it is daytime or night. Thus open and clear the mind will become bright. If having done so the drowsiness does not go you should turn your senses inwards and walk up and down with full awareness. If having done all this the drowsiness still does not go you should mindfully lie down on your right side placing one foot on the other (and when rested) get straight up thinking: ßI must not indulge in the pleasure of sleeping, reclining and torpor'.û (condensed, A.IV,86-7). See Dreams.

[Hsinav]

[jse]

4 hours ago, Purple Jay said:

How do Buddhist monks sleep?

The more interesting question would be:

How do Buddhist monks remain awake?

Edited December 11, 2017 by jse

[YaNanNallari]

Honestly that ether guy is being dumb lol. Anyway once you're high enough consciousness you will be able to rest quite well without actually entering sleeping mode. So they might be really good at not using excess energy and resting parts that they can while doing whatever they do. So it is unrealistic for a normal person to be able to do the same.

[pluto]

When i used to meditate a lot i hardly slept so who knows really and @jse with those enlightened responses kills me every time <3

Nice to see you around brother

[cirkussmile]

Yogis never sleep.

Only sleeping people sleep.

A wake up person is always awake.

Consciousness never sleep. A wake up person knows who he is.

Consciousness never sleep.

Edited December 12, 2017 by cirkussmile

[Purple Jay]

@cetus56 Didn't quite give me the answer I was looking for but never mind that, it was still useful. Thank you for the response.

[Purple Jay]

@jse Perhaps that is the more interesting question! But it's not the question I was asking. There's a time and a place for everything.

[Purple Jay]

@cirkussmile That's a very enlightened response. But it is also completely useless.

[Purple Jay]

Looks like nobody on this thread could give a satisfying answer before I researched it and found one myself. If anybody is curious, I found that Shaolin monks sleep from 10 evening to 6 morning. This is now what I do as well and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a healthy, peaceful and disciplined lifestyle.

Thanks to @cetus56 ,@YaNanNallari  and @pluto for the somewhat useful replies.

Have a wonderful day.

[cirkussmile]

29 minutes ago, Purple Jay said:

Looks like nobody on this thread could give a satisfying answer before I researched it and found one myself. If anybody is curious, I found that Shaolin monks sleep from 10 evening to 6 morning. This is now what I do as well and I would recommend it for anyone looking for a healthy, peaceful and disciplined lifestyle.

Thanks to @cetus56 ,@YaNanNallari  and @pluto for the somewhat useful replies.

Have a wonderful day.

8 hours seems long for a monk.

The monks I have met sleeps maybe 5-6 hours and they wake up 3.30.

But the monks I have met are does not follow Buddhism

[Ocean]

Sleep can be used as death training in many ways. 

 

It can also be used for entertainment, I personally have flown like superman in lucid dream experiences. Cool memories/experience with feeling.

 

I once read that, what you would call a monk, do an exercise while getting sleep which was to dissolve all thoughts of the day in white light so it won’t impact dreams and the morning state. For you know, reasons!

 

For a while, when more busy, I would play out my day in reverse and attempt to remember things that happened.

 

Some famous historical dude use to ask himself a simple question apparently, “what good have I done today” 

 

In the end, simplicity wins. Eat when hungry, sleep when tired. 

Edited December 28, 2017 by Ocean

[Soulbass]

I've read they sleep on a wooden bench, so their mind never gets totally relaxed, even while sleeping (and not fall in one side or another). The goal is to "still" the mind 24/7.

4h sleep > 1h meditation/prayers in the middle of the night > 3h sleep.

Check books like "The Tibetan Yogas of Dream and Sleep" by Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, or "Dream Yoga and the Practice of Natural Light" by Chogyal Namkhai Norbu.

Edited December 28, 2017 by Soulbass

[SOUL]

With one eye open.... the third eye.