Better Sleep

~ By Ajahn Jayasāro ~

The elderly abbot of a monastery close to where I used to live had a special ability. During the weekly Wan Phra all-night practice sessions it was his custom to give very long Dhamma talks. Every now and again, if he’d had a particularly long and tiring day, he would suddenly fall asleep mid-discourse. But it was not this that was his special gift. The gift was that after some minutes (occasionally punctuated by gentle snoring) he would open his eyes and immediately continue the talk from the very point on which he’d ended it.

Few of my readers will ever have the opportunity to test for themselves whether they are able to fall asleep in front of a large audience, let alone whether they can carry on their last sentence without hesitation on waking. However, we can all observe the connection between our last mood before going to sleep at night and our first mood on waking up the following morning. This is why it is important not to try to use sleep as an escape from negative emotions. It rarely works, and usually just extends them. Cleanse your mind before sleep with chanting, meditation or spreading thoughts of loving-kindness. You will sleep better; if you dream, you’ll dream better, and you will wake up feeling refreshed.

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"Food for the Heart", a series of Dhamma teachings handwritten weekly is posted on the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives page with Ajahn's kind permission.

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For other teachings by Ven. Ajahn Jayasāro, please visit the Panyaprateep Foundation website.