Dharma Wheel

Do people usually meditate during the day or at night? . .What did the Buddha say about the separation of light and darkness? . .

A lot of people meditate once in the morning and once in the evening. Some do a brief meditation every four or six hours around the clock, others sit now and then, some don't sit at all.

The Buddha advised his disciples to sleep during the middle period of the night, though in other scriptures he discourages indulging in sleep. One can crave and relish sleep to the point it becomes a hindrance.

I personally prefer to meditate at night, especially when I'm in monasteries, but anywhere else really. The reason for this is that during the daytime it is frequently noisy. Night is best as it is quiet, most people will be sound asleep and the atmosphere is relaxed.

Some practices are better done, and more effective, during the day and others at night.

You can try Dream Yoga.

The sun shines by day
The moon shines by night
The warrior shines in his armor
The Brahmin shines in his meditation
But the Buddha shines with effulgence both day and night

- Dhammapada

Follow a regular sleep pattern? my mom would say "Why do you get up so early?" then she would say "Why do you sleep all day?" So . . . hmm

One problem is that meditating just before you go to bed could cause you to become too energized and then you can't fall asleep. Another problem could be that you become too drowsy and your meditation is dull (and this could happen in the early morning as well).

Kirt

kirtu wrote:One problem is that meditating just before you go to bed could cause you to become too energized and then you can't fall asleep. Another problem could be that you become too drowsy and your meditation is dull (and this could happen in the early morning as well).

Kirt

I don't know I found I fall asleep much easier after meditating and have rather vivid dreams. Typically it is a drag to fall asleep otherwise.

Sometimes when i meditate before sleep, while on bed, it may happen 2 opposite things: 1) i may be overenergized and then will take too long to fall asleep or 2) i may fall asleep very fast and have a good sleep.

Thats strange!

I started meditating day and night after retirement but somehow it has been always better at night.The regular sittings are from 8 to 9 pm at all our meditation centers and our Guru also meditates at our main meditation center about 900 km away at this time.Then again,I love the sound of crickets that fills my ears at night.Tne sound of crickets somehow helps to settle the mind and creates a peaceful atmosphere suitable for a good sitting. It is the sound of silencing the mind and I feel that I am sitting deep in the jungle.I also like to meditate at 3am as the meditation is somehow different at that time.

I have also been advised to get up and sit in front of the altar to meditate for about half an hour whenever I cannot sleep.I dont have to worry about getting up early as one of the joys of retirement is I let my body get up when it has enough sleep.Just sharing.

Nirmal, it seems that you are getting a very nice, relaxing and good experience on your retirement.

I have no idea how it works: do you pay for it? For how long? Wich country are you doing the retirement?

Here in Portugal i think that such experience is near impossible.

Hi Nosta,
In Malaysia, all government servants have to retire at the age of 60.They are given a pension which is a fixed sum of money paid monthly to a person following a retirement from service.The pension that they receive monthly is about 60 percent of the last drawn salary.When I die, my wife will be given my monthly pension till she passes away too..Pensioners are also given a lump sum of money of about RM150,000 known as gratuity as an appreciation from the government for the years of service as soon as they retire.
http://www.malaysia.gov.my/EN/Relevant% ... cheme.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://jpt.mohe.gov.my/RUJUKAN/akta/aka ... n%2080.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ohh! I am sorry, only now i saw my mistake: i tought that retirement was the same as being in a retirement for budhists, i mean, to be in a temple for some days.

Only now i understand that you were talking about not working more. So, when i asked about the price of a retirement, i was asking (wrongly) for how much you were paying for being in a buddhist temple (something that you are not doing, now i see).

In my country, Portugal, the age is around 60 i think. I am not sure because they are always changing the rules (for worst). But its more or less the same as there.

Anyway, thanks for your clarification and sorry about my confusion (my english sometimes tricks me).

a) Gautama Buddha Shakyamuni Buddha -silent chant-

b) Siddhatha Gotama Buddha Shakyamuni Buddha -silent chant-

c) Siddhatha Gotama Buddha Shakyamuni Buddha -silent chant-

d) Gautama Buddha Shakaymuni Buddha -silent chant-

X3

Meditation at nighttime really does work for me.