Wednesday, August 18, 2004

Insomnia & Narcolepsy Are Bad Omens

Insomnia & Narcolepsy Are Bad Omens:
The Buddha said for one whose release of awareness through goodwill has been well undertaken, he (amongst other things) sleeps and wakes easily and he is headed for heaven if not penetrating higher. Hence, if you have difficulty going to sleep or you struggle to wake up, it is, according to the Buddha, an indication that your awareness is not well released through goodwill and you may not be headed for heaven but the opposite, eternal punishment because at the close of the Age you either go to heaven or eternal punishment.
Difficulty sleeping or insomnia is a very common problem (hence many people are not going to heaven). Even when ordinary people think they sleep or wake well, they may be exaggerating, in keeping with their acting persona because it still takes a while before they fall asleep and their sleep may be shallow and fitful, punctuated by nightmares. What they call sleeping well may be sleeping badly by the Buddha’s standard.
It is not possible for a Buddha to sleep well on some days and badly on others because as he said, ALWAYS he sleeps in ease. Hence, even if you have difficulty sleeping on some days, it is a reflection that your awareness is compromised and not released through well-established goodwill.
In the same way, ordinary people may notice that they have on occasions struggled to wake up, falling back helplessly into sleep or they wake up with an unpleasant state of their minds. There are people who are difficult to arouse, you have to shout, shake and slap them (all sinful conduct) to wake them up and even then they may only grunt and continue sleeping regardless.
I need little sleep nowadays and have little difficulty getting to sleep nowadays because there are no emotions, exciting or disturbing thoughts that detain my mind and I wake easily and often I prefer to get up earlier to meditate. Nowadays I find the calm clarity that rapidly arises with meditation clearly superior to the twilight state of lying half awake supine.
Anyone who acts (ordinary people) must have difficulty getting to sleep and awakening because he is constantly churning up forceful stress, conflict and restlessness by going against himself to act. Anyone who is stressed and restlessness must have difficulty getting to sleep. If you have to wake up daily to face a mind warping stressful life of acting and being nice to everyone, it is not surprising if you are reluctant to get up.
Metta Sutta: Good Will
The Buddha: "Monks, for one whose release of awareness through good will is cultivated, consolidated and well-undertaken, eleven benefits can be expected.
"One sleeps easily, wakes easily, dreams no evil dreams. One is dear to human beings & non-human beings. The devas (angels) protect one. Fire, poison or weapons cannot touch one. One's mind gains concentration quickly. One's complexion is bright. One dies unconfused and -- if penetrating no higher -- is headed for the Brahma worlds (heaven).
"Always he sleeps in ease:
the Brahmin totally unbound,
who doesn't adhere to sensual pleasures,
who's without acquisitions & cooled.
Having cut all ties & subdued fear in the heart,
calmed, he sleeps in ease, having reached peace
of awareness."

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