Transforming the Character of Sleep

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Giving the body the rest and
recuperative time it needs, the

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spiritual aspirant still has to
deal with the effects of what is

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normally a descent into a more
temassic state that can have its

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impacts on the waking
consciousness.

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If we wake up tired, groggy or
cloudy, we have not only not

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fully recharged the body, but we
have put a drag on our waking

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consciousness.
How many people need to resort

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to coffee or tea first thing in
the morning so that the caffeine

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helps to offset the dullness or
grogginess?

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How many people report strange
and disorienting dreams that may

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incorporate various reactions
such as fear, desire, sexual

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pressure, or other elements that
represent the otherwise

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suppressed energies of the lower
vital nature?

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These things can be modified and
uplifted.

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It is a well known phenomenon
that an individual can go to

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sleep with something unresolved
on his mind and then wake up

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with the solution he was
seeking.

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This shows that the
consciousness is at work

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subliminally during sleep and
that it can provide positive,

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not just negative, experiences
and results.

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We know that oftentimes
spiritual aspirants report

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uplifting dreams and experiences
in sleep.

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Sometimes they are visited by a
spiritual teacher who imparts

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various teachings during sleep.
Other times they have the

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experience of flying up into
some heavenly realm where they

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learn about and see things
normally restricted from their

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waking minds.
Sometimes they find themselves

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in a location that has a special
healing and uplifting atmosphere

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during sleep.
These experiences provide the

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encouragement that sleep can
undergo changes that can aid the

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sadhna rather than obstruct or
hinder it in some way.

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The question then comes down to
methodology.

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There are many known methods for
improving the quality of sleep.

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First, the waking mind must be
set at rest and not be

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intoxicated or otherwise
impaired.

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Second, electronic devices that
disrupt the normal brain wave

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patterns should be turned off
for some time before bed.

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Third, taking time for
meditation or prayer or a

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feeling of consecration can set
the mood for a peaceful and

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restful sleep. 4th focusing in
aspiration and an affirmation

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for the sleep to be uplifting or
safe in the company of revered

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teachers in an atmosphere of
well-being will help to move the

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subconscious parts to the
desired energetic place. 5th The

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individual should avoid vitally
disruptive atmospheres before

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sleep, such as night clubs or
loud vital venues which leave

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the nerves frayed and on edge
and don't allow the being to

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relax properly. 6th A calming
ritual before bed can help the

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individual to shed any residual
energies of the waking

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consciousness so that he can
move peacefully into the sleep

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state. 7th Reading some
inspirational literature can aid

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the individual in focusing the
mind and quieting it at the same

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time. 8th Practices such as yoga
nidra have been found helpful in

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systematically relaxing all the
muscles of the body and quieting

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the mind. 9th Not eating too
late or too heavy foods or foods

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that tend to inflamed or dull
the system, particularly without

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sufficient time to digest the
food fully prior to bedtime.

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There are of course many methods
and many known practices, and

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these are simply some
illustrations to aid in the

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process, not at all intended to
be fully definitive.

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Each individual can find out for
himself what works best to

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achieve the desired result,
Sriorovindo writes.

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Quote Sleep cannot be replaced,
but it can be changed, for you

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can become conscious in sleep.
If you are thus conscious, then

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the night can be utilized for a
higher working provided the body

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gets its due rest.
For the object of sleep is the

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body's rest and the renewal of
the vital physical force.

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It is a mistake to deny to the
body food and sleep, as some

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from an ascetic idea or impulse
want to do.

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That only wears out the physical
support, and although either the

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yogic or the vital energy can
long keep at work and over

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strained or declining physical
system, a time comes when this

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drawing is no longer so easy nor
perhaps possible.

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The body should be given what it
needs for its own efficient

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working, moderate but sufficient
food, without greed or desire,

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sufficient sleep but not of the
heavy temasek kind.

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This should be the rule.
End Quote reference Srioro

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Bindo.
Basis of yoga.

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Chapter 5.
Physical consciousness,

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subconscious sleep and dream
illness.

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Pages 101 to 102.