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Is there any advice in the suttas about getting up early?

jlseagull90jlseagull90
edited December 2010 in Buddhism Basics
Or a meditation for getting up early... seeing as the suttas seem to have tonnes of advice on practical matters I was wondering if there was anything about getting up out of bed in the morning, I find it basically impossible.

Comments

  • namahbuddhanamahbuddha
    I am with you in that matter, jlseagull90. If I try to wake up very early, it is just to sleep during the practice my body just doesn't answer to that and I pass the rest of the day miserable and moody with everybody. It would be great to hear about a mention of this in the sutras or any advice from the tantrayana too.
  • newtechnewtech Veteran
    Hello.

    This is a good sutta connected with sloth-torpor

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an07/an07.058.than.html


  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    Thus have I heard....
    In Tibet,traditionally, Monks get up at sunrise, and go to sleep at sunset.
    This makes for very long days in the summer, but nice short ones in the winter.....
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited December 2010


    During the first watch of the night, sitting & pacing back & forth, we will cleanse the mind of any qualities that would hold it in check.

    During the second watch of the night reclining on his right side, we will take up the lion's posture, one foot placed on top of the other, mindful, alert, with the mind set on getting up.

    During the last watch of the night, sitting & pacing back & forth, we will cleanse the mind of any qualities that would hold it in check:

    That's how you should train yourselves.


    First watch: Dusk to 10 p.m.
    Second watch: 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
    Third watch: 2 a.m. to dawn.


    :)

  • genkakugenkaku Northampton, Mass. U.S.A. Veteran
    To quote a friend of mine who used to like mangling Ben Franklin:

    Early to bed
    And early to rise...
    And you never see any of your friends.

    Setting aside the smiles for a minute, Buddhism as a practice is challenging. It will, in fact, challenge every aspect of your life ... that's EVERY aspect, not just some. But like a weight-lifter who does not lift 500 pounds before he can easily lift 50, patience and constancy and firmness are needed.

    So ... rather than trying to get up at sunrise when you are used to sleeping until 10, how about backing things up by an hour. It's just an hour. Do that for a week or so and see how it goes. If it's hard, do it for another week ... and see how that goes. Review each week. When you get somewhat accustomed, try an hour and a half ... etc. Don't dwell on how crappy the sitting is. Focus on the fact that you are, in fact, sitting ... even if you're dozing. Keep it up. Whine later. A little at a time, it won't be so extraordinary.

    Best wishes.
  • jlseagull90jlseagull90
    Hehe maybe I'll start sleeping sunset to sunrise!! If only my work day would be so accomodating. Recently read some articles on biphasic sleep that were quite interesting. Thanks for your help everyone. The sloth or torpor one looks quite interesting... the "pleasure of drowsiness"...
  • CloudCloud Veteran
    I don't know about sutras specifically (specific ones), but the essence is that we're going against the stream of conditioned habits. Not allowing the mind to simply follow its tanha/thirst wherever it may lead. And so when we awake, we should establish mindfulness and get up. At least this is what a monastic life would teach.
  • CristinaCristina
    Gosh, I have this problem too. I am SO attached to sleep, getting "enough" sleep, laying in bed a long time in the morning before I actually get up. It's pretty much my favourite thing to do in the whole world, at the time, anyway... Anyway I just realized this morning that I need to give it up in order to find real happiness. I thought about making my bed less comfortable. I'm not sure. I just cannot for the life of me convince myself to get out of bed when it's just THAT comfortable. Then I thought, "maybe that's why monastics aren't allowed to sleep on luxurious beds..."

    On the other hand, it's kind of like "leaving the cocoon," each morning. And maybe if I could develop the discipline to get out of bed every morning soon after I wake up, it would help me to step out of my comfort zone in other places in life.

    Anyway, just my take on it. I find it basically impossible as well. :)
  • cazcaz Veteran United Kingdom Veteran
    Lots of sleep tends to make me more tired then I already was.
    Try multiple alarms and a sense of urgency ;)
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    edited December 2010
    Personally I don't see the point in forcing myself to get up early. Then again I don't really have much goin on in my life right now. It is apparently quite beneficial to some, though.
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