Question: My question is very simple, yet very much related to my progress in devotional service. Everyday I get up at 4 a.m., chant my rounds and hear lecture. But in the day time I cannot resist my tendency to sleep. Every time I make a commitment but fail. How can I avoid sleeping in the day time?
Answer by Romapada Swami :
Sleep is one of the bodily requirements. As sadhaka-devotees, just as we fulfill other bodily demands in a regulated way, with a view to keep ourselves fit for the execution of the real purpose of life, similarly we can practice to regulate our sleep, just to keep our body & mind healthy and refreshed.
Generally about 6-7 hours of sleep should be sufficient for most healthy adults, but the specific requirement may vary for different individuals. You can determine the number of hours that your body requires and take that much rest all at one time. After making that adjustment within your schedule, do not yield. Devotional service should be performed with strong determination, ‘drdha-vrata’.
Regulation and cultivation of the mode of goodness will dispel sleep and ignorance. During the daytime, keep yourself fully engaged in meaningful activities. Also, mechanically going through the motions is an invitation for tamo-guna to creep in. Make a conscientious effort from time to time to bring the mind to focus on Guru and Krishna. As Bhismadev instructs “By spiritual culture one is able to conquer sleep.” (SB 1.9.27 purport (third para from the end))
