Conquering Sleep - Rising Above the Darkness of Illusion
In the material world, the conditioned soul is heavily burdened by the bodily demands of eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. However, the path of spiritual realization requires gradually reducing these material necessities to awaken one's eternal nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that sleep is a direct symptom of the mode of ignorance, and systematically conquering it is an essential step for achieving perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
Guḍākeśa: Conquering the Darkness of Illusion
In Vedic literature, sleep is synonymous with darkness and illusion (māyā). Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Arjuna is famously addressed by the title Guḍākeśa, meaning one who has perfectly conquered sleep and ignorance through his intimate friendship with the Supreme Lord.
- Arjuna is referred to as Gudakesa (in Bhagavad-Gita 1.24). Gudaka means sleep, and one who conquers sleep is called gudakesa. Sleep also means ignorance. So Arjuna conquered both sleep and ignorance because of his friendship with Krsna.
- In this verse (of Bhagavad-Gita 10.20) Arjuna is addressed as Gudakesa, which means one who has conquered the darkness of sleep.
- Gudakesa means one who has conquered sleep. Sleeping means maya, or darkness.
- At that time Arjuna, the great warrior and conqueror of sleep, who is the intimate friend of the most beloved Supreme Lord (Krsna), took up an umbrella which had a handle of jewels and was embroidered with lace and pearls.
Direct Link Between Eating and Sleeping
The bodily demands are deeply interconnected and fuel one another. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that sleeping depends heavily on eating; therefore, by strictly regulating one's diet and eating frugally in the mode of goodness, a sincere practitioner can effectively reduce their hours of sleep.
- If you eat extraordinarily, then you will sleep also extraordinarily. If you eat frugally, as much minimum required, then you can conquer over sleep. Eating, sleeping. Sleeping depends on eating.
- If we conquer our eating then we can conquer our sleeping also.
- By practicing hatha-yoga, pranayama and so forth one should counteract sufferings due to the body and mind. Similarly, by developing the mode of goodness, especially in regard to eating, one should conquer sleep.
- By spiritual culture one is able to conquer sleep. By tolerance only can one conquer desires and avarice.
Sublime Example of the Gosvāmīs
To understand how this principle is practically applied, one must look to the great ācāryas. As Śrīla Prabhupāda frequently reminds us, the six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana perfectly demonstrated this by conquering over sleeping, eating, and mating (nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau) to immerse themselves completely in spiritual life.
- All the Gosvamis, they did so. They conquered over sleeping, conquered over eating, conquered over sex desire and conquered defense.
- Spiritual advancement means, as Rupa Gosvami and other Gosvamis showed us example, they conquered over this, nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau - to conquer over sleeping, to conquer over eating, to conquer over sex and to conquer over fearing.
- If we follow our predecessors, our Gosvamis, who were all ministers . . . But they came to Vrndavana to practice. What? Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau, to conquer over sleeping, eating and mating.
- If practiced, it can be reduced, practiced. We see in the life of Gosvamis. About them, it is said: nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau. They conquered over sleeping, eating. If we conquer over eating, then we can conquer over sleeping and other things also.
Supreme Trance of the Paramahaṁsa
When a soul reaches the highest stage of spiritual evolution, the physical body's demands are naturally eclipsed by transcendental ecstasy. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that in the paramahaṁsa stage, a pure devotee is in a state of constant samādhi, effortlessly conquering sleep by remaining eternally absorbed in thoughts of Kṛṣṇa.
- In the paramahamsa stage one conquers the desire for sleep, food and sense gratification. One remains a humble, meek mendicant engaged in the service of the Lord day and night. Madhavendra Puri had attained this paramahamsa stage.
- A devotee of Krsna can conquer both sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of Krsna constantly. This is called Krsna consciousness, or samadhi.
- Either in waking or in sleep, a devotee of the Lord can never be free from thinking of Krsna's name, form, qualities and pastimes. Thus a devotee of Krsna can conquer both sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of Krsna constantly.
- Conquering over sleeping, conquering over sex life and conquering over eating, these things are required. Pious life means gradually decreasing the unnecessarily bodily demands. That is pious life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, conquering sleep is not an artificial or forceful austerity, but a natural byproduct of advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. By recognizing that sleep is a product of the mode of ignorance, a serious devotee aims to minimize it by carefully regulating their eating habits and practicing spiritual culture. Following the brilliant example set by Arjuna (Guḍākeśa) and the six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, a practitioner gradually decreases their unnecessary bodily demands. Ultimately, when the mind is completely captivated by the names, forms, and pastimes of the Supreme Lord, the pure devotee transcends the dullness of material slumber and enters the awakened, eternal reality of constant, blissful devotional service.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Conquering Sleep. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.