I have read somewhere that Arhats (people who attained Nirvana) do not sleep like normal people do. Instead they just stay calm in a suitable position to give the rest required for the physical body, but their mind is always alert...
Is this true?
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4 Answers
According to the teachings I received, once the practitioner attains certain level of mastery in meditation, their sleep acquires a character of meditation. It's not like they don't sleep at all, but they do retain certain level of deep awareness during their sleep.
Specifically, when they see a dream, they know it's a dream. They remain aware of their body lying down on the bed. They remain aware of the content of their consciousness no matter how disjointed it gets during a deep sleep. If something happens around them, they wake up easily to provide their help if needed.
answered Jun 18, 2014 at 15:57
The Buddha is reported not to have slept, but teaching ceaselessly and just entering a state of meditation for two hours per day/night. I don't have any scriptural evidence for this and am rather sure, that none such evidence exists.
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Nice answer. Any chance you could point us to a scriptural or other source about the Buddha not sleeping?– senshinJun 18, 2014 at 14:50
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But please note that the Buddha and Arhat are two difference stages Jun 18, 2014 at 16:19
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1@PasanW, senshin: There is no written source to this. As I was trying to indicate with the words "is reported" - well, maybe not quite clearly - is the fact, that this is just a tradition. I edited the answer to make this point clear.– zwiebelJun 18, 2014 at 17:34
An Arahat does not sleep like a normal person. He may give rest to the body but in doing so is fully aware hence not asleep. This is a natural consequence of reducing impurities of the mind. Also the level of awareness does not change.
Another enemy is laziness, drowsiness. All night you slept soundly, and yet when you sit to meditate, you feel very sleepy. This sleepiness is caused by your mental impurities, which would be driven out by the practice of Vipassana, and which therefore try to stop you from meditating. You must fight to prevent this enemy from overpowering you. Breathe slightly hard, or else get up, sprinkle cold water on your eyes, or walk a little, and then sit again.
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Similarly, when you go to bed at night, close your eyes and feel sensation anywhere within the body. If you fall asleep with this awareness, naturally as soon as you wake up in the morning, you will be aware of sensation. Perhaps you may not sleep soundly, or you may even remain fully awake throughout the night. This is wonderful, provided you stay lying in bed and maintain awareness and equanimity. The body will receive the rest it needs, and there is no greater rest for the mind than to remain aware and equanimous. However, if you start worrying that you are developing insomnia, then you will generate tensions, and will feel exhausted the next day. Nor should you forcefully try to stay awake, remaining in a seated posture all night; that would be going to an extreme. If sleep comes, very good; sleep. If sleep does not come, allow the body to rest by remaining in a recumbent position, and allow the mind to rest by remaining aware and equanimous.
Source: The Discourse Summaries by S.N. Goenka
Also see: Suppati Sutta
answered Apr 30, 2016 at 3:57
Suminda Sirinath S. DharmasenaSuminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
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After first attainment , i had entered into sleep while meditating for 3 times. When i entered into dream i had aware that i am entering into dream, there once i have entered dream , i notice horrfying events in full awareness, i notice each event in dream as it is and then finally everything gone , i was left in a empty space-like state still meditating till i woke up. It is very fascinating event. So i can understand what will be arahant like , it is not dreaming anymore , it is mediation while in sleep.
