The Teaching of Ajahn Suchart.
“Insomnia.”
⋆ ⋆ ⋆Question (M): It has been two months that it’s hard for me to go to sleep. When I try to go to sleep, my mind starts to work very actively. So, what’s the best way to do when I have insomnia? Do I wake up and do meditation or do I try to sleep again?
Than Ajahn: Well, there are two causes. The basic cause is your attachment to things – your desire to get things done and to acquire things. This will make you keep thinking about it even while you want to go to sleep.
The second cause is your desire for wanting to go to sleep when you cannot fall asleep. Once you cannot go to sleep, you want to sleep. This desire of wanting to go to sleep makes it harder for you to go to sleep.
You have to try to fix the first one, that is your desire to get things done, and to acquire this and that. You have to tell yourself that there is only so much you can do. If you cannot do it, you just have to let go. Try to go back to basic. In life, you don’t have to be rich to be happy. All you have to do is to be able to look after your body.
You have to try to fix the first one, that is your desire to get things done, and to acquire this and that. You have to tell yourself that there is only so much you can do. If you cannot do it, you just have to let go. Try to go back to basic. In life, you don’t have to be rich to be happy. All you have to do is to be able to look after your body.
If you have the basic necessities, I think you should be satisfied.
Try to think that other things are bonuses. If you can have extra things, fine. If you can’t have them, it’s no big deal. If you can do this, then you can calm your mind down.
If you cannot calm your mind, while you are lying down, you will be thinking of wanting to go to sleep and this makes it harder for you to go to sleep. So, you may want to count sheep or recite a mantra. Keep counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Then, you will forget about the things that you worry about. This might help you to go to sleep. At the same time, you must not wanting to go to sleep right away. Just tell yourself, ‘If I go to sleep, fine. If I don’t go to sleep, I just keep counting or keep reciting a mantra.’ As long as you don’t go back to think about the things that keep you up, eventually you will fall asleep.
Question (M): Is it better to do those when I’m lying on my bed or should I get up and sit somewhere?
Than Ajahn: It’s up to you. If you feel that you can get up and meditate and calm your mind, you can do it. And when your mind becomes calm, then you can lie down and go to sleep. Or you can do it while you’re lying down so when your mind becomes calm, you can go to sleep right away because this is not the time when you expect meditation result. What you want is to go to sleep.
So, all you have to do is to stop your mind from thinking by reciting a mantra or counting sheep, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Keep on counting. When you forget about what you worry about or the things you are attached to, then you can go to sleep. What keeps you awake is your thoughts. If you can stop thinking, you can go to sleep.
Layperson (M): I worry about not being able to go to sleep.
Than Ajahn: I know. You should accept that right now you cannot go to sleep. Let it be.
If you cannot calm your mind, while you are lying down, you will be thinking of wanting to go to sleep and this makes it harder for you to go to sleep. So, you may want to count sheep or recite a mantra. Keep counting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Then, you will forget about the things that you worry about. This might help you to go to sleep. At the same time, you must not wanting to go to sleep right away. Just tell yourself, ‘If I go to sleep, fine. If I don’t go to sleep, I just keep counting or keep reciting a mantra.’ As long as you don’t go back to think about the things that keep you up, eventually you will fall asleep.
Question (M): Is it better to do those when I’m lying on my bed or should I get up and sit somewhere?
Than Ajahn: It’s up to you. If you feel that you can get up and meditate and calm your mind, you can do it. And when your mind becomes calm, then you can lie down and go to sleep. Or you can do it while you’re lying down so when your mind becomes calm, you can go to sleep right away because this is not the time when you expect meditation result. What you want is to go to sleep.
So, all you have to do is to stop your mind from thinking by reciting a mantra or counting sheep, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Keep on counting. When you forget about what you worry about or the things you are attached to, then you can go to sleep. What keeps you awake is your thoughts. If you can stop thinking, you can go to sleep.
Layperson (M): I worry about not being able to go to sleep.
Than Ajahn: I know. You should accept that right now you cannot go to sleep. Let it be.
Eventually, you’re going to fall asleep. Because when the body gets really tired, it will fall asleep by itself. You shouldn’t have any desire to fall asleep because this will create more agitation and restlessness. Keep chanting, keep reciting a mantra or keep counting sheep.
Eventually, you will go to sleep.
Youtube: “Dhamma in English, Nov 9, 2018.”
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com
Latest Dhamma talks on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
www.phrasuchart.com
Latest Dhamma talks on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi_BnRZmNgECsJGS31F495g
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