Hello:
Do monks follow a certain practice during the night hours?, i.
"And how is a monk devoted to wakefulness? There is the case where a monk during the day, sitting & pacing back & forth, cleanses his mind of any qualities that would hold the mind in check. During the first watch of the night,[1] sitting & pacing back & forth, he cleanses his mind of any qualities that would hold the mind in check. During the second watch of the night,[2] reclining on his right side, he takes up the lion's posture, one foot placed on top of the other, mindful, alert, with his mind set on getting up [either as soon as he awakens or at a particular time]. During the last watch of the night,[3] sitting & pacing back & forth, he cleanses his mind of any qualities that would hold the mind in check. This is how a monk is devoted to wakefulness.
Thanks!.
Watch of the night?
Re: Watch of the night?
My understanding is that this is describing three four-hour periods, therefore recommending sleeping for only four hours. I gather from listening to talks by some western practitioners that this regime is encouraged today at some meditation monasteries, such as U Pandita's monastery in Burma.
Mike
Mike