Watch of the night?

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2600htz
Posts: 825
Joined: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:37 pm

Watch of the night?

Post by 2600htz »

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!.
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mikenz66
Posts: 19944
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: Watch of the night?

Post by mikenz66 »

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.

:anjali:
Mike
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