Sleep must not be a fall into
unconsciousness which makes the body heavy instead of refreshing it. Eating
with moderation and abstaining from all excess greatly reduces the need to
spend many hours in sleep; however, the quality of sleep is much more important
than its quantity. In order to have a truly effective rest and relaxation
during sleep, it is good as a rule to drink something before going to bed, a
cup of milk or soup or fruit-juice, for instance. Light food brings a quiet
sleep. One should, however, abstain from all copious meals, for then the sleep
becomes agitated and is disturbed by nightmares, or else is dense, heavy and
dulling.
But the most important thing of all is to
make the mind clear, to quieten the emotions and calm the effervescence of
desires and the preoccupations which accompany them. If before retiring to bed
one has talked a lot or had a lively discussion, if one has read an exciting or
intensely interesting book, one should rest a little without sleeping in order
to quieten the mental activity, so that the brain does not engage in disorderly
movements while the other parts of the body alone are asleep. Those who
practise meditation will do well to concentrate for a few minutes on a lofty
and restful idea, in an aspiration towards a higher and vaster consciousness.
Their sleep will benefit greatly from this
and they will largely be spared the risk of falling into unconsciousness while
they sleep.
(CWM, Volume 12,
Sri Aurobindo Ashram Trust, Puducherry)
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