Categories: Dhyana: Practical Training
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Today, through these spiritual teachings, I hope to offer you some motivation and clarity on a very practical topic: the power of early morning meditation. My goal is to help you deepen your understanding, strengthen your practical application of the teachings, and increase your enthusiasm.
In simple terms, this article is intended to be a source of encouragement, helping you achieve the best possible results in your spiritual journey.
The Flow of Spiritual Motivation
It is essential for everyone, young and old, to understand and, more importantly, to apply the practice of early morning meditation. In our teachings, we have shared various meditation methods, such as the ‘Practical Method for the Third Eye‘ and the ‘Practical Method for the Brahma Worlds.‘ Many of you are already engaging with these practices.
However, we are human. There are times when our interest in meditation wanes. Then, perhaps after reading a teaching like this, seeing someone else practice, or hearing their advice, our motivation returns, only to fade again over time. This enthusiasm is something we must consciously maintain for our own benefit.
This teaching is for everyone who follows our path, from the youngest child to the eldest elder, and all the youth in between. Because so many of you are on this journey with us, it is vital that we commit to this practice of early morning meditation.
Why the Early Morning? Tapping into Universal Energy
You may recall that I have previously spoken about two main types of meditation: Samatha and Vipassanā. It is important to understand the distinction. Vipassanā, or insight meditation, is a practice of moment-to-moment awareness that can be cultivated at any time throughout your day.
Samatha, on the other hand, is a tranquility or concentration meditation that is best practiced at a dedicated time. I specifically recommend practicing Samatha meditation in the early morning, and this article will explain why.
There are several key reasons. The early morning is a time of immense natural energy and vitality. It is a period when the energy of the universe is powerfully and silently active. The entire environment is quiet; there are no loud, distracting noises.
In this profound silence, the universe itself becomes still, and we have spiritually observed that a certain frequency is transmitted. This frequency is received by our body, our heart, and our brain. It is an incredibly powerful energy, almost unimaginably so. We must learn to take advantage of this gift. My purpose here is to spark your enthusiasm to do just that.
Harnessing and Amplifying Spiritual Power
This powerful energy that is naturally available can be amplified. The way to increase it is by focusing the mind. When a person makes their mind one-pointed and develops it, they gain the ability to receive even more of this universal frequency and cultivate it further. This happens because of their focused intention and the act of concentration itself.
In Samatha meditation, as we always say, the primary work is to unify the mind. By concentrating the mind, we can access different levels of meditative absorption (known as jhāna) and develop various abilities. We may pursue the development of Kundalini energy or universal energy, but those of you following our specific teachings do so with a balanced understanding, maintaining mindfulness of thoughts and an awareness of insight (Vipassanā).
You know well how to balance these two practices. For those engaged in this balanced path, early morning meditation offers a special opportunity to absorb this universal energy.
The Practical Benefits: From Brainpower to a Joyful Day
As I have mentioned before, anyone who wakes up early receives a special kind of energy. This energy brings numerous benefits, both worldly and spiritual. It helps develop the neurons in our brain, strengthens our memory, and enhances our mental power.
If we make a firm resolution, an adhiṭṭhāna about something, this practice gives us the strength to see it through to success. It helps us live our entire day with vibrancy and joy.
These benefits are crucial for our society today, which has fallen into a state of deep laziness. People have become accustomed to not waking up early. If you find yourself lazy about waking up, please reflect on this. We were once the same; we were also lazy. But we must cultivate enthusiasm, vigor, and self-motivation from within ourselves to overcome it. By consciously choosing to wake up, we can attain these wonderful states.
Confronting Laziness: What Has Sleeping In Truly Given You?
Let’s be honest: we are all lazy. We love to sleep until the morning light streams in. If we could, many of us would happily sleep all day. But I want you to consider this: from the day you were born until today, how many mornings have you slept in? You have slept your fill, sometimes until 7, 8, or even 10 or 12 in the morning. We have a Sinhala saying that we sleep until the sun shines on our backsides. We have done this countless times.
Now, ask yourself: does this desire to sleep in ever end?
It doesn’t. And what is the actual result? There is a small outcome: the simple pleasure of sleeping in. But does it give you anything beyond that? Reflect deeply. When you repeatedly sleep late, your mind does not develop. Your memory weakens. Your nervous system doesn’t have the chance to thrive. This cycle offers no real benefit, only the temporary comfort of the bed.
The Hidden Harms of Modern Habits and Late Mornings
This problem is made worse by modern habits. Many people stare at their phones or other devices late into the night before sleeping. You know very well that the radiation from these screens harms our nervous system.
Then, upon waking, the first thing many people do is grab that same device. When you repeat this cycle day after day, your nervous system fails to develop, your memory declines, and you become physically weaker. Sleeping late in itself produces these same harms. It is crucial to understand these consequences.
Reclaiming a Lost Heritage: The Wisdom of Our Ancestors
Now, look to our ancestors. Think about how early the people of the past woke up. The ancient kings of Sri Lanka, the great Hela kings, and all our ancestors rose early to begin their work. This has been our way throughout history. Why?
Consider the sunlight. Morning sunlight provides our bodies with essential vitamins, a fact confirmed by modern medical science. Our ancestors and kings knew about these natural gifts. The Hela kings themselves made early morning meditation a mandatory practice.
Much of our country’s decline can be traced to foreign invasions. After these colonizers subjugated us, many of our ancient and powerful traditions were destroyed. They introduced different habits to our society, and by adopting these incorrect routines, we lost our precious heritage. My purpose in this teaching is to help you reclaim what was lost. Our ancestors, the people of ancient Hela, practiced early morning meditation and engaged in these spiritual activities. This is the tradition I want to help you revive.
A Call to Action for All Age
Therefore, I urge you to prioritize your spiritual development in the early morning. This applies to everyone, from the small child to the elder who may feel their time is short. Anyone can start the practice of early morning meditation today. The benefit is for you, not for anyone else. It is your mind that develops, not someone else’s. Understanding this, know that this practice will directly impact your worldly success, I can say with 100% or even 1000% certainty.
So, instead of giving in to laziness, reflect on how much of your life you have already spent sleeping. Consider what benefit you have truly received from it. There is none. There is no point in sleeping until the sun warms your back. All you get is a comfortable sleep, and nothing more.
A Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Practice
I would like to suggest a practical plan. Medical advice suggests six hours of sleep is sufficient. Arrange your schedule so your six hours of sleep end at 3:00 or 4:00 AM. Set an alarm and commit to waking up at 3:00, 3:30, or 4:00 AM. If that is too difficult, start with 4:30 or 5:00 AM. When you wake up, your body is impure.
This is not a divine body from a heavenly realm; it is a human body. If you don’t ‘service’ it for even a day, it begins to smell. After six hours of sleep, this service is necessary. So, the first thing you must do is get up, brush your teeth, and wash your face or your whole body. This physical cleansing will break the grip of sleepiness.
After you have freshened up, do not go back to your room to meditate. If you live in a boarding house or have family circumstances that offer no other private space, then meditating in your room is fine. However, if you have a choice, avoid it. Your bed is comfortable and associated with sleep, and the temptation to lie down again can be strong.
I strongly recommend going to the place where you normally pay homage, or better yet, going outside into nature. Find a spot in your garden and make a firm resolution to begin your early morning meditation there.
The Alarm Clock Strategy and the Power of Resolution
Here is a critical tip for overcoming the initial struggle: place your phone or alarm clock far away from your bed. If it’s close by, you will inevitably turn it off, roll over, and go back to sleep. You must place it somewhere that forces you to get out of bed. Before you go to sleep at night, make a strong resolution (adhiṭṭhāna): ‘When the alarm sounds, I will get up immediately.‘ The moment you hear it, get up, walk over, turn it off, and go directly to the bathroom to wash up. Do not hesitate.
The first day will be the hardest. The second day might still be a struggle. But by the third or fourth day, it will become a habit. Your body will start waking up automatically. Make this resolution every single day and practice consistently. It only takes a few days to build the momentum.
Share Your Journey and A Final Blessing
As you engage in this practice, you will experience good results spiritually and in your worldly life. If you are able, I encourage you to share the benefits you receive in the comments section. We ask this not for ourselves, but because your experience will be valuable to others. It will inspire them and give them the enthusiasm to begin their own practice of early morning meditation.
These are the points I wanted to share with you. This is why I chose the topic, ‘Let’s Wake Up and Meditate in the Early Morning.‘ Understanding this, I urge all of you, young and old, to begin this practice today.
I will conclude this teaching now. May you all receive the blessings and powerful energy of the Triple Gem. May this energy give you the ability to wake up for early morning meditation without laziness. May your past wholesome habits resurface and support your practice. With this blessing from the Triple Gem, I conclude this teaching.
May you receive the blessings to attain a state of true spiritual certainty and correctness.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
