At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī at Jeta’s Grove, in the millionaire’s monastery.
Late in the afternoon, he came out of seclusion, went to the assembly hall, and sat on a seat prepared for him.
Likewise Venerable Sāriputta came out of seclusion, went to the assembly hall, bowed, and sat respectfully to one side. The great venerables Mahā Moggallāna, Mahā Kassapa, Mahā Kaccāna, Mahā Koṭṭhita, Mahā Cunda, Mahā Kappina, Anuruddha, Revata, and Ānanda did the same.
[As an example] the Buddha spent much of the night sitting in meditation, then rose from his seat and entered his dwelling. Soon after, the venerables each went to their dwellings.
But the junior monastics who had only recently gone forth from the home life to the left-home life, new to this Teaching and Training, slept until the sun came up and snored.
The Buddha perceived this with his clairvoyant vision which is purified, surpassing the human. He entered the assembly hall, sat on a prepared seat, and addressed them:
“Meditators, where is Sāriputta? Where are Mahā Moggallāna, Mahā Kassapa, Mahā Kaccāna, Mahā Koṭṭhita, Mahā Cunda, Mahā Kappina, Anuruddha, Revata, and Ānanda? Where have these senior disciples gone?”
They replied, “Soon after the Buddha left, those venerables went to their own dwellings.”
“Meditators, when those senior monks left, why did you sleep until the sun came up as you snored?
“How do you see it, meditators? Have you ever seen or heard of an anointed warrior king, who rules his whole life and is dear and beloved by his kingdom, indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, laying around as drowsy as he likes?”
“No, venerable sir.”
“Good, meditators, nor have I ever seen or heard of such a thing.
“How do you see it, meditators? Have you ever seen or heard of an appointed officer… a hereditary officer… a general… a village chieftain … or a head of a guild who runs a guild his whole life, who is dear and beloved by his guild, indulge in the pleasures of sleeping, laying around as drowsy as as he likes?”
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| Is there a best way to sleep to get great rest? |
“No, venerable sir.”
“Good, meditators, nor have I ever seen or heard of such a thing.
“How do you see it, meditators? Have you ever seen or heard of a wandering ascetic or Brahmin priest who indulges in the pleasures of sleeping, laying around as drowsy as he likes?
- Sense doors unguarded,
- eating too much,
- not dedicated to wakefulness,
- unable to bring forth skillful qualities,
- unable to pursue the cultivation and development of qualities that produce awakening into the evening and before dawn
who yet realize an undefiled freedom of the heart, freedom by wisdom, in this very life? Or that they live having realized the truth through their own direct knowledge and vision (insight) due to their destruction of the defilements?”
“No, venerable sir.”
“Good, meditators, nor have I ever seen or heard of such a thing.
“So train yourselves: ‘We will guard our sense doors, restrain ourselves in eating, and dedicate ourselves to wakefulness (mindfulness), bringing forth skillful qualities, pursuing the cultivation and development of qualities that produce awakening into the evening and before dawn.’ This is how to train yourselves.”
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