Monday 23 August 2010

Monday, August 16th, 2010

How Much Sleep?

Venables, British Columbia

The routine continued- a daily trek along the blackberry patches and today was no exception. Then a stopover to the temple to hear from a god-brother, Sruta Kirti, wrapped up the morning program. He was speaking about his personal time with our Guru, Srila Prabhupada. One of the principal topics here was the guru’s disapproval of the excess sleep by his students.

“it was the middle of the day”, Sruta explained, “when Prabhupada rang the bell to call his traveling students in for an explanation on the sleeping that was going on”. Of course no one had a genuine excuse so all felt somewhat guilty.

It is generally understood that if one wants to take spiritual life seriously then you sleep enough to keep body and soul together. The same thing holds true for eating.

The stories told by Sruta Kirti were sheer reminders of our need to be moderate in certain habits. To quote the Bhagavad-Gita from chapter 6, text 17:

“He who is temperate in habits of eating, sleeping, working, and recreation can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system”.

On the way out to the Saranagti farm in Venable Valley I was handed a complimentary copy of the Bhagavad-Gita. “A Photographic essay by Vishaka, the author. “ She graciously signed her new book offering thanks for the service of being a good example of walking for Krishna.

Thank-you, Vishaka, for your new book.

6 KM

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