Sleep in the Light

📖Master’s Reading

Falling asleep each day is in fact a practice of facing impermanence. The Rinpoche teaches profoundly that, once it becomes a habit, going to sleep is preparing for the great pass of life and death. If before sleep one can recite "Oṃ Āḥ Hūṃ Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hūṃ," gathering the energy of sun, moon, stars and the Five Buddhas into the body, the body invisibly shines.

The Rinpoche reveals the state of this practice: "You will find you sleep inside a very warm light; the greatest happiness is to sleep in the light." When you close your eyes and settle yourself in the bright world of the Five Buddhas, even facing life and death in a dream you will not fear. For when you are used to light, at death the soul naturally enters the buddha-land Pure Land without hesitation, no longer falling into the darkness of ignorance.

The last thought before sleep often determines the soul's direction. If you can sleep with peace and light, not only are body and mind nourished, but the Dharma's energy is imprinted deep in the subconscious. When we practice sleeping in the light each day, gathering light at the crown chakra, even when the body decays the soul can still fly freely through the ten directions and three realms. Sleeping with light, the soul holds the great ease to pass through life and death.

Sleeping with light, the soul holds the great ease to pass through life and death. Form this good habit, and you can sleep in peace — even if you sleep and do not rise again, you are still in the light, meeting your eternal bright home.

🌱Reflection for Daily Life

• Sleeping with light, the soul holds the great ease to pass through life and death.
• Falling asleep each day is a practice of impermanence.
• Recite the Guru Rinpoche mantra before sleep to gather energy.
• Settle body and mind in the light of the Five Buddhas.
• Sleep with light, and the soul gains ease.