a powerful tool for regulating sleep

a buddhist practitioner, especially a mahayana practitioner, must be strong in his heart. it is not to ask for blessings, but to bravely protect sentient beings and protect the cause of buddha, so that he can become a bodhisattva or buddha. you can't always be like a child relying on his parents. once something happens, you will call him mom and dad.

as a mahayana practitioner, you should not be cowardly. you should have the mentality of "i want to protect the buddha's cause, and i want to protect sentient beings." how can we develop a strong heart? practice through the method of exchanging self and others. the heart can be exercised. through exercise, your heart will become stronger and braver. only then can you subdue troubles and cure bad habits.

otherwise, we will still be greedy when we should be greedy, and we will still be angry when we should be angry. when it’s time to eat, it’s not ok to eat less; when it’s time to sleep, it’s not ok to sleep for an hour less. i have to go to bed when i get time. i don’t go to class, meditate, or practice the dharma. i just wake up very late the next day.

people nowadays are very lazy, and most of them sleep until they wake up naturally. this state cannot cure or subdue habits at all. if you have the bodhicitta of others, it will be different. "the interests of sentient beings are important, and becoming a buddha is important!" with such a mental power, you can cure your habits, and it doesn't matter if you sleep for a few hours less.

maybe some people think: no, you have to sleep when it’s time to sleep, otherwise it will affect your health. how can you learn buddhism! this is all excuse. if you are strong inside, it is okay to sleep for a few hours less. otherwise, you have to listen to scientists and doctors and do what they say.

if you are a bodhisattva and are thinking of sentient beings in your heart, you will be very strong. it is okay to sleep for a while, and it is okay to eat less meal. people nowadays eat too much, so they don’t feel good about eating. if you only eat one meal a day, it will be different. when you feel hungry, you will feel that the taste is particularly good, and any food is not as delicious as it is when you are hungry.

now we not only want to eat enough, but also eat well; the same is true for sleep. nowadays, some people are lying down when they are right after the time, and they still toss and turns and can't sleep. this is better than learning more about the dharma and practicing more. when you are tired, you will naturally want to sleep, but you will not cure your habits. similarly, when troubles arise, greed, arrogance, jealousy, etc. come to life and run away. therefore, only when the altruistic bodhicitta arises in the heart and is strong inside, will there be energy to cure troubles and habits.