During my board exams, I study till late in the night and so, find it difficult to get up early in the morning. But my parents want me to wake up early to study. I find it difficult to sleep without studying important topics. Why is it good to wake up early and study?
—Yamini Baskar, 17 years
■ Both you and your parents are right. If your parents think that you should study in the early hours of morning, that’s fine. And your idea about studying important topics before going to bed is okay, too. If you have doubts about your preparation and you think that you might get up late and have no time for revision, then it is better that you finish your studies at night. But, the early morning hours, especially the period we call Brahmn Muhurta, has scientific relevance.
During exams, study according to your own capacity and receptivity. But when you don’t have exams, then it is a good idea to sleep early at night and study in the wee hours, because that’s when prana tattva, life-force energy, is at its peak. When prana energy increases, our consciousness is enhanced. It is said that pure oxygen is abundant during the early hours; it helps the brain and lungs. It also helps us stay energetic and alert throughout the day.
When all is quiet, it is easier to concentrate and find balance; whatever one studies is retained for a longer period. Sankalpas, resolutions, made during Brahmn Muhurta almost always bear fruit. That’s why it is considered the best time to study. It is also known as Amrit Bela; Brahmn Muhurta is the crowning glory of a beautiful day. It is a good time for dhyana, meditation, vidya adhyayan, study, and introspection.
I’m not spiritually inclined though I practise sandhya, meditation, twice a day, a norm in my in-laws’ house. I want to devote myself to spiritual pursuits, but household chores and talking on phone with relatives leave me feeling jammed, mentally. Why do I forget to talk to God, though I never miss transient worldly talk with people?
— Seema Dutta, 55 years
■ One is always guided by one’s interests. Our mind is conditioned to follow things that interest us. Consequently, the mind is focussed externally and our energy starts flowing out. To get energised, we eat or sleep, eventually falling into a vicious circle.
Slowly, a time comes when we want to focus on inner peace, but we find it difficult to attain it, for we are used to indulging our senses and revelling in outwardly sights, smells and sounds. We are focussed on sense-objects. But, if you have a strong desire to surrender to the Divine, you might become successful. So while performing your daily chores, remember that you are not the doer; you are only a medium for the grace that is flowing through you. When the sense of surrender becomes stronger and you begin to realise that a higher power is working through you, you develop sakshi bhava, witness consciousness. Gradually, you will find yourself getting immersed in divine experiences even while you chat on the phone or work around the house. ■
Send your questions to st.editorial@timesgroup.com with subject line: Ask Surakshit and state your age
COMMENT