Much Dream during Long Night

Once, Bhagava (Buddha) stayed at Vesàli, at Huge Forest, a cone roofed lecture hall, Bhagava said to Bhikkhu (Disciples): Bhiksus, there are five kinds of people who cannot sleep much at night. Who are they?

Bhikkhus! It is women who are restless because of men.

Bhikkhus! It is thieves who are restless because of their stolen goods.

Bhikkhus! It is the King who are restless because of about his deeds,

Bhikkhus  are restless in tying things and passions.

(Angutara Nikaya II, Chapter 5, Section: The King, Part: Beings in less sleep)

Comments:

Staying late at night is the common trend in modern life. Therefore, insomnia or less sleep is increasing day by day. It causes harm to health and labor effect. Most people who cannot sleep due to running their plots as well as their fixed ambitions, apart from job demand, lead to less sleep at night.

Because of working under stressful jobs, affair problem together with many worries leading to stress, insomnia or staying awake the whole night.  Whoever staying awake at all silent night will experience themselves to discover as if ‘being in the constant. The night is scareful since it is the exactly moment that everybody feels deeply hidden things in mind . Joy, sadness, love and revenge, noble or low personality, hidden desires will all be overflowed, bubbled and splashed into the thought.   

Especially the mind involving to sexually craving passion . It is waste of time to rest for restless nights. Otherwise, all plans, wishes for future career cause to stayawake much and less sleep. Besides that, there still have intrigue and evil things to harm others.

However, there are still many people who salvaged negligible time fund to think and find benefits, happiness for others. It is remarkable for those who use their time to make themselves become perfect and useful for society.  

Bhagava does not allow his disciples to sleep too much since it blocks practicing and making people lazy. However, He does not approve of sleeping less due to thinking of useless things. Taking full advantage of using time, focusing jobs especially the mission which bring benefits for many people. It is a Buddhist’s life style.

Translated into English by Nguyen Huynh Dac Hanh.