Conscious Rest, Awake Awareness, and the Inner Third Eye

A Fresh Body and a Straight Spine

The body can be purified and become fresh and light, without laziness or sleepiness. The aim is to remain continually fresh rather than sinking into heaviness.

A participant described the first week of this process as excruciating. It was difficult to make it through the day, with a constant desire to lean against a wall and relax. Then, at a certain point, something changed: the need for sleep seemed to disappear. The participant understood this more deeply after hearing that Yogiji had once gone a whole month without sleep. By the end of the forty-day period, the participant felt that only one or two hours of sleep were needed. Lying down did not necessarily lead to sleep.

For conscious rest, lie flat on the back. The spine should remain straight. In Shavasana, when lying down to meditate, do not use a pillow. The body is allowed to rest while awareness remains present.

For ordinary sleep, a pillow may be used, but the instruction remains to lie on the back rather than turning to the side. This may be difficult for someone accustomed to sleeping on the side. If tiredness arises, stand up, walk or exercise for a while.

The reason for the straight position is that the body's weight can settle toward the earth. When the body is aligned in this way, the spine does not tire as easily, and the practitioner can remain fresh.