A Sleep Meditation So Deep, You’ll Awaken To Your True Self

Yoga Nidra | Bedtime Story of Awakening | Inspired by Ramana Maharshi

Tonight, you are invited into a journey of profound rest — and even deeper remembering. This guided sleep meditation begins with a deeply soothing Yoga Nidra practice to relax your body, calm your mind, and nourish your nervous system like a sacred healing balm.

From this space of profound stillness, you will then be carried into a gentle spiritual bedtime story inspired by the life and awakening of Ramana Maharshi — a timeless reminder that beyond body, beyond mind, you are pure awareness itself.

Transcript

Namaste and welcome dear soul.

Tonight you are invited to journey beyond rest,

Into the vast remembrance of who you truly are.

We will begin with a yoga nidra practice,

Allowing your body,

Mind and heart to soften into deep healing stillness.

From this sacred space,

You'll be gently guided into a timeless story,

A story of awakening,

Inspired by the life and light of Ramana Maharshi.

Let each breath,

Each word,

Each moment carry you closer to your true essence,

The boundless luminous awareness you have always been.

If you're ready,

Let's begin.

Namaste,

My name is Sean and welcome to our yoga nidra practice.

This session is designed to reset your nervous system,

A soothing,

Restorative journey for your brain and entire peripheral nervous system.

Much like a full body massage,

Combined with the energetic balancing of acupuncture.

Through this practice,

You will be guided into a profound state of relaxation,

Allowing your body and mind to soften,

Unwind and restore.

Take a moment to settle in,

Creating your perfect yoga nidra resting space.

Ensure you have everything you need to feel completely supported and at ease.

Perhaps a pillow beneath your head or knees,

A blanket wrapped around you for warmth or an eye covering to block out any remaining light.

Let yourself take any small adjustments,

Moving intention until your body feels fully at rest,

Completely supported by the surface beneath you.

Now take two gentle sips of air in through your nose.

Exhale slowly through an open mouth,

Allowing your jaw to soften and your entire body to release.

Once more,

Inhale twice through the nose and let go with a deep,

Effortless sigh.

One last time,

Two sips in and exhale,

Feeling your body grow heavier,

Surrendering into the support beneath you.

Relaxation.

Your nervous system begins to unwind,

Untangle like a tightly wound thread,

Unraveling into spaciousness.

Allow yourself to fully arrive here in this sacred moment of rest.

As your body settles,

Feel your breath return to its natural rhythm,

Like gentle waves rolling in and out.

Relax the muscles of your face,

Your jaw,

Your tongue,

Softening the tiny muscles behind your eyes,

The micro-muscles around your forehead and scalp.

Let go of any lingering tension.

Imagine the two hemispheres of your brain,

Like tired muscles,

Slowly unclenching,

Opening into ease,

Spaciousness,

Stillness.

And,

Could you allow this relaxation to flow downward?

Feel it cascading through the entire body,

Melting through your shoulders,

Down your arms,

Into your hands,

Softening your abdomen,

Your pelvis,

Your legs,

All the way to the of your feet,

The very tips of your toes.

Wrapped in warmth,

Cocooned in stillness,

You are momentarily untethered from the outside world,

Free to simply be here,

Resting in this sanctuary within,

Allowing the mind to dissolve into spacious awareness.

As if thoughts be gently embraced by the heart,

Letting go of thinking,

Planning,

Doing,

Opening instead to the experience of listening,

Sensing,

Being,

Fully present,

Completely at peace,

Feeling the gentle ebb and flow of your breath as it carries you deeper into stillness,

Held,

Supported,

Nourished by this moment of profound rest,

Nothing to do,

Nowhere to be,

Simply here.

As you continue to relax,

Surrendering into this deep state of being,

Know that you are safe,

That you are enough,

That you are whole.

Rest here for as long as you need,

Embracing this sanctuary of stillness within.

Now,

It's time to set your sankalpa,

Your intention.

If you do not have a specific intention at this moment,

You may silently affirm,

I surrender completely,

Allowing my body and mind to rejuvenate in perfect harmony.

Whisper this intention three times in your mind,

Letting each repetition deepen its presence within you.

Let this resolve remain present throughout your practice.

Feel its resonance extending into each moment,

Like a gentle wave washing over your awareness.

Now,

A journey of awareness through the body begins.

Direct your attention to the tip of your tongue,

The surface of the tongue,

The roof of the mouth.

Direct your attention to the entire mouth,

The teeth and gums,

The inside of the right cheek,

The inside of the left cheek,

The space between the upper and lower lips,

The air moving in and out of the nostrils,

The tip of the nose,

The bridge of the nose,

Feeling both eyebrows,

The temples.

Direct your attention to both eyes together,

Growing heavier,

Gently relaxing back into their sockets.

The sensation of relaxation deepens as the eyelids soften and the muscles surrounding the eyes release completely.

Finally,

Direct your attention to the center of your forehead,

The entire forehead,

Allowing awareness to seep into the scalp and hair,

The entire scalp and hair.

A sensation of warmth or tingling may emerge,

Spreading down from the crown of the head like a gentle wave of relaxation.

Focus attention on the entire right hemisphere of the brain,

The entire left hemisphere of the brain.

Both hemispheres together,

Simultaneously,

Uniting in a sense of spacious awareness.

The brainstem,

The root of the tongue,

The entire jaw,

The center of the throat,

The base of the throat expanding with each effortless breath.

Bring attention to the heart center,

The right side of the chest,

The right shoulder,

The upper arm,

The elbow,

The forearm,

The wrist,

The palm of the hand,

The back of the hand,

The thumb,

The first finger,

The second finger,

The third finger,

The small finger,

Returning back to the palm,

The wrist,

The forearm,

Elbow,

Upper arm,

Shoulder,

Shoulder blade,

Ribcage,

Waist,

The whole thigh,

Knee,

Lower leg,

Ankle,

Heel,

Sole of the foot,

Top of the foot,

The big toe,

The second toe,

The third toe,

The fourth toe,

The little toe,

The entire foot,

The whole leg,

The whole right side of the body together.

The whole right side of the body and the left hemisphere of the brain sensing them together urging breath awareness and relaxation.

The whole right side and left hemisphere bringing attention back to the center of the chest feeling steady rhythm of your heartbeat as it echoes through your being.

The left side of the chest,

The left shoulder,

Upper arm,

Elbow,

Forearm,

Wrist,

Palm of the hand,

Back of the hand,

First finger,

Second finger,

Third finger,

Small finger,

Back to the palm,

Wrist,

Forearm,

Elbow,

Elbow,

Upper arm,

Shoulder blade,

Ribcage,

Waist,

The whole thigh,

Knee,

Lower leg,

Ankle,

Heel,

Sole,

Top of the foot,

The big toe,

Second toe,

Third toe,

Fourth toe,

Little toe,

The whole foot,

The whole left leg,

The entire left side of the body,

The whole left side of the body and right hemisphere of the brain,

The whole left side of the body and right hemisphere of the brain,

Both simultaneously embracing the entire left side of the body and right hemisphere of the brain,

A sensation of unity,

Balance and effortless awareness emerges.

Now welcoming both hemispheres of the brain,

The right and left sides of the body together,

Sensing the wholeness of your being merging into stillness and peace,

The entire body,

The whole body effortlessly at rest,

Embraced in a state of deep relaxation,

Feeling the breath,

The body breathing itself steady,

Natural,

Soothing,

Guiding you deeper into serenity.

In your nostrils,

You may sense warmth as you exhale,

A coolness as you inhale,

Becoming aware of the breath,

Feeling the gentle rhythm of your breathing,

Noticing the ocean of air surrounding you,

Waves rolling in,

Waves rolling out,

Sinking deeper into relaxation,

Allowing your body to soften,

To settle,

To surrender into the stillness.

As you observe this effortless,

Natural breath,

Feel yourself becoming more and more present.

Begin to count down from 18 as you inhale,

Softly whispering the number 18.

As you exhale,

18.

On the next inhale,

17.

Exhale,

17.

Continue at your own gentle rhythm,

With each breath,

Feeling the passage of air moving through you like a gentle guide,

Cleansing,

Soothing,

Calming.

Whenever you are ready,

You can release the count,

Returning to the natural flow of your breath.

The next time you inhale,

Imagine your body becoming light,

Weightless,

Floating effortlessly.

Drifting upward,

Light and expansive,

Floating on the breath like a feather lifted by the wind.

The next time you exhale,

Sense your body becoming heavy,

Sinking into the earth,

Grounded,

Feeling the weight of your body supported,

Embraced by the earth beneath you.

The fullness of your body resting even more deeply.

With each exhale,

Surrendering further into comfort and ease.

On the inhale,

Once again embracing weightlessness,

With each breath,

Floating,

Spacious,

Free,

As though held by an invisible force of calm and clarity.

As you hover in this tranquil space,

Bring your awareness to the center of your forehead.

Allow a rotation of images to gently arise.

The feeling of bare feet against the earth.

The scent of flowers drifting in the air,

Their fragrance infusing each inhale with serenity.

Golden sunlight filtering through the trees,

Casting dappled light upon your skin.

The soothing song of birds in the distance,

A melody of nature's harmony.

A vast horizon lined with mountains,

Their peaks whispering stories of timelessness.

The glow of the setting sun painting the sky in hues of amber and violet.

The shimmer of ocean waves beneath moonlight,

The rhythm mirroring your breath.

The warmth of flickering flames in a fire,

Their glow offering quiet comfort.

A silent owl gliding through the night sky,

Wise and knowing.

The Milky Way stretching infinitely across space,

An expanse of wonder and mystery.

A deep sense of connection with all that is.

A boundless awareness,

Infinite and whole.

An embrace of all existence.

Resting in this profound interconnection with all things.

Feeling the pulse of life within and around you.

Allow yourself,

Welcome your sankalpa,

Your intention.

Feeling it resonate within or softly stating it in your mind.

Imagining yourself floating amidst the constellations,

Bathed in celestial light.

The outline of your body traced by twinkling stars,

Forming the constellation of you.

Begin to sense physical form of your body,

The edges,

The volume,

The presence.

Feeling the volume of your being resting in your sacred cocoon.

Your sanctuary of stillness.

Noticing the breath moving through you effortlessly,

The gentle rhythm of life itself.

Taking a deep breath in and releasing fully.

Then two small sips of air through the nose and exhale completely.

Repeating once more,

Breathing in deeply and releasing.

One last time.

Softening into stillness.

Expanding into the moment.

Allowing yourself to absorb the benefits of this practice.

The deep nourishment of presence.

Chapter One.

The Ordinary Boy and the Cosmic Question.

The town of Tiruchuti in Tamil Nadu was a bustle of daily life.

Children ran through its narrow lanes,

Their laughter echoing like a familiar song.

The marketplace was a cacophony of haggling voices.

The fragrance of fresh produce and the clanging of temple bells in the distance.

In this quaint little town lived Venkataraman,

A boy with keen searching eyes and an unquenched thirst for understanding the mysteries of life.

On the outside,

He was like any other boy his age.

He would go to school,

Scribbling notes and occasionally gazing out of the window,

Lost in thought.

After school,

He joined his friends,

Their games filling the streets with joyous shouts and playful challenges.

But amidst this exterior of normalcy,

Within Venkataraman,

Stirred questions most children usually didn't ponder.

Every night,

As he lay on his mat,

The twinkling stars would beckon him with a silent whisper.

Who are you?

The vast cosmos seemed to hold a secret and young Venkataraman felt its pull.

One faithful day,

As the sun cast its midday glow,

An unexpected and overwhelming fear gripped him.

A fear of death.

It wasn't brought about by any external event or tragedy.

It was an existential dread that suddenly consumed his young heart.

Most would have tried to shake off such a feeling or distract themselves,

But not Venkataraman.

He was determined to face it.

Retreating to a quiet spot in his home,

He lay down,

Eyes closed and simulated his own death.

He imagined the life force leaving his body,

The world moving on without him,

The rituals and finality of it all.

In that intense and raw confrontation with mortality,

A profound realization dawned upon him.

He felt detached from his body,

Yet more alive than ever.

The boundaries that defined him dissolved and in their place arose a boundless,

Eternal consciousness.

The fear of death vanished,

Replaced by an indescribable peace.

In the vast cosmos of existence,

He pondered,

Who is it that fears death?

Who am I?

But when he arose from his trance-like state,

The world around him hadn't changed,

But he had.

The games that once amused him now seemed trivial.

The routines of daily life felt like mere shadows of a deeper reality he had touched.

His family and friends couldn't understand this sudden transformation.

They'd whisper amongst themselves,

What has happened to Venkataraman?

His mother,

With a concerned frown,

Would often ask if he felt well,

While his friends would coax him to join their games,

Trying to bring back the boy they once knew.

But Venkataraman was on a different path now,

Beckoned by a cosmic question that would shape the course of his life.

The ordinary boy from Tiruchutsi had begun his extraordinary journey into the heart of existence.

Chapter 2.

The Mountain's Call The sacred mountain of Arunachala stood majestic against the horizon,

Its silhouette a beacon for spiritual seekers.

Tales of its sanctity had permeated the lore of the land.

Whispering of its power to those who listened closely enough.

For Venkataraman,

The mountain wasn't just a geographic landmark,

It was a siren song,

Echoing in the chambers of his heart.

Without a word to anyone,

He packed a small bundle,

Leaving behind everything familiar.

His home,

His family,

The streets of Tiruchutsi.

With every step towards Arunachala,

The weight of his past seemed to lighten.

The mountain's aura beckoned him,

And he felt an inexplicable bond,

As if they were old friends meeting after lifetimes.

Upon reaching the foothills,

Venkataraman could sense the timelessness of Arunachala.

The air was different here,

Charged with an energy that tingled on his skin and resonated within his soul.

He found solace in the mountain's silent caves,

Where the walls seemed to breathe ancient wisdom.

Here,

Venkataraman delved deeper into his meditations,

Each day peeling away layers of illusion,

Revealing the luminous core of his being.

The mountain's serene ambience amplified his connection to the divine,

Each rock,

Each tree,

Whispering secrets of the cosmos.

Arunachala is not just a mountain he'd often murmur in moments of profound realization.

It's the very heartbeat of the universe,

Echoing within every soul.

But the deeper he journeyed within,

The more the outer world began to take notice.

Word spread about a young sage with piercing eyes who radiated an otherworldly peace.

Pilgrims,

Sages,

And seekers began to make their way to Arunachala,

Hoping to sit at Venkataraman's feet,

Seeking a fragment of the truth he embodied.

The caves that once echoed with profound silence now buzzed with whispers and conversations.

Genuine seekers with earnest questions sat alongside skeptics who doubted the authenticity of the young sage.

They challenged his insights,

Seeking flaws,

Contradictions.

But Venkataraman,

Now known to many as Ramana,

Would simply smile,

Answering not just with words,

But with a presence that was a testament to his realization.

However,

The influx of visitors brought its own set of challenges.

The tranquility of his solitude was frequently interrupted.

Every moment became a dance between deep introspection and addressing the seekers who approached him.

While the genuine queries of truth-seekers fueled his spirit,

The skepticism of doubters tested his patience.

Yet,

Through it all,

Arunachala stood as a silent guardian,

Its presence a constant reminder of the eternal,

Unchanging truth.

The mountain and the sage had become inseparable,

One echoing the stillness of the universe and the other embodying its profound mysteries.

CHAPTER III.

SILENCE SPEAKS LOUDEST Amidst the spiritual heartland of Tamil Nadu,

An ashram grew organically around Ramana Maharshi.

The air vibrated with a unique energy,

Tinged with the scent of burning incense,

And the subtle undercurrents of spiritual inquiry.

Every corner echoed with whispers.

Every shadow bore witness to profound realizations.

The ashram,

Like the sage at its center,

Was an oasis for souls seeking answers.

But while Ramana Maharshi's words were like a balm for many,

It was in his silences that the most profound wisdom lay.

It was said that in his presence,

Even the most restless minds found tranquility.

A businessman from the bustling city of Mumbai,

Trapped in the labyrinth of material pursuits,

Once visited the ashram.

With furrowed brows,

He confessed,

Maharshi,

My wealth seems meaningless.

I feel an emptiness I cannot describe.

Ramana simply looked at him,

The depth of his gaze piercing through layers of the man's ego and fears.

They sat in silence.

The cacophony of the man's internal turmoil meeting the stillness of Ramana's being.

When the businessman left,

His gaze was lighter,

His eyes clearer.

No words had been exchanged,

But a profound understanding had been imparted.

In another corner of the ashram,

A grieving mother,

Her eyes shadowed with sorrow,

Clutched a faded photograph of her departed child.

Her voice quivered as she spoke of her unbearable pain.

Ramana,

Taking the photograph gently,

Placed it beside him and beckoned the woman closer.

They sat together,

Lost in a world beyond words.

Tears streamed down her face,

Not of grief,

But of a deep-seated peace.

Her heart,

Though scarred,

Began its journey towards healing in that enveloping silence.

A renowned scholar,

His life dedicated to dissecting scriptures and debating philosophy,

Approached the sage with skepticism.

What is this reality you speak of?

How do you validate it?

He questioned,

His tone borderline confrontational.

Instead of a direct response,

Ramana invited the scholar to sit beside him.

Hours passed.

The world around them continued its dance.

When the scholar finally rose,

His face reflected not the arrogance of knowledge,

But the humility of true wisdom.

Once again,

Silence had been the truest teacher.

Ramana Maharshi's life was a testament to the transformative power of inner inquiry.

He emphasized the potent question,

Who am I?

Nudging seekers towards realization of their true essence.

His teachings,

Like ripples,

Spread far and wide,

Touching countless lives.

As his earthly journey neared its end,

His devotees,

Their hearts heavy with impending grief,

Gathered around him.

To them,

He whispered his final assurance.

I am merely shedding a body.

I will always be here.

And with that,

He transcended.

Leaving behind,

Not an end,

But a timeless legacy.

The body speaks,

The mind questions,

He had once said.

But in silence,

The soul understands.

And in the echoing silence of the ashram,

The truth of those words resounded louder than ever.