Is It Normal To Fall Asleep During Meditation?

[ Meditation Q & A ] Ven. Pomnyun's Answer to “Is it bad to focus on the shapes during meditation?” Selection from Sunday Meditation with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim [Week 3] ( April 26, 2020) Peace of mind is only one step away. Join Sunday Meditation and Live Dharma Talk with Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.

Transcript

What is meditation? You have to sleep in the morning. A fair half of sleep during meditation. Is it better to just sleep? You have to sleep in the morning. Or is it better to try to stay awake during meditation? Is it normal to sleep during meditation? Yes, It's normal to be sleepy if you last sleep or if your body is tired. The same thing if somebody pinches you on your thigh, It hurts. If you hate somebody for pinching you or giving you pain, Or if your body reacts and repositions as a reaction to that sensation, You're allowing that sensation to drive your behavior. If you feel that you're not feeling well, You can't let that sensation drive your behavior. But not let those sensations drive your behavior, But just be mindful that they are occurring, But still maintaining focus on your breath. If you lost the focus on your breath because of those distracting sensations, Just be mindful and aware that you lost the breath and regain your breath. But if you sleep, Then you lose awareness of your breath. Then realize that you have been sleeping. So your function at that point, Your focus should be to regain that focus on your breath while realizing that you're sleeping. If you lose awareness of your breath, Then you lose awareness of your breath. If you lose awareness of your breath, Then you lose awareness of your breath. In the beginning, With your sleepiness, You may lose focus on the breath, But as you get better in meditation, As you train further, It is possible for your body to fall into a sleepy state while you still maintain the mindfulness of your breath. So whether you're sleeping, Whether there's a sound outside, Or whether there are other distractions that come from the external, These are just a phenomenon. If you're sleeping, You may lose awareness of your breath, And you may lose awareness of your breath. But the task at hand is not to resolve this external distraction. The task at hand is to maintain the mindfulness of the breath, Even in the midst of these distractions. So that's why feeling sleepy or your legs hurting, These are not important problems to be solved. Just let them be. If you feel that you're sleeping, You may lose awareness of your breath, And you may lose awareness of your breath, Then you may lose awareness of your breath, And you may lose awareness of your breath, And you may lose awareness of your breath. So these are sleepiness, Drowsiness, Or even pains in your legs are temporary phenomenons that should not distract you. The most important critical task at hand is to be mindful and maintain the mindfulness of your breath. So your position as you enter your attitude should be, Whatever happens, I'm maintaining my focus on the breath, Not trying to resolve or solve those occurrences.