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From the March
2003 Daily Meditator
Paramhansa Yogananda
made this suggestion for overcoming drowsiness during meditation:
"Squeeze your eyes shut several times, then open them wide
and stare straight ahead. Repeat this practice once or twice more.
If you do this, sleepiness will cease to bother you."
From the October
2003 Daily Meditator
Most people
do everything only half-heartedly and use only one-tenth of their
concentration. To be successful in meditation it is essential that
we concentrate with our full attention, otherwise our efforts will
be mechanical, diffused, and lack power. Spiritual awareness depends
on two things: the amount of energy and how that energy is focused.
You can increase your level of energy and focus by commanding your
mind's attention with such practices as chanting, prayer, yoga postures,
breathing exercises, and the Energization Exercises. These practices
generate a strong flow of energy, which then can be used for meditation.
Keeping the
eyes uplifted during meditation helps you stay more alert. It also
attunes you to higher states of consciousness. If you find yourself
falling asleep, or drifting off in meditation, concentrate very
deeply—but without strain—at the point between the eyebrows.
Swami Kriyananda
wrote in the Art and Science of Raja Yoga, "The position
of the eyes suggests the general portion of the brain in which the
consciousness is centered. In particular, when the mind slips toward
subconsciousness and the energy becomes centered in the lower brain,
the eyes tend to look downward; when one is involved in the world,
or otherwise active on the conscious level, the energy becomes centered
more in the mid-brain, and the eyes tend more naturally to look
straight ahead; and when one enters a state of superconsciousness,
the eyes are drawn automatically to gaze upward."
If sleepiness still
is a problem, you might find it helpful to shorten your meditations
and focus on making them as dynamic as possible. Then gradually lengthen
your meditations. Try also to meditate during those times of day when
you're the most alert and energetic.
You may experience
times where sleepiness is a recurring problem. If this is the case,
don't worry about it; it's usually just a phase. Meditating with
energy and calm intensity—plus a positive attitude—is
the key to breaking through.
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