Chanting went better this morning. A stopwatch helped . . . Sleepiness usually comes before you are aware of it. Then you become slightly aware of it, but it pulls you down and you don’t act. So the stopwatch gives you an early warning. If I see that a full ten minutes have gone by and the head bead is not in sight, then I know I must be spacing out. This is strictly beginner’s stuff, but I won’t pretend I’m above it. Also, I’m eager to get one of those bottles that emits a fine spray of water to use when I feel drowsy. Sleepiness can actually be beaten by devices like this. The use of devices indicates a will for reform, so they are important tools. Later they won’t be needed. This morning, I also strictly avoided sitting down for that stretch between 4:00-5:30 A.M. Gradually, one can learn many of the tricks of the mind and ways to uproot bad habits.
(Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name)
Learning tricks of the mind
and how to avoid them.
Use a stopwatch;
a bottle that emits
a fine spray of
water; don’t chant while
sitting down during
a “dangerous” early hour.
“Gradually you can
learn many of the
tricks of the mind
and ways to uproot
bad habits.”