The hindrance of sleep

During the Buddha’s time, there was a monk who loved to sleep. He got up each morning to receive alms, however went right back to bed when eating and cleaning up. The Buddha noticed this monk and thought, “Isn’t it pitiful? His whole life is spent sleeping!” 

One day, the compassionate Buddha visited the monk’s quarters and scolded him. “Get up! Why are you continue to in bed? you're blessed to guide a life as a monk, however all you are doing is eat and sleep. you recognize that life is impermanent, and you’re not using it slow wisely. Not solely are you wasting your life, however you’re additionally wasting the goodwill of these who provide you with alms. They nourish your body in order that you'll be able to use it as a vehicle for non secular apply, and you’re being ungrateful to them by not doing therefore.” 

The monk quickly got up and prostrated to the Buddha. He expressed nice remorse and cried in shame, “Buddha, i do know i'm wrong, i'll amendment.” 

The Buddha went on to mention, “In your previous lives you were simply as lazy as you're currently. You were therefore lazy along with your non secular apply that for fifty,000 years you were reincarnated as clams, snails and mussels. of these creatures live within their thick shells, go into hibernation, and sleep all day within the dark. In your most up-to-date life you were a tree bug, slowly eating the tree away whereas hiding within the dark. After 50,000 years of exhausting your karma, you were finally born human once more.” 

The monk was shocked to listen to this and said, “In the past I’ve lived in such darkness. currently I’m blessed to visualize the sunshine and listen to the Dharma, therefore I ought to come back to my innate nature.” At that moment, the monk was totally woke up. it absolutely was sort of a serious blanket was lifted from him. 

A life not well used could be a life slept away. Everyone, you want to carry the hindrance of sleep and apply diligently to form the foremost of this lifetime! 

Teachings by Master Cheng Yen

Compiled by the Dharma as Water Editorial Team

Posted in: Buddha,Buddhism,Zen