Is it ok if I occasionally fall asleep during meditation?
—Roberta, Woods
Dear Roberta, Just about everybody who has ever meditated has fallen asleep during meditation at one time or another, but the true answer is NO, it I not good to fall asleep in meditation.
The primary reason is that in meditating we are striving to move into superconsciousness and sleep, in many ways, is the opposite of that state of heightened energy and awareness.
Remedies would include being sure you are getting enough regular sleep. Energize before you meditate and if you don’t know and practice Yogananda’s Energization Exercises, it would be a very wise idea for you to learn and practice them before every meditation.
Don’t meditate for at least 2 or 3 hours after a meal (depending on how heavy or light the food might have been). At the time sleepiness falls over you, pray for help! Then open your eyes wide, squeeze them tightly shut—do that several times. Inhale and tense your whole body, then through the breath out forcibly—do this 3 or 4 times. These practices should help you a lot! Blessings to you.
