Thinking of God during sleep

Question

I sleep all night and don't think of God.

Is their a meditation technique that will help me think of God while I sleep?

—russell , usa

Answer

Dear Russell,

You are certainly not alone in this difficulty. It is not at all easy to practice the presence of God when sleeping. Here are some suggestions.

Yogananda suggests (in the book How to Have Courage, Calmness, and Confidence):

Carry your love of God deep in your heart before you sleep. Cradle it there, so that when you dream you may dream of Him resting on the fragrant altar of sleep. Actually, God embraces you on His bosom as peace and joy when you sleep. You are sleeping locked in His arms of tranquility. So, before you fall asleep, remember that you are going to embrace Him in sleep and dreams.

Swami Kriyananda recommends that each night before sleep you mentally build a bonfire at the spiritual eye and fthrow into these flames all attachments that have come up during the day. Tune in to your inner freedom in God as you do this, and go to sleep feeling free in God’s presence.

Nayaswami Jyotish, who directs Ananda Worldwide with his wife, Devi, suggests going to sleeping mentally repeating a chant or a devotional poem.

Nayaswami Devi has suggested going to sleep asking the angels or the masters to protect the portals of her mind while she is in the subconsciousness of sleep.

I hope these ideas will be helpful.

Joy to you,
Anandi