Sleeping postures – a spiritual perspective

We all have a typical sleep posture and we feel comfortable when we sleep in that sleep posture.

Spiritual perspective of sleep postures

This article, based on the spiritual research conducted by the Spiritual Science Reserarch Foundation (SSRF), explains the effect of sleeping postures entirely from the spiritual perspective. Understanding actually what happens in the subtle dimension with each sleep posture will help us make an educated decision on how to sleep well and which is the sleep posture to achieve that.

At the outset we have to understand that

• From a spiritual perspective, sleep is basically a state most related to the subtle basic tama (ignorance and inertia)component. That means during sleep the subtle basic tama component in our body gets heightened.
• Coupled with this, as our spiritual practice is also at its lowest during sleep, we are spiritually most vulnerable when we sleep which also makes us more susceptible to attacks by ghosts (demons, devils, negative energies, etc.)
• The Kundalini is the inherent spiritual energy system in the body.The energy for the bodily and mental functions flows through the Sun (right) and Moon (left) Channels. The energy flowing through the Central (Sushumnaa) Channel is related to spiritual growth.
• Chetanaa is that part of the Divine Consciousness that governs the functioning of our mind and body

Effect of various Sleep Postures in the subtle dimension Sleep Posture 1 - Sleeping on the back

When we sleep on our back, the Chetanaa (vitality) in the cells of our body becomes unmanifest and dormant. Also our body is most exposed to the Region of Hell (Paataal) as a major portion of the body is directed towards the floor. Due to this combined effect, the body cells are unable to repel the attacks by distressing vibrations from the Region of Hell (Paataal)

However, the effect of this sleep posture differs as per the spiritual level of the person. Those having a higher spiritual level than 55% are less prone to having distress while sleeping on the back than those having a lower spiritual level.  This is due to the inactive central channel of the kundalini causing imbalanced flow of energy in the body in those below the spiritual level of 55%. However for those with lower spiritual level, various spiritual remedies can be advocated, in case they need to sleep on the back, in order to reduce the intensity of the distress.

 Sleep posture 2 - sleeping on the stomach

When a person sleeps on his stomach, there is pressure on the spaces in his abdomen. This pressure instigates the downward flow of the subtle excretory gases in the abdominal spaces. When one is sleeping in this posture, the movements of the actual body organs are slowed and the spaces around the organs are activated because of the pressure of the subtle excretory gases.

During this period the person's body is hypersensitive to the process of transmission of the subtle basic raja (activity and passion) – tama (ignorance and inertia)components at the subtle level. As a result the person is vulnerable to attacks by ghosts from the environment as well as from the Regions of Hell (Paataal).

Sleep posture 3 - sleeping on the sides

When a person sleeps on his side the Sun or Moon channels of the Kundalini system are predominantly activated.

• The Sun channel is activated when a person sleeps on his left side.
• The Moon channel is activated when a person sleeps on his right side.

When the Sun or Moon channels are activated the Chetanaa in the body cells remains activated. As a result there is a lower level of the subtle basic tama component generated and the Chetanaa also helps fight the attacks from ghosts.

 In summary

From a spiritual perspective unless one is above the 55% spiritual level, it is best to sleep on one's sides.

For more detailed and pictoral explaination of the subtle events occurring in various sleep postures,

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sleeping postures