Waking Up

Everyone should try to wake up before five in the morning. The ideal time for spiritual practices, such as meditation and chanting, is brahma muhurta (the period between three-thirty and six a.m.). During that time, sattvic qualities are predominant in nature; the mind is clear and the body energetic. It is never a good practice to continue to sleep after sunrise. Do not remain in bed after you wake, for it increases laziness and dullness. Those who cannot immediately reduce the amount of hours they sleep can do so gradually over time. A person who does regular sadhana does not require much sleep.

When you wake up in the morning, turn on to your right side before sitting up. After sitting up, hold both palms before your eyes, and chant the following mantra:

Karagre Vasate Lakshmi Karamadhye Sarasvati
Karamule Tu Govinda Prabhate Karadarshanam

(Lakshmi resides in the fingers, Sarasvati in the centre of the palm and Lord Vishnu around the wrist. It is therefore auspicious to look at your hand first thing in the morning.)

Then, imagine that your beloved deity or your Guru is standing in front of you, and bow down at His or Her feet. You can then sit on your bed and meditate for at least five minutes. Pray with a sincere heart: "God, let me remember you constantly throughout the day. Let my every thought, word and deed bring me closer to you. Let me not hurt anyone in thought, word or deed. Be with me every moment."

Before stepping on the floor, bow down to Earth respectfully. Try to see the Divine in all. If you can, chant the following mantra:

Samudravasane Devi Parvatastanamandale
Vishnupatni Namastubhyam Padasparsham Kshamasva Me

(The ocean is your clothing, the mountain, your bosom, I am about to step on You, so please forgive me.)

Be grateful to God that He has given you another day of life.