34. Good Sleep

AN 3:34 Good Sleep

Translated from the Pali by Nyanaponika Thera and Bhikkhu Bodhi

Thus have I heard. On one occasion when the Blessed One was dwelling in the Alavi country, he rested on a heap of leaves spread on a cattle track in a simsapa forest.

At that time Hatthaka of Alavi passed that way while taking a walk and there he saw the Blessed One seated on the heap of leaves. Having approached the Blessed One and paid homage to him, Hatthaka sat down to one side and said to the Blessed One:

“Venerable sir, has the Blessed One slept well?”

“Yes, prince, I slept well. Among those in the world who always sleep well, I am one.”

“But, Lord, the winter nights are cold and this is a week of frost. Hard is the ground trampled by the hoofs of cattle, thin is the spread of leaves, sparse are the leaves on the trees, thin are the tawny monk’s robes and cold blows the wind. Yet the Blessed One says that he has slept well and that he is one of those in the world who always sleep well.”

“Now, prince, I shall put a question to you about this and you may reply as you think fit. What do you think of this, prince? Suppose there is a householder or a householder’s son living in a house with a gabled roof, plastered inside and out, protected against the wind, with fastened door bolts and windows closed. And there is a couch in the house, covered with a long-fleeced, black woollen rug, with a bedspread of white wool, a coverlet decorated with flowers, spread over with an exquisite antelope skin, having a canopy overhead, and scarlet cushions at both ends. Also a lamp is burning there and his four wives attend on him pleasantly. What do you think, prince: would that person sleep well or not, or what is your opinion about this?”

“He will surely sleep well, Lord. He will be one of those in the world who sleep well.”

“What do you think, prince? Might there not arise in that householder or householder’s son vexations of body or mind caused by lust, hatred, and delusion, which torment him so that he would sleep badly?”

“That may well be so, Lord.”

“Now, prince, the lust, hatred, and delusion by which that householder is tormented, and which cause him to sleep badly, have been abandoned by the Tathagata, cut off at the root, made barren like palm-tree stumps, obliterated so that they are no more subject to arise in the future. Therefore, prince, I have slept well.”

The brahmin who is quenched within Always sleeps happily; He does not cling to sensual desires, Free from props, one cool in mind. Having cut all straps of attachment, Removed care deep within the heart, The Peaceful One sleeps happily, Attained to perfect peace of mind.