A student writes:

I often feel very tired and fall asleep when I meditate. I suspect this is a case of actual tiredness but I wondered if there was any advice you could offer? Should I try to find a different another time to meditate, as I usually do it quite late in the evening?

Lama Shenpen replies:

With the problem of tiredness, yes, it is good to choose a time of day when you feel bright, if that is possible. If it is not possible you could try short periods often during the day or at least three times a day – five minutes as you get up, five minutes at some point during the day and five minutes last thing before going to sleep. You could also set aside time for a walking meditation, simply bringing your awareness into the present moment and the sensations that appear in the space of awareness, very relaxed and open.

Think of every time you bring the attention back into the moment as no different from meditation. This helps you to develop an on-going meditative state of mind and makes it easier to link into the meditation quickly when it comes to sitting meditation.

The other thing you can do is to keep making a strong wish to Awaken, at any time of day. Simply remember your heart wish for happiness and to Awaken and align with it. Think ‘Yes, that’s it, that is what I want to do.’ The more you align with that wish the more you will find yourself spontaneously waking up during your meditation and at other times, too.

Lama Shenpen Hookham

If you are looking for a comprehensive training in meditation, find out more here about how to join the AHS and become of student of Lama Shenpen and join the Living the Awakened Heart Training – the structured, supported, distance and online learning programme in Buddhist meditation, reflection and insight. The training, which is open to all, brings the profound Dzogchen and Mahamudra teachings to a Western audience in an experiential, accessible way, through spiral learning. Full details at www.ahs.org.uk/training