How I Overcame Sleepiness to Make the Morning Exercises a Routine

(Minghui.org) Waking up at 3 a.m. every day to do the exercises is difficult for most people. At first, when I decided to join practitioners worldwide to do the exercises, I found it very difficult to wake up.

When the alarm clock rang, I felt very sleepy. I went back to sleep a little longer, until it was time to do the fifth exercise. Then I joined the others to do the fifth exercise. After sending forth righteous thoughts at 6 a.m., I did exercises one through four. It was worse in the winter months. Some days after I got up, the cold made me feel sleepy and tired. I went back to bed and fell asleep.

After studying the teachings more, I realized that I could not continue like this any longer. I could not let the demon of sleep and karma interfere with my cultivation. I was determined to relinquish the demons of laziness, and sleepiness. They are caused by my karma, and I knew I must overcome them.

Master said in Zhuan Falun:

“In spiritual practice you have to go through ordeals ...” (The Fourth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

“A higher energy like gong is most definitely not something gained through comfort and ease.” (The Sixth Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I made up my mind to be a diligent cultivator. No matter how sleepy or tired I was, I woke up on time to do the exercises with fellow practitioners. I was determined not to let attachments interfere with my routine exercises.

Master told us clearly:

“You may have waited hundreds of years, or more, for a human body, only to not cherish it now, when you finally have one. If you reincarnate as a rock, it might be eons before you are freed—if ever. You would never be freed if it didn’t break, crumble, or erode away. Human bodies are not easily come by! A person who truly learns Dafa, the “Great Way,” is incomparably fortunate.” (The Second Talk, Zhuan Falun)

From that time on, I have never missed one day of doing the morning exercises. That has been the case in all circumstances, including extreme weather, physical discomfort, etc.

Master also said:

“Joining our group exercise sessions is better than anything similar you could do, and you will find, if you practice at one, that it does more for your health than any therapy or form of treatment ever could. My spiritual bodies sit in a circle there, and above the practice site is a shield, with a massive falun on it, and a gigantic, spiritual body watching over the site from above the shield. This isn’t like most sites where regular people gather to do exercises, but a place for spiritual refinement.” (The Third Talk, Zhuan Falun)

I have now completely overcome sleepiness. When the alarm rings, I get out of bed, brush my teeth, and wash my face. I do not feel sleepy at all. I have plenty of energy every day.

In November 2018, I began to do the second exercise for one hour. To accommodate the extra 30 minutes, I set the alarm for 3:10 a.m., so I begin the exercises at 3:20 a.m. Some practitioners told me it was too difficult for them to do Exercise Two for an hour. I don’t feel that way. The one-hour version feels just like the 30-minute version. During the winter months, I felt heat throughout my body; I was almost sweating. I realized that, by increasing the second exercise to one hour, Master has given practitioners a push to higher levels. I must not cut any slack for myself. I will do my best to follow the Fa Rectification process and follow Master all the way home.