0335 a.m….and the world feels…still.
That is approximately the time when the Brahma muhurta begins during the month of May. It lasts for 48 minutes. These can be the most meaningful 48 minutes of the day. The Brahma muhurta begins 1 hour and 36 minutes before sunrise and ends 48 minutes before it.
On a personal note, I have not always been an early riser. Most of my life I liked to stay up late, and in return, sleep in. The first experience I had with rising early was in boot camp. At 6 a.m. we would awaken to bright lights and a loud voice yelling “Reveille!! Reveille!! All hands on deck!” With burning eyes, shaky knees and moderate vertigo from getting up so fast, we hastily searched for our uniforms so that we may be fully dressed and ready to go in 2 minutes or less. We were on a mission, and so we strapped on our boots and got dressed in 90 seconds flat. With hearts racing, we were ready to go.
The mornings are not quite that dramatic these days. The mission looks a little different.
There are 15 muhurta’s in the night. The Brahma muhurta, or Brahma’s Time, is the 14th kala (time) of the night. This time is considered the most auspicious. This is when the time is most appropriate for mediation, worship or any other spiritual practices.
My mission, today, is to chant the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
“Rise early and chant. Your life will become successful” I can hear a faint voice saying in the back of my mind.
These can be the most meaningful 48 minutes of the day, but it may not be easy to get there. In the beginning I naturally struggled. Rising early had to be forced. It started with setting an alarm clock at 0630 and progressing from there. At some point, the alarm is not even necessary.
It is important to remain consistent with one’s morning practice. Periodically staying up late and in return sleeping in is not conducive to spiritual progress. As the Bhagavad Gita Tells us: “He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.” (BG 6.17) It is important for us to be consistent in our practices.
While it can be difficult to rise early due to the demands of the material world, the struggle to get there is well worth it. The morning muhurta’s before sunrise have become the most important part of my day, magical even.
At times it can still be difficult. On those days I might listen to a lecture or read a bit before getting out of bed. I no longer have to be ready in 90 seconds. “Take your time, hurry up, the choice is yours. Don’t be late.”
