Reading a Book Before Sleep

3 months ago By Yogi Anoop

Reading a Book Before Sleep: A Conversation with Yogi Anoop

Student: Yogi ji, are books really a source of knowledge? Can we rely on them for our personal and spiritual growth?

Yogi Anoop: Certainly, books are a vast reservoir of knowledge. However, they serve as mere inspiration. Whether in practical life or the philosophical realm, everything depends on one’s own efforts. Books can inspire us, and inspiration is necessary for any kind of growth. But it’s important to remember that when we start living life based on books, life doesn’t always look like what’s described in them. Many deep and practical experiences can’t be fully captured in writing, so our experiences during practice are often quite different.

Student: So, do books only provide theoretical knowledge, and not much practical guidance?

Yogi Anoop: Exactly. Books can’t always give you the detailed, practical nuances. They provide a general framework, but it’s up to you to jump into the ocean of practical life. This is why I often say that books only offer information. They introduce you to the possibilities of various spiritual and practical ideologies, but to truly uncover any mystery, you must bring yourself into practice. Reading alone will not lead to any transformation.

Student: Does real change come only through personal practice, then?

Yogi Anoop: Yes, the real change happens through your personal effort and practice. Otherwise, there are many people who write and read all day long, yet their personal growth remains stagnant. I know individuals who are constantly reading and writing, but their personal upliftment is minimal because their practical application is weak.

Student: Yogi ji, should we read a book before going to sleep? Is it a good habit?

Yogi Anoop: That’s an important question. To answer this, we need to understand what happens right before sleep that allows us to drift into it. The most crucial factor is that the mind should be calm. If you are calm, you won’t face any difficulty in falling asleep. However, after living a stressful day, it can be hard for most people to calm themselves at night.

Student: Is that why people often read books before bed?

Yogi Anoop: Exactly. That’s why many people develop the habit of reading books  before sleep. When you read, your wandering mind starts to focus, and your brain begins to relax. At this time, through the act of reading, certain chemicals in the system are gradually released, because you are in the process of slowing down yourself . That is why it leads the body towards relaxation. While some people fall asleep while watching a screen, I don’t consider that a sign of deep sleep. After a few hours they got up again in the middle of the night.  But reading a book before bed helps slow down the mind and brain, preparing you for restful sleep. I strongly recommend practicing some cooling pranayama or meditation in a lying position before sleeping in bed. 

Student: What kinds of books should we read before bed, according to you?

Yogi Anoop: In my opinion, autobiographies, biographies, and foundational spiritual texts are ideal to read before sleeping. These provide pure and authentic knowledge, and at the same time, they calm your intellectual activity, bringing about a deep transformation in the mind. 

One more important thing to remember is that when reading a book, you should always read with a deep understanding of each word and sentence, not just for the sake of reading. For instance, when an experienced person writes about their experiences, their flow tends to be calm and slow. But, when a typist writes, they often do so without truly understanding the content.

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