Long ago, when I was a practicing brahmacari, I was told not to sleep on my stomach because it would put pressure on my genitals, thus increasing the chance of sexual arousal or having a wet dream. I don’t know if the women were ever given any such similar instruction in regards to what position they slept in. Just curious. There is nothing recommended in any sastra, that I am aware of, about in what position you should sleep. Logic be cursed! Still instruction was given. Did anyone else this get this instruction?
There are limited options. Sleep on your back, your stomach, on your side, or in the fetal position. What has that to do with sexual arousal or with KC? Maybe some would like an innocent dream or an arousal. How do you sleep?

As far as sleep goes, I was instructed to always sleep with my head pointing in a certain direction (I can't remember which any more, North maybe), but that had to do with the electromagnetic stresses of the earth and how it was moving, being in alignment with that so as to improve my health and mental state. I was also told never to sleep naked because that would attract ghosts and demonic spirits which would supposedly attack me at night. As a general rule, because I'm a woman I was told to never let my breasts directly touch the ground. It was an "offense" to the earth, to Bhumi, to do so. Why, I never could fathom, except that everything about being a "woman" was inauspicious and offensive and an affront to the gods, the earth, the universe, "men", and everything else imaginable. This was why in making obeisances women were never to do full dandavats, only the curled up posture, so our pretty lady parts wouldn't touch the ground and offend it. Apparently a sleeping mat was sufficient barrier between our breasts and the ground, though, so we were allowed to sleep on our stomachs. Gosh the devas were/are petty!!! Everything offends them! (What to speak of all those brahmanas throwing curses every which way because they're so danged offended all the time.) None of this had anything to do with curbing sexual desire, though. This is the first I've heard of that.

spoonin'

it was told for the men to sleep on top and the women on bottom to increase odds the child conceived was male

I heard breasts shouldn't touch the ground because they are sacred.

I have heard of sleeping with the head pointed North, minimizing electromagnetic stresses, but not from any devotee, and I found there is little benefit from that. I’ve tried every direction. Siva is told to be the protector of the Northern direction though. But what about the same electromagnetic stresses for those in the Southern hemisphere, wouldn’t they be told to sleep with the head facing South for the same reason?

Having studied the nature of ghosts as described in detail in Garuda Purana (Vishnu speaking to Garuda) I do not find anywhere that they are attracted by nakedness per se, only filthy, intoxicated, or wholly ignorant beings, and moreover do not dare approach those who take shelter of Krishna, particularly those who chant His Names. Anyway, in an ashrama where there are other people, you wouldn’t have the privacy to sleep naked even if you wanted to. Personally I feel a bit uncomfortable sleeping naked, at least I want some undies on.

Wow! I never knew firsthand how women were treated because I was always separate from them. I knew so little of them when I was a brahmacari. I never like that anyone should belittle another, particularly a vaishnava in a woman’s body, and that they should be called inauspicious simply because thay had a woman’s body. Even BR Sridhara, a sanyasi for 60 years, said we may not disrespect or hate women because the very object of our worship and service, Radha and her confidants, are also of feminine form.

I never knew that either, but then again I never watched the women pay obeisances closely, as I tried not to look at them much, lest my attention be drawn to any other object than serving Radha-Krishna. And how could Bhumi be offended by you breasts touching the ground when Bhumi is a feminine Deity?

Who says, where is it in sastra, that the devas are so easily offended by women? Indeed the opposite would seem to be more in line with sastra, since the devas are always seen to be engaged in sexual dalliances with the beautiful heavenly women. Even Bhagavatam (2.3.2-7) recommends the worship of Indra for those who desire a powerful sex life. But ISKCON was supposed to be a vaishnava society and brahmana is only a subordinant stage approaching vaishnavism, and though they are somewhat related, they are really quite different in their attitudes as Bhagavatam states (7.9.10).

Yes, for a brahmacari or sanyasi, sense control and mind control, to fix one’s consciousness above sensuality, is seen in everything, even in the position of sleeping. Many seem to blame their internal lusty nature on the external form of women that their senses are attracted to. Hatred of and belittlement of women arise in those who like control and do not posses control of their selves. Imagine thinking you can become pure in heart by ‘purifying’ the imagined faults of the external, visible world which is full of women.

As a female I wasn't taught the same things as Strange Pilgrim. Maybe it depends where you were a devotee and who was around. But by having your period you were considered "muchi." That was something that was kind of universal. The degradation of women was much more subtle where I was. We weren't equals but weren't treated like garbage, either.

We were so willing to do whatever it took to be good devotees in our bhakta years, that I think if we were told to lie in our sleeping bags with one hand in a bowl of soured milk while wearing metal scouring pads between our legs, held in place by buttered plastic wrap…we would of done it. We so wanted purity based on Vedic life filtered through constant thoughts of Krsna and the orders of the spiritual master, that we were willing to suspend our western ways and do rather irrational things based on information that may not even been Vedic but just superstitions and cultural fears coming from certain individuals who brought this stuff with them to KC, even Prabhupada.

My bhakta leader told me it was best to lie on my side when sleeping because when you laid on your back, you were more prone to snore, which was a sign of ignorance and that when your mouth lay open while on your back, ghosts could enter your body that way. Most people that were or are devotees tell me that they never heard of such a thing. My bhakta leader by the way fled the temple one night, (breaking into my locker and stealing my civilian clothes and shoes because we were about the same size) and fled to NYC where he became crack dealer briefly, before reforming once again for the lord and went on to live in New Vrindavan during the Keith Ham/Christian robe period.

I still sleep on the floor.

I fall asleep while laying on my back, and I often awake laying on my stomach. It seems that those sexual impulses can't be conquered... although I generally don't find myself aroused by the thought of my bed pressing against my body. But maybe i am just too advanced for that, and for the average "starving" brahmacari who just starts on the path, it might be dangerous.

Do you still take cold showers too?

only when he is aroused by sexual thougths of being with babu

I finish my hot shower with a scrotum tightening cold shower. I find it helps keep my youthful look and sublime sexual powers. Its also good for the immune system.

QUOTE (dayalu @ Jan 22 2008, 12:31 PM)

QUOTE (zanardi @ Jan 22 2008, 04:12 AM)

I still sleep on the floor. 

Do you still take cold showers too?

It happens, but not for any real purpose like in the old days.

Damn pizza for putting all this plaque in my arteries. It just sits there so wantonly, with its cheese and tomatoes and basil all openly visible for all to see, tempting us with its oozing sauce. Pizza is such a slut! If only it would modestly and chastely cover itself and stop advertising its warm, cheesy goodness I know I could remain on the platform of a heart healthy diet forever and ever, thus achieving the elusive goal of heart health. Damn pizza!

So true, so true! But one should use ghee...or maybe mustard oil.

Now, watch how the yogi sleeps