Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Zen Garden (Premium)

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hi, Thomas here. You're listening to a preview episode. You can enjoy the entire story tonight by subscribing to our supporters' feed. There you'll get access to the entire back catalogue, bonus episodes, and more, and it's all completely ad-free. Click the link below to learn more and thank you so so much. Me and the team really appreciate your support. The roof of the temple curves upwards like a smile. The walls are light while the columns and roof are a rich, glossy brown. It's a sunny spring morning and the leaves of the trees flutter in the slight breeze. With no one else around, it's the perfect picture of serenity.

Starting point is 00:01:18 You are the only visitor. To set foot inside the gardens of this historic temple, you first need a special letter of permission. There are no crowds and no tourists, only you waiting to be met by your guide. The young man who comes to greet you is a monk. His head is shaved and he wears a long black robe. He introduces himself as Yuto and says that he is one of the many Zen Buddhist monks who live at the nearby monastery. The temples restricted access and remote location mean that they don't get many visitors. Today he will show you around the famous Zen Garden and share a little about his life. First, you walk together around the temple walls. His pace is slow but deliberate and he seems to be

Starting point is 00:02:51 paying careful attention to every moment. Normally you would walk more quickly but Uto's relaxed pace encourages you to slow down too. There's no reason to hurry here. There's no plan or timetable. It's refreshing to be able to forget about time for a while, and to simply enjoy the experience, living in the moment. You stroll down a tree-lined path, side by side, and Uto begins to tell you about his life as a monk. His words are as slow and measured as his steps and he has a low, calming voice.

Starting point is 00:04:00 Life in the monastery follows a strict routine. The monks wake up early before dawn and gather in the temple to meditate. Then they eat breakfast together in silence, mindful of each other's company, but focused on the act of eating. The rest of the day is spent meditating, studying or carrying out various duties in the monastery and temple, such as cooking and cleaning. For example, Utah spent this morning sweeping and mopping the floors, a job he finds relaxing and satisfying. Utah explains that when you are in the right state of mind, you can find pleasure in everything.

Starting point is 00:05:07 A life of early mornings, long meditation sittings, and hours of domestic work may not seem enjoyable at first, but a mindful attitude makes all the difference. No matter who you are or what you believe, Uto says, you can benefit from the Zen mindset. Appreciate the simple things in life and devote your full attention to whatever you are doing in that moment. As one proverb says, when walking, walk, when eating, eat, You stand together in silence and look at the landscape. Taking a deep breath, you focus your attention on the small pond in front of you, noticing how the surface ripples slightly in the breeze. You can see the reflection of the trees mirrored in the water. Looking up, you notice the elegant curves of the branches and the vibrant green

Starting point is 00:06:39 of the leaves. It's as if you had never truly taken the time to really look until this moment. you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - The Zen Garden (Premium)

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