Night Meditation
That which is night for the unenlightened is day for the yogi. And that which is day for ordinary people is night for the yogi-seer (who perceives the inner reality).
Bhagavad Gita (2:69)
This blog is dedicated to sharing one of the greatest joys of yogic life.
Here you’ll find inspiration for this beautiful practice. You’ll also have the opportunity to share your experience. If you would like to join our regular night meditation group, please see the information at the bottom of the page.
« Your soul must dive deep into the ocean of perception. God-contact can be accomplished through regular, intense, long-continued meditations. Combine your deepest meditation with utmost devotion in the silent hours of the night in seeking an answer to your desires.
When ever-new, ever-increasing joy fills your silence, you will know that you have contacted God and that He is answering through the receiving instrument of your soul. »
– Wisdom of Yogananda –
“Since you insist so much on sleeping,” I scolded my mind, “I’m not going to let you sleep at all!”
I stayed up all that night – typing letters, walking about the grounds, drinking tea – anything to beat down my insistent craving for sleep. When daylight came, I went out and worked hard in the garden. By the following evening my mind had become so submissive – terrified, I imagine, lest it be abused with sleeplessness a second night! – that my meditative drowsiness ceased completely, never to bother me again for many months.
– The New Path – Swami Kriyananda
“It is somewhat easier to meditate at night or early in the morning while others are asleep. Thoughts have power, and the restless thoughts of people around you will have a subtle tendency to make your meditations more restless.”
– How to Meditate – Jyotish Novak
“Everyone should try to wake up before five in the morning. The ideal time for spiritual practices, such as meditation and chanting, is brahma muhurta (the period between three-thirty and six early morning).
During that time, sattvic qualities are predominant in nature; the mind is clear and the body energetic. It is never a good practice to continue to sleep after sunrise. Do not remain in bed after you wake, for it increases laziness and dullness. Those who cannot immediately reduce the amount of hours they sleep can do so gradually over time.
– Amma
Want to join ?
To join our night meditation group or to learn the meditation technique taught by Paramhansa Yogananda, contact us at ananda.provence(at)gmail.com.
Hello friends
I was happy to be able to join the 3am (2am UK) meditation. It was a good, quiet and still meditation experience. It would help me to know the timetable of these events eg. Chant 3am, Prayer at 3.10, meditation till 4.30, so that we, and new participants would know what to expect.
With Love
Stan
Thank you, Stan, for your input ! I’m happy you enjoyed the meditation.
And yes, you are absolutely right, I will provide a timetable of the night meditation, so everybody knows what happens and when.
Blissful blessings
Benjamin
Hello everyone,
I did the first night meditation, and it was wonderful.
There is more tranquillity and peace, and I felt more recharged en open.
It was so good to have my spiritual friends with me in the experience. I felt save and supported.
I always wanted to do a night meditation, but I never dared to on my own, so this is a blessing for me.
I want to join every week now.
I meditated from 03.15 till 04.30u.
May peace be with you always.
Daya
Hi everyone,
I joined the meditation yesterday and I am really grateful for the opportunity to experience this peaceful energy during the night! After Stan’s feedback, Benjamin provided a schedule for orientation and that was very helpful and everything felt well organised.
After our YoganandaFest in Germany I wanted to keep up the beautiful energy that is so special to Ananda and also to put in that extra effort into my meditation – and there it was, a perfect opportunity to do that, to show a certain discipline and commitment to my practice. This is indeed a special time of the day, perfect for meditation and I’m looking forward to the next one 🙂
Joy to you all and many blessings!
Katerina
Hey there,
I joined the last Night Meditation just for 1 hour. It was a great blessing. Keep on going Benjamin. Thank you so much. Aum. 🙏🏽🕉️🙏🏽
And you, dear reader, I heartly recommand you to participate some day … ahh … night as well. Give yourself the blessing 😃
Jai Guru, Aum.
Dear friends, thank you for your sunny comments and your luminous presence during the last night meditations.
I like to meditate at night and try to do so from time to time, despite my daytime activities. But I have to say that since we’ve been getting together once a week to meditate together, the experience has become a real little party that kicks off the weekend with a little extra, a very welcome boost of bliss.
Preparing for these nightly meditations leads me to do a little more research on the subject, and sometimes I find some real nuggets. These are often testimonials from great meditators on the subject, or Yogananda’s encouragement to his students to meditate at night.
It’s a special joy to share these nuggets with you during the night in the form of readings or short videos introducing our meditations.
Finally, I’ve noticed something that seems to be constant:
If I manage to eat little and lightly, or even fast a little, the day after the night meditation, the benefits of it stays with me all day. Even better, it makes me act with a little more fluidity and discrimination. On the other hand, if I eat a little too much or a little too heavy, then fatigue can hit me all at once and my mood can take a slight turn for the worse.
I understand that meditating at night requires a whole new balance for the rest of the week! A true art of living…
On that note, I look forward to seeing you soon for a new exploration of the Kingdom of Heaven at night 🙂
Hello wonderful souls,
I finally made it this last Thursday to come and join the « night feast » as Benjamin calls it and I have to say I can confirm that name 😀
Somehow I found it really easy to get up at 2:30am, I really felt awake and ready but also so inward.. I almost didn’t feel I needed to energise but I did anyhow with a more inward focus! It was as my mind was already set on meditation modus when I opened the computer to connect on Zoom, so wonderful to see « pochi ma buoni » (few but good) friends on the screen and to know we are in this together. Even with the inspiration Benjamin prepared so lovingly, I felt I didn’t need much and didn’t want to activate my mind too much, just a little kindling in the heart and deep you go! It felt somehow really special sitting there in the silence of the night, just with a little candle illuminating the masters, like Christmas or so 😀
And then even during the day (I went to sleep another 2 hours after^^) I felt so energised, it felt like a special and magical day! So looking forward to the next time and to see if it will feel the same or different 😀
JAI GURU and Thank you all for this « night feast » <3
Yes, Ruby, you are so right! The day does feel very special afterwards 🙏❤️
Thanks, Benjamin, and keep on going!
Many blessings to you all
Katerina
Dear friends, would you like to meditate at night, but are afraid of getting tired during the day or having mood swings?
Then this tip may help you:
To avoid fatigue during the day, the classic “eat less” or even fasting or eating lightly (e.g. fruit) will conserve available energy.
To avoid mood swings and feelings of lack (of well-being): Bathe in the sun!
Look around at the sun, let the light come in through your eyes especially.
Recent scientific research has shown the surprising benefits of sunlight on the entire endocrine system when the light passes through the eyes (be careful not to burn your retina!).
In summary, looking into the sunlight regulates cortisol (the stress hormone), releases melanocytes (reduces appetite), reduces fatigue and calms (greatly) the nervous system. And just 5–10 minutes makes a big difference.
Very interesting scientific information on the subject here:
https://youtu.be/UF0nqolsNZc?t=2329
Blissful nightly blessings !