Monks live a disciplined and simple lifestyle, which does not include sleeping like normal people. Monks sleep for about 4 – 6 hours each night, but they get the a restful sleep because they are in a dark and quite room.
Between praying up to seven times a day and working a medieval monk got little sleep. They averaged approximately five hours sleep between evening prayers and the 2am church service, and then snatched another half an hour before being up at 4am for more prayer.
With the ninth precept, Buddhists refrain from lying in a high or luxurious sleeping place. Monks take that a step further and aim to sleep upright to reduce the need for sleep.
Thus we can see the Buddha was busy the whole day. In fact he only slept one hour each day during this 45 years of teaching. During the early hours of the day he saw the whole universe, blessed it with his boundless love and brought happiness to millions.
Medieval monks were also required to sleep differently – according to the Rule of St. Benedict, they would go to bed at about 7:00 pm, and then wake up for Matins around 2:00 in the morning.
The monks go on alms round in the morning and the only other activities of the day are morning chores, breakfast, and the main meal. At 7:00 pm, the community gathers for pūjā, meditation, the taking of the precepts by the laity and a Dhamma talk.
4.00 am - The monks wake up and meditate for one hour, followed by one hour of chanting. 6.00 am - The monks walk barefoot around the neighbourhood while the local people make merit by offering them food. 8.00 am - Returning to the temple, the monks sit together to eat breakfast, then make a blessing for world peace.
The diet of Tibetan monks is based on Tsampa (made of Tibetan barley), Yak butter tea, and some other dairy products, which can provide them with the necessary energy to survive in the high altitude environment. Also, Tibetan monks eat beans, noodle soups, and stir-fried or steamed vegetable dishes.
In the morning, at surise: Traditionally between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m., the Brahma Muhurta Sandhya is the most auspicious time to meditate, according to the ancients. The mind is calm and refreshed after a good night's sleep, and the distractions of the day have yet to begin.
Buddha advised monks to sleep for four hours a day and set a wake up time in their mind. This allows them plenty of time for meditation, prayer, and other religious duties. Monks typically wake up early and meditate for 1 to 3 hours before doing the same at night.
In order to have a better posture while meditating, monks believe in sleeping upright and thus train their bodies for the same. Usually people can sleep while sitting or standing but if they enter a deep, dreamy phase; it becomes difficult and they might eventually fall.
The monks are also forbidden from eating anything after 12 p.m., having only one or two meals a day between the hours of 6 a.m. and noon.
Monks generally live a contemplative life of prayer confined within a monastery while friars usually engage in an active ministry of service to the outside community.
However, most monks completed two or even three cycles to fully prepare themselves. After the final cycle, the devout would cut out all food, drink a limited amount of salinized water for a hundred days, and otherwise meditate upon the salvation of mankind while waiting to die.
The practice of fasting
The monks only make two meals a day, one in the morning and another before noon. After the second meal, they do not eat solids and spend the rest of the day only with liquids while studying, practising meditation, and other activities related to the temple, community, and self-development.
On top of your normal work day, waking up at 4 am will give you extra time when your mind is the most relaxed and active to pursue your dream. You should at least find that you have an extra three hours per day that are now much more productive and focused.
Food is prepared as a spiritual exercise with attention to balance, harmony, and delicacy. Conscious eating is followed among all Buddhists. Buddha advised monks to avoid eating 10 kinds of meat for self-respect and protection: humans, elephants, horses, dogs, snakes, lions, tigers, boars and hyenas.
Admittedly, the five precepts that lay Buddhists agree to follow say that one should refrain from drinking alcohol and it is also one of the basic rules that novices and fully ordained monks are responsible for following.
Monks are forbidden to divine either good fortune or future tragedy by observing heavenly omens, thereby deceiving both the tennō and the people. They are also forbidden to possess and study military tracts; to commit murder, rape, robbery or other crimes; and to feign enlightenment.
They spend a lot of their time devoting themselves to their religious practices, such as prayer, mass, reflection, or meditation. In their free time, they will often exercise, cook, forage, or do various tasks around the monastery.
From around 9 am he usually spends time studying various Buddhist texts and commentaries written by great Buddhist masters.