Hard
physical exertion for eight hours is an imperative requirement enjoined by nature. Only
then we become entitled to normal sleep and relish physical freshness. Sleeplessness often
attacks only the people who command the basic necessities of life, earn a lot and don’t
have to work. The poor guys who have to struggle hard for earning a living are not victims
of sleeplessness.
It
is a settled reality that man was basically a hunter. The weapons then available were bows
and arrows, not pistols and guns. For procuring food, man had to chase animals all day
long. Even then availability of food was not certain. Many a time he had to return empty
handed, idly exhausted. This proves the necessity of hard work for man.
In
fact, sleeplessness is no disease. It is associated with our style of life. This simply
indicates that we are not fully meeting the requirements of our body. Idleness is contrary
to the law of nature. What really happens is that we relax the whole day long and hence
know no sleep at night. We go on changing sides while in bed. Even changing sides is a
sort of exercise and to some extent fulfils a natural need. Thus we do get a little sleep
towards morning. We, however, interpret the unconscious act of
changing sides as the struggle for having a little sleep. We fancy sleeplessness as a
serious illness and are inclined to seek shelter of doctors in vain. Drugs can induce fake
and artificial sleep but not a natural one. Our efforts fail to fetch sleep which comes
automatically.
“We used to sleep even on
stones
Now we know no rest even on velvet
beds”
A
popular proverb on the point: “The beggars enjoy sleep better than kings, manual
workers better than intellectual workers” To sum, our body demands exertion of eight
hours. It rests with us, how to do such physical exertion. If done earnestly, we can wipe
off the complaint of sleeplessness.
The
dispensation of nature leaves no room for discrimination between the rich and the poor. It
is unnatural that certain people amass abundant wealth while others suffer in penury.
Currently the number of sleepless persons is multiplying terribly fast. In future it may
become a serious problem. For, machines are replacing men everywhere. And machines neither
apply for leave nor ask for interval for tea. A single machine can perform equal to one
hundred or even one thousand workers. Apparently in future machines would tackle all jobs
and would spell idleness for man. This would entail dangerous results.
The
rich consider it below their dignity to work hard because they are free from the worries
of boarding, lodging and clothing. All desirable things for which the poor toil are
already in their hands. Why labour? If the victims agitated due to sleeplessness realize
that their sleeplessness is due to the basic cause of lack of manual exercise and their
cozy life, they would be ready to do anything to get rid of the agony of insomnia. A big
revolution can be ushered in if the rich, if so many rich people commence working for
eight hours daily. This would transform the entire social environment and remove the gulf
between the rich and the poor, or at least reduce the distance between them. Then our
self-created walls would be demolished. For, the rich would then work to provide food for
the hungry and drugs and other things for the needy. Such philanthropic activities would
rid the rich of torture of sleeplessness and foster spiritual awakening in them.