The Relationship Between Dhyana and Anusaya

When one attains meditative concentration, sleep diminishes, as the body requires less rest. This is because meditation itself reduces the activity of the six consciousnesses, thereby consuming less of the nourishment provided by the four fundamental elements. Meditation also curbs the mental faculty's tendency to grasp, decreases bodily movement, and lessens the exertion and control over the entire nervous system. Consequently, the brain's nervous system, internal organs, and entire body experience reduced activity and diminished consumption of the four fundamental elements. As a result, the body does not become fatigued, and the mental faculty no longer necessitates the decision to sleep.

The deeper the meditative concentration, the less sleep is required, to the point where sleep may become entirely unnecessary. At this stage, the mental faculty is profoundly tranquil, no longer inclined toward any form of deliberate activity, and thus ceases to excessively engage the brain's nervous system. Physical movement and conscious mental activity become exceedingly rare. The more settled the mental faculty, the less it grasps, the fewer regulatory activities occur, the less the four fundamental elements are consumed, and the less need there is for sleep or food.

Some individuals, in their daily work, accomplish substantial tasks yet harbor very few mental distractions. They consume less energy, require less food, and need less sleep, yet remain full of vitality. This demonstrates that the mental activity of the mental faculty is what most heavily consumes the energy of the four fundamental elements, whereas the six consciousnesses themselves do not consume very much. Therefore, even when the workload of the six consciousnesses remains substantial, a reduction in the mental distractions of the mental faculty decreases overall activity, making the work feel less tiring.

Evidently, the mental faculty is capable of comprehending and managing the state of the physical body at every moment, exercising regulation and command at will. It discerns with great agility, whereas consciousness remains unaware of the body's various conditions, relying instead on the mental faculty for subtle hints and alertness.