Can someone explain how does this posture looks like? Can someone also explain what time is the first watch of the night, what time is the second watch of the night, and what time is the last watch of the night?
And how is a noble disciple dedicated to wakefulness?
It’s when a noble disciple practices walking and sitting meditation by day, purifying their mind from obstacles.
In the first watch of the night, they continue to practice walking and sitting meditation.
In the middle watch, they lie down in the lion’s posture—on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other—mindful and aware, and focused on the time of getting up.
In the last watch, they get up and continue to practice walking and sitting meditation, purifying their mind from obstacles.
That’s how a noble disciple is dedicated to wakefulness.Kathañca, mahānāma, ariyasāvako jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti?
Idha, mahānāma, ariyasāvako divasaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti,
rattiyā paṭhamaṁ yāmaṁ caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti,
rattiyā majjhimaṁ yāmaṁ dakkhiṇena passena sīhaseyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, sato sampajāno, uṭṭhānasaññaṁ manasi karitvā,
rattiyā pacchimaṁ yāmaṁ paccuṭṭhāya caṅkamena nisajjāya āvaraṇīyehi dhammehi cittaṁ parisodheti.
Evaṁ kho, mahānāma, ariyasāvako jāgariyaṁ anuyutto hoti.
“Mendicants, there are these four ways of lying down. What four? The ways a corpse, a pleasure seeker, a lion, and a Realized One lie down.
And how does a corpse lie down? Corpses usually lie flat on their backs. This is called the way a corpse lies down.
And how does a pleasure seeker lie down? Pleasure seekers usually lie down on their left side. This is called the way a pleasure seeker lies down.
And how does a lion lie down? The lion, king of beasts, lies down on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other, with his tail tucked between his thighs. When he wakes, he lifts his front quarters and checks his hind quarters. If he sees that any part of his body is disordered or displaced, he is displeased. But if he sees that no part of his body is disordered or displaced, he is pleased. This is called the way a lion lies down.
And how does a Realized One lie down? It’s when a Realized One, quite secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unskillful qualities, enters and remains in the first absorption … second absorption … third absorption … fourth absorption. This is called the way a Realized One lies down.
These are the four ways of lying down.”
“Catasso imā, bhikkhave, seyyā. Katamā catasso? Petaseyyā, kāmabhogiseyyā, sīhaseyyā, tathāgataseyyā.Katamā ca, bhikkhave, petaseyyā? Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, petā uttānā senti; ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, petaseyyā.
Katamā ca, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā? Yebhuyyena, bhikkhave, kāmabhogī vāmena passena senti; ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, kāmabhogiseyyā.
Katamā ca, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā? Sīho, bhikkhave, migarājā dakkhiṇena passena seyyaṁ kappeti, pāde pādaṁ accādhāya, antarasatthimhi naṅguṭṭhaṁ anupakkhipitvā. So paṭibujjhitvā purimaṁ kāyaṁ abbhunnāmetvā pacchimaṁ kāyaṁ anuviloketi. Sace, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ vā visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā anattamano hoti. Sace pana, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā na kiñci passati kāyassa vikkhittaṁ vā visaṭaṁ vā, tena, bhikkhave, sīho migarājā attamano hoti. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, sīhaseyyā.
Katamā ca, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā? Idha, bhikkhave, tathāgato vivicceva kāmehi …pe… catutthaṁ jhānaṁ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṁ vuccati, bhikkhave, tathāgataseyyā.
Imā kho, bhikkhave, catasso seyyā”ti.