Question: Namobudhaya, I have been here for 5 nights from the beginning of this retreat and I cannot sleep at all. I’m afraid that something is going wrong. Please give me some advice.

That is not a problem. You should try to accept whatever is happening to you, no need to think as a layperson. You cannot sleep at night but that’s okay for you, so nothing to do. If you feel not okay, we need to do something. Because we are used to being like that when we do good deeds; there are many unusual things we may experience while practicing meditation. We should try to accept it, then it will not be a problem. If you don’t meditate, you cannot accept it; if you do meditate you can accept everything, whatever good or bad. You should practice more because of your mental problem. This is better to emphasize doing good deeds and practicing meditation. If you continue your job in the society, that problem will remain and maybe getting worse. In this condition, this is the best for you to detach from your job, from your family, from yourself, your life as a layperson. You should stay at a meditation center for a few months, you can volunteer, meditate, keep precepts, and be together with other volunteers or meditators. It will change your life and mind. You can stay at TNC Hochiminh or follow the trip to Malaysia – Singapore or TNC Myanmar; It will reduce your suffering. It’s better if you can join Malay – Sing retreat because you are meditating at the cemeteries.