Importance of Morning Programme

Srila Prabhupada says that mangala arati is compulsory. the more we sleep the more we are under the influence of maya, and the less we sleep the more we are free from maya. Same goes for eating and illicit sex.

Another thought is that early rising is necessary but not sufficient. One can rise early and still struggle in spiritual life if one doesn't chant attentively. Similarly one can flourish in bhakti if one is chanting attentively even if due to circumstances one cannot rise early. But generally we are under the influence of the modes. In early morning, the mode of goodness is prominent, and so in that atmosphere we are influenced by goodness which leads to us dutifully chanting our rounds even though there is no taste. If we are chanting in afternoon when mode of passion is prominent, we will tend to chant while doing other things because we are in the mode to act. Hence we get multitask inattentive chanting. Even worse if we chant in evening when ignorance is prominent, we will chant and sleep at the same time!

So I must fight tooth and nail to wake up early for mangala arati every day without fail. It is not enough but then at least at the time of death I can say to Prabhupada that I at least made the effort to rise early and follow the morning programme every day.