The mind, like the body, works more effectively in a settled routine, and a mental discipline such as concentration necessitates the adherence to unvarying habits throughout the practice of meditation. In the field of meditation, moreover, even a strenuous and discerning worker must adopt fixed and regular times for his mental exercises during the early stages of his training; for the aim of this practice is more easily achieved by him who is a regular and continuous worker.

The three best periods for meditation are dawn, noon and sunset, and judged upon the evidence of the personal experiences of the ancients, they are accepted as the most propitious. The hour of dawn is for many reasons better than the other two. This hour is called ‘ Brahma-muhurta,’ the ‘ divine moment, ’ and is the period of intellectual awakening, a fact shown by the Buddha’s enlightenment. Furthermore, there is considerable advantage, from the physical point of view, in reserving early hours of the day for intellectual training. This is usually a period of bodily calmness and quiescence and the brain is then fresh after the night’s rest, so that it is possible to achieve the mental serenity which enable the mind to advance along the path of concentration.

But if, for one reason or another, you find it impracticable to meditate at dawn, then you should decide upon a suitable time for yourself but whatever time you choose, it should be used only for meditation. During this time, you should put aside all other daily activities in order to give full attention to your meditation object. Don’t let anything interfere with your practice, and devote a regular time to the practice everyday. Don’t attempt to meditate for long periods at the beginning. It is more effective to concentrate fully for short spans. The time can be lengthened as you gain more experience. Meditation becomes part of your day-to-day living through constant practice.