There’s plenty of evidence to show that early birds succeed

In recent years, contemporary authors have written extensively about the benefits of waking early. I mused upon integrating this concept with different religious beliefs as a vision for management, spirituality, faith, philosophy, and science.

The world’s most accomplished achievers are not merely early adopters, they are also early birds. Our actions get formed by our reasoning and our notions by our mood.

Positive energy and thoughts always inspire noble acts. By waking up early, we not only take control of our day but also lay a foundation for success.

In my opinion, rising in the prime of the morning is a passport to ecstasy. Numerous stories bear witness to productive people’s success. They mastered the art of using the break of day to read, jog, and plan. They accomplish holistic success as they seem to get a grip on emotions, spirit, mind and work-life balance.

Several eminent scholars have written widely on this topic.
American founding father and polymath Benjamin Franklin, in his book Early Rising, said: “The early morning has gold in its mouth.” The Greek philosopher Aristotle said: “It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.”

Early rising venerated for centuries

The majority of religions share one belief concerning waking up early. The teachings of Buddha were first handed down from monks to their pupils by word of mouth for more than 500 years before the Pali Canon was scripted 2,000 years ago. Buddhist monks get up a few hours before dawn and assemble to chant.

Some Christians believe that when you rise early, you can withdraw from noise, and some Bible verses expound about early rising. It helps us think, as the mind is less cluttered.

Hindus consider the time between 3:30 am and 5:30 am as sacred, a period also known as “Brahma Muhurtha,” which means the time of the creator. It is the time when you can control your soul and body and create yourself. Hindu men begin their prayers and rituals with the liturgy called “Sandhya Vandhanam” (Salutation to the Sun) and chanting of “Aaditya Hrudayam,” while women begin their day venerating the tulasi or holy basil plant and worshiping other deities.

Jain literature propounds the importance of setting off at first light. Jains must sacrifice sleep when there is still about two hours of night left. Thus it becomes a welcoming and exalted environment to offer reverence to tirthankaras, or “victors.”

A blessing to glorify mankind’s health and life

The Torah and Talmud, the holy books of Judaism, vouchsafe the Jewish people’s precepts for everyday life. The principal objective of  Jewish scholars to get up before dawn was to grasp the Torah. The morning prayer, known as “Asher Yatzar.” is a blessing that glorifies God for creating the body and for preserving humankind’s health and life.

The Koran manifests a “Salah” prayer or dhikr at daybreak. The atmosphere, during the cockcrow, is purified without the radiations of worldly feelings and desires. It helps to heal the soul and keep the believer on the straight path.

Sikhs enjoy rising early to start reciting Gurbani continually until the full Nitnem is complete. Furthermore, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, expressly tells followers in the Japji Sahib to rise at the Amritvela or ambrosial period. The pre-dawn spreads the holy mental rays to pervade all over the world and make this time sacred.

The Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi are essential scripts for Taoism, and strongly swayed a few schools, such as Confucianism (Hundred Schools of Thought), Chinese Buddhism and Chinese Legalism. The Tao Te Ching is indefinable since each can discover the Tao on his or her own terms. However, among the great Taoist spiritual leaders, the belief was “Go to bed early, wake up at the crack of dawn.”

The Vendidad, a holy book of Zoroastrianism within the Avesta, mandates Zoroastrians to bestir and chant the first part of the Gah prayer. The Vendidad preaches that those who rise at sun-up go on to the best existence.

Other beliefs, faiths and isms may proffer similar paths toward cultural and religious unity.

Science and the hormonal path to tranquility

Science proves that the pineal gland regulates the secretion of the hormone melatonin during the small hours. Melatonin helps the tranquility of mind and stabilizing of temper.

There is a sense of reassurance when scientific studies affirm various religious beliefs. Nature plays a vital role in uniting individuals who share the same values, and science brings the universe together with similar views, if not the same opinions.

The secretion of melatonin is meek by light and triggered by darkness. Exposure to light in the night or darkness during the day can disrupt the melatonin cycles and cause jet lag, insomnia, blurry vision and dizziness.

The early part of the day comes with many perks. One can learn to live in harmony with nature, bid the moon goodbye, witness the arrival of the rays of the morning and get a dose of vitamin D.

Nature is not just mesmerizing at the cold emergence of the dawn; it does inspire. Let the balmy morning breeze cast a magic spell on the soul. Spare a moment to take notice of the friendly chirp on the window sill that came to fill us in on what we are missing.

Every occasion is a new opportunity to begin anew.