In each episode, we will do a short calming exercise. To help you get from the active phase to a resting state, the episodes are supported by nature sounds and binaural waves, recorded in temples and monasteries during my travel. I recorded the beach ambiance on the beach in Goa, on the Arabian Sea.

Episodes of calming exercises are supported by nature sounds and binaural waves recorded in temples and monasteries during travel, including beach ambiance in Goa.

Simply Sleep – Goa Beach

In each "Pure Sleep" episode, we will do a short calming exercise. To help you get from the active phase to a resting state, the episodes are supported by nature sounds and binaural waves, recorded in temples and monasteries during my travel.

"Pure Sleep" offers calming exercises with nature sounds and binaural waves recorded in temples and monasteries to help transition to a restful state.

Pure Sleep - Temple

In each "Pure Sleep" episode, we will do a short calming exercise. To help you get from the active phase to a resting state, the episodes are supported by nature sounds and binaural waves, recorded in temples and monasteries during my travel. I made this recording during the rainy monsoon season in Punjab, North India.

"Pure Sleep" episodes feature calming exercises with nature sounds and binaural waves recorded in temples and monasteries during the rainy season in North India.

Pure Sleep - Monsoon In Punjab, India

Welcome to this Loving Kindness (Metta) Meditation. In this practice, we will focus on cultivating compassion, warmth, and love— for ourselves and others. The value of Metta meditation lies in its ability to help us dissolve negative emotions like anger, resentment, and fear, replacing them with a deep sense of connection and peace. As we generate feelings of kindness and goodwill, we create space for healing and greater emotional resilience.

Metta Meditation cultivates compassion, warmth, and love to dissolve negative emotions and foster healing and emotional resilience.

Loving Kindness Meditation

Welcome to a peaceful body & mind relaxation practice in the enchanted forest. The magic forest in Berchtesgaden is considered one of the most beautiful geotopes in Bavaria, Germany and is surrounded by a giant rock mountain range. Here I record the nature sounds for today's meditation. These comprise the entire audible sound spectrum, and therefore have a calming and positive effect on your emotional well-being and will help you unwind. Enjoy!

Relaxation practice in an enchanted forest with recorded nature sounds from the beautiful Berchtesgaden, known for a calming effect on emotional well-being.

Relaxation In The Enchanted Forest

In each episode, we will do a short calming exercise. To help you get from the active phase to a resting state, the episodes are supported by nature sounds and binaural waves, recorded in temples and monasteries during my travel. I recorded the thunderstorm in a teahouse in Nepal during my research about the Mahamudra chöd practice.

Episodes of the podcast include calming exercises supported by nature sounds and binaural waves recorded in temples and monasteries during travel.

Pure Sleep -Thunderstorm in the Himalaya

I spent several months in the Kathmandu Valley researching and recording. Here I got to know a very beautiful meditation to let go of tensions. We’ll do this together today. In the exercise, you will hear the kangling used in Nepal and Tibet, the bone trumpet, the drumming on the damaru, and the ringing of the bell, which I made during an excursion to the Tsum Valley, the Valley of Happiness.

Learn a beautiful meditation from Kathmandu Valley involving kangling, drumming, and bell ringing to release tension, as shared by the author.

Letting Go Of Tensions In Kathmandu

In each "Pure Sleep" episode, we will do a short calming exercise. To help you get from the active phase to a resting state, the episodes are supported by nature sounds and binaural waves, recorded in temples and monasteries during my travel. This recording was made on a hike in the Swiss alps.

"Pure Sleep" episodes feature calming exercises supported by nature sounds and binaural waves recorded in temples and monasteries during travel.

Pure Sleep - Wind in the mountains

Welcome to this Meditation on Transformation. In this session, we will focus on identifying difficult emotions or traits within ourselves and transforming them into positive energy through mindful awareness. The value of this practice lies in its ability to shift feelings like fear, anger, or doubt into states of clarity, peace, and wisdom, empowering us to face challenges with a renewed sense of strength and compassion.

Transform difficult emotions into positive energy through mindful awareness, shifting fear, anger, and doubt into clarity, peace, and wisdom.

Empowering Meditation

I spent some time in Tibet and visited the Samadhi Caves. The Samadhi caves in Tibet are home to Buddhist monks who are said to have overcome death with a special meditation practice. The monks put themselves into a kind of hibernation, limit the body functions to a minimum and let their minds run low. Enjoy the sound recording that I did in that cave and join the relaxation exercise. Enjoy! This meditation includes Delta & Theta waves that give an extra soothing kick.

Experience the Samadhi caves, where Buddhist monks use meditation to overcome death; relax with Delta & Theta waves in this sound recording.

Relaxation In Samadhi Cave Tibet

Today I will take you to the Unawatuna Buddhist Temple in the South of Sri Lanka, a beautiful tropical island in the Indian Ocean. This pearl in the Indian Ocean is rich with beautiful sights and impresses with a great variety of animals and plants. We'll be doing the most simple meditations of all. The Shamata meditation. Just breathing. Nothing else. With the waves, this gives you a brilliant experience!

Visit Unawatuna Buddhist Temple in Sri Lanka for a serene Shamata meditation experience with the sound of ocean waves in the background.

Shamata Nature Meditation By The Sea

I made the audio recording in the Chennakesava Temple at the shore of the Kaveri River in Somnathapura, South India. Listen to the dark and calm sounds from a Hindu Temple. For breathing exercise: Consciously inhale and exhale deeply into the belly: Take a deep breath for five seconds and exhale fully for five seconds. Pay attention to your breathing. This daily exercise before going to sleep should help you calm down and fall asleep.

Listen to calming sounds from a Hindu Temple in South India and practice deep breathing for better sleep.

Shiva Bedtime With Nature Sounds & Music

When it comes to calming the mind and body for sleep, the Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) can be exceptionally beneficial. This method works by easing the transition from wakefulness to sleep, focusing on relaxation and mental detachment.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) is a beneficial method for calming the mind and body to improve sleep by focusing on relaxation and mental detachment.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Sleep

Welcome to this Guided Forgiveness Meditation. In this practice, we will focus on letting go of resentment and anger by offering forgiveness to ourselves and others. The value of forgiveness meditation lies in its ability to release emotional burdens, create inner peace, and open the heart to compassion and healing. By letting go of past hurts, we make space for growth and a deeper sense of freedom.

Let go of resentment and anger with Guided Forgiveness Meditation to find peace, compassion, and healing through self-forgiveness and letting go of past hurts.

Forgiveness Meditation

In this Surrender Meditation, as it was taught by Ram Dass, we’ll focus on releasing our tight grip on the things we can’t change and cultivating a sense of trust in the process of life. You’ll be guided to let go of tension in the body, quiet the mind, and gently rest in the spaciousness of surrender. As you release control, you’ll create space for acceptance, trust, and peace to emerge.

Ram Dass's Surrender Meditation helps release control, cultivate trust in life, and find peace through letting go and acceptance.

Surrender The Night

Bienvenido a Dormir Puro, donde te guiaré a través de un breve y calmante ejercicio para conciliar el sueño fácilmente. Encuentra un momento de serenidad, desconecta y libérate de la tensión y el estrés. En este episodio, te mostraré los apacibles sonidos de la playa de Goa, situada en el Mar Arábigo. Con el sonido de las suaves olas y el ambiente tranquilo, déjate transportar a un estado de relajación y tranquilidad.

Descubre la relajación con sonidos de la playa de Goa en este ejercicio para conciliar el sueño fácilmente en Dormir Puro.

Puro Sueño - Playa De Goa

Welcome to this Open Awareness Meditation. In this practice, we will cultivate the ability to observe thoughts, emotions, and sensations as they arise, without judgment or attachment. The value of open awareness meditation lies in its ability to foster a sense of calm and spaciousness, helping you remain present and centered even as thoughts and feelings flow through you. It encourages acceptance and clarity in everyday life.

Practice open awareness meditation to observe thoughts and emotions without judgment, fostering calmness and clarity in everyday life.

Open Awareness Meditation

El hecho de que respondamos especialmente al brillo de las superficies de agua es un remanente de nuestra evolución. Antaño, para los humanos era importante poder detectar el agua potable en paisajes abiertos, incluso a grandes distancias. El Homo sapiens evolucionó durante millones de años en hábitats naturales dominados por plantas y animales, ríos, lagos, colinas, bosques y praderas. Nuestro hogar evolutivo es el mundo natural al que pertenecemos.

Respondemos al brillo del agua por evolución para detectar agua potable en paisajes abiertos, nuestro hogar es el mundo natural.

El León De Lindau Duerme Tranquilo

The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum is easy to say yet powerful because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. The first syllable Om is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pä, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.

The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum contains powerful essence of entire teaching; each syllable helps achieve perfection in different practices of Buddhism.

Om Mani Padme Hum

This is an original recording that I made during my travel and research in Tibet for my course "Crossing Tibet", which is also available on Aura. The traditional throat singing, bells, and the bone trumpet (kangling) is used for mediation and is well suited for going to sleep, as it puts you in a dreamlike theta state that you encounter in REM sleep. The relaxing effect of music is one of the most inherent functions of this medium. The chant has a stress-reducing potential and lets your thoughts run free.

Traditional Tibetan music, including throat singing and the bone trumpet, is ideal for mediation and sleep due to its stress-reducing potential and dreamlike state.

Tibetan Chant, Kangling, Bells

This is an original recording that I made during my travel and research in Tibet for my course "Crossing Tibet", which is also available on Aura. The traditional bone trumpet (kangling), drums & throat singing is used for mediation and is well suited for going to sleep, as it puts you in a dreamlike theta state that you encounter in REM sleep. The relaxing effect of music is one of the most inherent functions of this medium. The chant has a stress-reducing potential and lets your thoughts run free.

Original recording of bone trumpet, drums & throat singing from Tibet used for meditation and sleep; has stress-reducing potential and induces theta state.

Tibetan Kangling, Drums & Chant

Gentle Ocean Waves for your babies' and moms' natural sleep - waves & seagulls. Babies love nature sounds. I make nature sound recordings in the most remote places in the world. This recording is from the south coast of the tropical island of Sri Lanka. The recordings comprise the entire audible sound spectrum and thus have an effect on the brain's basic settings network, which is activated in a way that we can let our thoughts run free, and at the same time, stress and anxiety are reduced.

Nature sound recording of gentle ocean waves with seagulls from Sri Lanka for natural sleep and stress reduction.

Baby Waves to Sleep

This is an original recording that I made during my travel and research in Tibet for my course "Crossing Tibet", which is also available on Aura. The traditional throat singing, the kangling (bone trumpet), and bells are used for mediation and are well suited for going to sleep, as it puts you in a dreamlike theta state that you encounter in REM sleep. The relaxing effect of music is one of the most inherent functions of this medium. The chant has a stress-reducing potential and lets your thoughts run free.

Traditional Tibetan music aids in relaxation and meditation, inducing a dreamlike state similar to REM sleep and reducing stress.

Tibetan Kangling, Chant And Bells

Tibetan Buddhist Monks Tantric Chant to clear negative energies from yourself and your house

Tibetan Buddhist Monks use Tantric Chant to clear negative energies from oneself and their house.

Tibetan Buddhist Monks Tantric Chant

Immerse yourself in the ethereal tones of the Mystic Sleep Soundtrack, where gentle harmonies and serene rhythms, intertwined with the soothing sounds of gentle rain and distant thunder, guide you into a deep, restorative slumber. Each track is carefully crafted to soothe your mind and ease your body, creating a sanctuary of tranquility. Let the enchanting melodies and calming ambient nature sounds transport you to a realm of peaceful dreams.

Experience deep restorative sleep with Mystic Sleep Soundtrack's ethereal tones, harmonies, rain sounds, and thunder for a tranquil sanctuary.

Elevated Sleep Soundtrack

Immerse yourself in the ethereal tones of the Mystic Sleep Soundtrack, where gentle harmonies and serene rhythms guide you into a deep, restorative slumber. Each track is carefully crafted to soothe your mind and ease your body, creating a sanctuary of tranquility. Let the enchanting melodies and calming ambient sounds transport you to a realm of peaceful dreams.

Escape to a tranquil dreamscape with Mystic Sleep Soundtrack's soothing melodies and serene rhythms for a restorative slumber.

Mystic Sleep Soundtrack

I invite you to join in and chant the Green Tara Mantra with me. The melody is simple and calming, and as you repeat the words, allow yourself to feel the presence of Tara’s compassionate energy. Let her strength become your strength, and let her love carry you through any difficulties you may be facing.

Chant the Green Tara Mantra for strength and compassion in times of difficulty.

Green Tara Mantra Chanting

Welcome to this mindfulness practice designed to help you remove obstacles in your life. As inspiration for today’s practice, I’ll share a story from Siddhartha’s life, where he encountered the Demon Mara.

Mindfulness practice to remove obstacles in life, inspired by Siddhartha's encounter with Demon Mara.

Removing Obstacles: Siddhartha & Mara

Welcome Pure Sleep with this spiritual bedtime story, that I recorded at the Ajanta Caves in India. The Ajanta caves are believed to have been created by divine-looking demons called Yakshas. Caves are among the oldest places of worship in history. They are excellent places for rituals and meditation, regarded as places of power and wisdom, as gates to the underworld and the realm of the dead.

A spiritual bedtime story recorded at Ajanta Caves, believed to be created by divine-looking demons Yakshas, and regarded as places of power and wisdom.

Pure Sleep: Ajanta Caves, India

In today’s sleep affirmation, we will focus on the healing attributes of the element water. Water connects us to the natural world and can facilitate spiritual growth. The ever-changing nature of water reminds us of the impermanence of life and the need to adapt and flow with the circumstances. Water's ability to shape landscapes and carve its path through solid rock symbolizes its transformative power.

Water's healing attributes, connection to nature, and transformative power are explored in today's sleep affirmation, emphasizing adaptability and spiritual growth.

Pure Sleep: Himalayan Waters

Welcome to this sleep affirmation with a beautiful bedtime story from Nepal. We will embark on a journey through the wilderness of the Himalayan mountain range to explore the ancient wisdom with which prayer flags are associated. In this story, I will share the Tibetan teachings of an enigmatic force known as Windhorse Energy, which is believed to propel our intentions into reality and grant our deepest desires.

A sleep affirmation with a bedtime story from Nepal explores the ancient wisdom of prayer flags and Windhorse Energy's power to fulfill desires.

Pure Sleep: Prayer Flags In Nepal

Join me on my spiritual quest to the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya. We will explore ancient teachings and learn meditative practices to cultivate inner calm and stillness amidst the chaos of modern life.

Embark on a spiritual journey to Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, learn ancient teachings and meditative practices for inner calm amidst modern chaos.

Pure Sleep At The Mahabodhi Temple

Welcome Pure Sleep with this spiritual bedtime story, that I recorded in Sarnath, near Varanasi in India. Buddha gave his first teachings after enlightenment here in Sarnath and thus is one of the most sacred places for Buddhists. We will be doing a Sleep Affirmation on the feeling of "pronoia" today. What is pronoia? Find out about this life-changing concept in today's bedtime story.

A spiritual bedtime story recorded in Sarnath, India, introduces pronoia as a life-changing concept for a sleep affirmation.

Pure Sleep: Finding Rest In Sarnath

Today, I will take you to the starting point of my journey through India, I start on Sagar Island, which is located south of Calcutta in the river delta of the Hoogly River. The river washes the water from the north of the country here into the Bay of Bengal. You can achieve a profound change in your sleep by creating an evening ritual and making it a habit. To make it easier for you to fall asleep today, I use several elements. The story I am telling today is supported by nature sounds, which I recorded by the sea, here on Sagar Island.

Starting my journey through India on Sagar Island, south of Calcutta, where the Hoogly River flows into the Bay of Bengal. Using nature sounds to aid sleep.

Sagar Island: Mystery Of Sleep

Welcome Deep Sleep with this spiritual bedtime story, that I recorded in the second most sacred place in the world for Buddhists: Lumbini, Nepal. We will explore ancient teachings and learn meditative practices to cultivate inner calm and stillness amidst the chaos of modern life.

Learn meditative practices for inner calm and stillness in this spiritual bedtime story recorded in Lumbini, Nepal.

Pure Sleep In Lumbini, Nepal

We will embark on a transformative journey through the wilderness of the Himalayan mountain range to explore the ancient wisdom and teachings of the spiritual warrior and gain invaluable insights on how to cultivate inner strength, resilience, and fearlessness in your daily life. We will learn how to harness the power of presence, tap into our innate wisdom, and navigate the complexities of the modern world with grace and authenticity.

Journey through Himalayan wilderness to explore ancient teachings of spiritual warrior & cultivate inner strength, resilience & fearlessness.

The Warrior's Path

From the Royal Buthan Monastery, it is only two minutes to the Mahabodhi Temple. Mahabodhi means "great awakening," "Maha" for great, "bodhi" for awakening. The temple was built on the spot where Buddha had his enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, a fig tree. On the west side of the temple, there is an offshoot of this fig, a huge tree that is protected by a small wall with colorful prayer flags. I am very impressed. Buddha himself would not have thought that his teaching would last that long, he only gave it 500 years. And since he lived around 600 BC, he was misjudged by a good 2,000 years.

Mahabodhi Temple, built where Buddha had his enlightenment under a fig tree, is only two minutes from the Royal Buthan Monastery and has a protected offshoot.

Finding Rest Under The Pipala Tree

The Royal Bhutan Monastery is one of the most magnificent monasteries in the region. The king of Bhutan had this monastery built here in Bodhgaya to honor Lord Buddha. The monastery is only two minutes away from the place where Buddha attained enlightenment under the Pippala tree. The Mahabodhi Temple is built on that same spot, with a Pippala tree, and an offshoot of the Buddha tree. I’m looking forward to visiting this place tomorrow. But today, I want to have time in the Royal Bhutan Monastery. The monastery impresses with its magnificent architecture, serenity, and a seven-foot-high Buddha statue inside. I look at the clay cuts that tell about the life of the Buddha and marvel at the large statue inside the temple.

The Royal Bhutan Monastery, built to honor Lord Buddha, is located near the site of Buddha's enlightenment and impresses with its architecture and serenity.

Finding Rest At The Bhutan Monastery

I will continue north today. Via Patma, it is at least a 10-day walk to the edge of the Himalayas. I would like to hike from here to the northeast and at the foot of the Himalayas, to the Sikkim region, to Darjeeling and Gangtok. I don't have a real goal today, Patma is too far, so I let myself drift and see where I can find a good place to spend the night. I took a little booklet about Buddha's teachings with me and turn the pages over and over again when I stop to rest a little.

Traveling north to Himalayas, planning to hike to Sikkim, Darjeeling and Gangtok; no real goal yet, carrying a booklet about Buddha's teachings.

Finding Rest In The Rainforest, India

On the journey so far, from Sagar Island, past Calcutta, and up to the mouth of the Ganges, I only see Hindu temples on the river. This is now changing. Buddhist temples are also blending into the landscape. I can recognize them from afar, the stupas, which form the religious center of the monastery and bear relics of Buddha or outstanding monks. We continue on the holy river Ganges into the center of the Bihar region, the area where the historical Buddha was enlightened and did his teachings. The area that Buddha was moving in and teaching, is northern India. If you draw a straight line on the map from the bend in the Ganges in the west, which we have entered today, to the east in Allahabad.

From Sagar Island to the mouth of Ganges, only Hindu temples were visible until now. Buddhist stupas are now blending in as we move towards Bihar.

Finding Rest On The Ganges River, India

Prequel and Introduction to the sleep course "Finding Rest in India"

Introduction to sleep course "Finding Rest in India."

Introduction To The Sleep Course

Today, we hear birds that I recorded at the temple. The chirping of birds, according to Julian Treasure of The Sound Agency, triggers physical relaxation while also leading to cognitive stimulation. This goes way back to ancient times when we could tell the safety or danger of a situation based on how animals around us reacted. Today, we are learning a super short breathing exercise that has a very intense calming effect and has gained great popularity in recent years. The breathing exercise is called "4-7-8" and the music in today's episode for it is by Canadian musician Ethan Sloan. In order to support your brain transitioning from the active phase to a resting state, today's episode is supported by delta waves.

Bird sounds at temples trigger relaxation and cognitive stimulation; learn the 4-7-8 breathing exercise for intense calming effect supported by delta waves.

Night At The Vishnu Temple

Join me on my spiritual quest to the Monkey Temple in Kathmandu. We will explore ancient teachings and learn meditative practices to cultivate inner calm and stillness amidst the chaos of modern life.

Join me on a spiritual quest to the Monkey Temple in Kathmandu to explore ancient teachings and learn meditative practices for inner stillness.

Mandala In The Monkey Forest, Kathmandu

Today, we are using waves to help you fall asleep faster and improve your sleep quality. How does it work with the delta and theta waves? You may have heard or even tried it as a kid in school that if you want to make a guitar string vibrate without touching it, what you do is play the same tone with a tuning fork, for example. The frequency from the tuning fork will make the guitar string vibrate.

Using delta and theta waves to help fall asleep faster and improve sleep quality by creating vibrations in the body similar to a tuning fork.

Finding Rest On The Hooghli River, India

Today, I will start collecting wood early so that I can warm my feet and hands by the fire in the evening, maybe I will also be able to dry my clothes a bit. It is also a nice pastime to look into the flickering fire and let your thoughts run free. The fire symbolizes pure energy, power, and strength, which contains both creative and destructive traits. It shows us that new life can arise through destruction and that the ways for new states of consciousness can often only be created through the sacrifice of the old. Change is in the nature of all life.

Gathering wood for warmth and contemplation by the fire, reflecting on its symbolic power of energy and change in nature.

Finding Rest - Fire In The Himalayas

Embark on a spiritual journey to the Monkey Temple in Kathmandu to learn meditative practices and gain inner calm amidst modern life chaos.

Monkey Temple: Bedtime Story

The high peaks of the Himalayas cannot yet be seen. I have left the Bengal plain, the landscape changes from hilly to alpine. The vegetation has changed a lot in the last five days. The tropical rainforest is now a primeval mountain forest. The forest I walk through is a very natural habitat. Although it can get very cold in this area at night, the people here do not heat their houses and huts, which protects the forests. I'm walking in a hurry, I want to make miles, I'm looking forward to the mountains. I will continue east on the border between India and Nepal, towards Darjeeling.

Walking towards the Himalayas, noticing changes in vegetation and natural habitat, heading towards Darjeeling on the border between India and Nepal.

Finding Rest - Heading To The Himalayas

Welcome, Pure Sleep with this spiritual bedtime story, that I recorded in Varanasi on the sacred stairs down by the Ganges River. We will explore what we can learn from Goddess Ganga, the personification of the River Ganges.

A spiritual bedtime story recorded in Varanasi explores lessons from Goddess Ganga, the personification of the River Ganges.

Pure Sleep At The Devine Ganges River

My hike through northern India now leads me steadily uphill, I am slowly leaving the subtropical climate zone. I cross the Ganges to the north, leaving the heat behind and the indolence of the humid days. With every stage of the day, the air becomes thinner, the nights colder, the rivers clearer and the paths steeper. In the morning, it had started to rain shortly after I got up and the rain continued throughout the day.

Hiking uphill in northern India, leaving subtropical climate, crossing Ganges, thinner air, colder nights, steeper paths, and rainy weather.

Finding Rest At The Waterfall - India

The "rising sun" symbolizes a new beginning, hope, and the potential for positive transformation. We draw inspiration from the literal rising of the sun each morning, signifying the dawn of a new day and the opportunity for a fresh start. Just as the darkness of the night gives way to the light of day, the difficulties and hardships we face in our own lives lead to self-discovery and resilience. It encourages us to rise above our circumstances and overcome obstacles with determination and courage.

The "rising sun" symbolizes hope, new beginnings, and the power to overcome hardships with resilience and determination.

Mystic Sleep: The Eastern Sun

We will embark on a transformative journey through the wilderness of the Himalayan mountain range to explore the ancient wisdom and teachings of the spiritual warrior and gain insights into how to cultivate inner strength, resilience, and fearlessness in your daily life.

Explore ancient wisdom of spiritual warriors in the Himalayas to cultivate inner strength, resilience, and fearlessness.

The Four Tibetan Dignities

Caves are among the oldest places of worship in history. They are excellent places for rituals and meditation. They are regarded as places of power and wisdom, as gates to the underworld and the realm of the dead. Druids, priests, sages, and saints liked to retreat in caves to have spiritual experiences. On the surface, we have created a completely industrialized landscape, but beneath the earth slumbers a fascinating counter-world.

Caves have been used as places of worship and meditation throughout history, seen as gates to the underworld and favored by spiritual leaders.

Night Owls And Larks: Switzerland Cave

The monks woke me up before sunrise and asked me to come with them. I packed my belongings with stiff limbs. They took me to Bokar Monastery. It was about six hours on foot, but it took us a little longer because the two monks kept stopping to pray, meditate, chat or just look into the mountains all around and capture the moment. We hadn't eaten yesterday evening nor today, so we were on our way through the Himalayas really hungry. In addition, the two monks repeatedly asked me to take a detour to show me particularly holy places or places of power.

Two monks wake me before sunrise and take me on a six-hour foot journey to Bokar Monastery, stopping to pray, meditate and show me holy places.