Sleeping means waste of time.
One who has heard perfectly Vedas from his guru. And what is the symptom that he has heard from the authority or the...? Brahma-niṣṭham. Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. The symptom is that he has completely taken shelter of the Supreme Brahman, rejecting or finishing all material desires. No more material desires. Brahmaṇy upaśamāśrayam. He has taken shelter of Brahman, upaśama, rejecting, no more hankering after anything material.
Mr. Malhotra: No more hankering. But he has to eat he has to clothe.
Mr. Malhotra: Minimum needs of the body.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that is not hankering. That is not hankering. so long the body is there. That is wanted. Just like about the Gosvāmīs it is said, nidrāhāra-vihārakādi-vijitau **. One has to conquer over sleeping, eating, sex and fearing. A saintly person has no fearing. Because he depends on Kṛṣṇa. But these things particularly conquered over. Simply little eating, that's all. Nidrāhāra-vihārakādi. At least trying to conquer over sleeping, eating and sex life.
Mr. Malhotra: Sleeping, eating and sex. (break) ...sleeping at all or some little sleep.
Prabhupāda: Practically no sleeping. Practically no eating and no sex life.
Mr. Malhotra: Sleeping means, actually sleeping or awareness, I mean awakening of the mind or awakening...
Prabhupāda: No, actual sleeping. Sleeping means waste of time. So long you sleep, it is a waste of time. Better reduce sleep.
Mr. Malhotra: But you have to sleep sometimes.
Prabhupāda: Yes, some, some.
Mr. Malhotra: Some part of the day...
Prabhupāda: That also you will find, those who are highly elevated, they can avoid.
Mr. Malhotra: They can completely avoid sleeping! Hundred per cent?
Prabhupāda: No. They can, but they do not show like that. Otherwise artificially one would like to imitate it.