Rei of Bed-in

Ritual of Crossing the Boundary

Bow to your pillow and shed today's self

Philosophy

Bow to your pillow. This act is not mere etiquette. It is a ritual to consciously recognize and cross the boundary between "today's timeline" and "the dream timeline."

Modern people take the moment of entering bed too lightly. They slide in unconsciously, smartphone in hand. But those who study NEDO are different. Entering bed is the same as passing through a gate. Just as you bow before entering a tea room, before entering a dojo, we bow to our pillow.

What should you put into this bow?

Gratitude. Gratitude to yourself for surviving today. Gratitude for having this place of rest called a futon.

Separation. Leave your daytime self, social roles, incomplete tasks—all of it—on this side of the pillow. Beyond the futon, you bring no titles or positions.

Will. Resolve for the 8-hour training about to begin. Not just "sleeping," but a declaration of will that you will "walk the NEDO path."

Bowing is an act of recognizing boundaries. Through the bow of bed-in, you consciously and respectfully transition from the "realm of wakefulness" to the "realm of sleep."

Scientific Evidence

Ritual Behavior and Sleep Preparation

Predictive Processing Theory: The brain constantly predicts "what happens next." By repeating consistent sleep rituals (routines), the brain learns that action pattern as a "precursor to sleep." Practicing a specific action like the bed-in bow nightly induces Conditioned Arousal Reduction, causing the brain to automatically lower arousal levels
Mindset Switching: Psychologically, "acts that recognize boundaries" function as cognitive switches. The physical action of bowing serves as a clear signal from "work mode" to "rest mode," promoting transition from sympathetic to parasympathetic nervous dominance
Gratitude Practice and Sleep Quality: It has been proven that feeling gratitude lowers stress hormone (cortisol) levels. Incorporating gratitude before bed increases psychological security, suppresses excessive amygdala excitation, and leads to deeper relaxation

📚 Mindell et al. (2018), Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (2024)

Practice

Rei of Bed-in Practice Steps

Preparation: Before entering the bedroom, use the toilet, brush your teeth, complete physical preparations. The bed-in bow should be the "final ritual"
Position: Stand at the foot of the futon or in front of the pillow. Straighten your spine, let both hands hang naturally at your sides
Deep Breath: Close eyes, inhale deeply through nose (4 seconds), exhale slowly through mouth (6 seconds). Repeat 3 times
Gratitude Meditation: Reflect on today's events, silently recite three things you're grateful for, even small things
Declaration of Separation: Declare in your mind "Today's self ends here." Tomorrow's worries, unresolved problems—leave them all on this side of the pillow
One Bow: Bow slowly and deeply to the pillow (or futon). While lowering your head, recite in your mind "Tonight too, I am allowed to walk the NEDO path"
Enter Bed: Quietly yet resolutely enter the futon. At this moment, you have crossed the "boundary"