Eknath Easwaran's Commentary
One of the best times to repeat the mantram is while falling asleep at night. Tuck yourself in, close your eyes, and start repeating your mantram until you fall asleep in it: Rama, Rama, Rama, or Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, or Hail Mary, Hail Mary – whichever mantram you have chosen.
Other thoughts may try to push the mantram away. But through sheer persistence you can achieve a minor miracle. Between the last waking moment and the first sleeping moment, there is an arrow’s entry into deepest consciousness. If you can send your mantram in through that narrow gate, it will go on repeating itself in your sleep, healing old wounds and restoring your peace of mind for the next day.
The Lord is quite happy to work all night. Those who have learned to fall asleep in the mantram go forward even in their sleep.