basically if your bed is the same hight as a chair (both feet are flat on the floor while the upper half of your legs are fully on the matress) dont worry, the length of the legs are part of this rule (predominantly). so yes an air matress would be allowed, or a camping mat. or any matress on the floor. have a look at see pacitia 87 in the Buddhist monastic code or other source.Ytrog wrote:I have a small question about the observance: how important is the eight rule ("I undertake the precept to refrain from lying on a high or luxurious sleeping place.")? First seven are no problem btw, but I dread sleeping in my living room on a mattress while having to work the next day. Tried it a few times but couldn't sleep. Admittedly I slept on a few towels (didn't cover my body completely, so that was cold) with a blanket to cover me because I had no better option, that changed. Is an air mattress allowable and if yes: under what restrictions?
I prefer the floor myself but by room now does not hav the room for me to be fully laying down without potentially cracking my head open or what ever, so I need to use the bed for practical purposes. the rules are to develop contentment with little, not to get ill or anything else.