The Power of Dhyāna and Ṛddhi

When practicing the supernatural foot (ṛddhi-pāda), sit cross-legged on the seat and visualize with your conscious mind (mano-vijñāna) that the body rises one inch above the seat. When concentration (samādhi) is sufficient, the body will indeed rise one inch above the seat. This is called lifting the body with the mind. However, is it the conscious mind that primarily lifts the body? It is not the conscious mind; no matter how much the conscious mind thinks about it, it is ineffective. It is necessary for the root mind (manas, the seventh consciousness) to also intend to do so, only then can there be a way for it to take charge and lift the body. Therefore, when the conscious mind visualizes, the root mind is simultaneously exerting effort, attempting to lift the body.

When concentration is absent, the root mind is also willing to take charge and make the body fly. Why then does it not fly? It is because without meditative absorption (dhyāna) or insufficient concentration, the mental power of the root mind is insufficient and not strong enough, and the Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature) cannot assist. The difference in the root mind's manifestation and power between having concentration and lacking it is so significant precisely because, without concentration, the root mind's strength is inadequate. In profound meditative absorption, the seeds (bīja) of the root mind flow and concentrate intensely, endowing it with great decisive power and discriminative power, enabling it to accomplish whatever it intends.