Answers to Questions on Contemplative Practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness 6

Question: Recently my legs have been cramping. Could sitting meditation cause arthritis in my ankles? 

Answer: Sitting meditation is not the cause of illness; rather, it is a way of uncovering hidden ailments. Certain parts of the body may already have disease that simply has not yet manifested. During meditation, when the qi channels run through an area with an underlying ailment and are obstructed and unable to pass through, the hidden illness reveals itself. Both arthritis and leg cramps are temporary phenomena that arise during meditation; once the qi channels pass through, the afflicted places such as the legs and feet can be healed. However, if the ailment is relatively serious, one should use medicine to treat it, in hopes of overcoming the illness as soon as possible, rather than forcibly enduring it.