Four Establishments of Mindfulness Contemplative Practice Questions and Answers 18

Question: In my contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), I have contemplated until most of the sensations of the body no longer exist, and the breathing has become very faint. If I continue contemplating, I can no longer feel either the body or the breath, and I enter into a state of complete darkness. At this point, how should I continue the contemplative practice? 

Answer: You have entered into meditative concentration (samādhi); the mind consciousness has become faint and can no longer contemplate the breath. If you still wish to continue the contemplative practice, you must pull the mind out of concentration and bring it back to the breath. The mind should still be anchored on the breath, observing the condition of the breathing. No matter how faint the breath becomes, you must persist in contemplating it, progressing from contemplating the coarse breath to contemplating fetal breathing. Do not enter into concentration; only the equal cultivation of Samādhi and Prajñā can eradicate the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi) and realize the fruits of the path, whereas leaning toward concentration is only beneficial for cultivating the body. 

Question: When contemplating the breath, the mind consciousness contemplates while simultaneously monitoring other wandering thoughts. Is this the correct way to practice? 

Answer: This is the mind consciousness being led along thought by thought. Thoughts are inherently illusory and cannot be retained even if you try; monitoring wandering thoughts is useless effort. Ignore the wandering thoughts and let them arise and cease on their own. Apply the mind where it counts and do useful work. If the mind consciousness does not monitor other wandering thoughts but focuses solely on the breath, why not try it and see whether your meditative concentration (dhyāna) progresses more quickly?