Q&A on the Contemplation of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness XXI

Question: What should I do when my mouth becomes dry during meditation?

Answer: A lack of saliva in the mouth indicates that the upper and lower burners are obstructed, and water and fire are not interacting harmoniously. You can visualize according to the Taiji Bagua diagram: visualize fire descending from the right side of the chest to the dantian, and water rising from the left side of the dantian to the chest and throat area. Circulate this flow back and forth, and water and fire will begin to interact. Saliva in the mouth will then increase; swallow it to nourish the body and internal organs. Visualization is highly effective—the stronger your meditative concentration, the more potent the visualization. Visualization can resolve almost all problems, depending on whether you know how to visualize, the strength of your meditative concentration, and the extent of your merits and virtues.

Question: During meditation, it feels like my brain nerves are flicked, causing a vibrating sensation. What is happening?

Answer: This occurs when qi flows to the brain, clearing the blood and qi in that region. Where there is stagnation, the passage of qi will produce a vibrating sensation. The stronger the qi flow, the more pronounced the sensation, and the better the unblocking effect. The same applies to other parts of the body: the more distinct the sensation, the more severe the blockage, and the more vigorously the qi channels are flowing.

Question: After meditation, my body feels as light as if I've lost several pounds. What is happening?

Answer: This results from the smooth flow of qi channels within the body, causing a transformation in the Four Elements. Qi tends to rise; when qi is abundant, it lifts the body, creating a sensation of lightness and lack of heaviness. Walking becomes light and buoyant, effortless and silent, conveying an air of vitality and high spirits, naturally bestowing dignity and grace.

Question: My body feels extremely lazy, and I don’t want to do any work. What should I do?

Answer: Physical laziness and unwillingness to move are due to cold-damp qi pressing down within the body. When the Four Elements contain excess water and insufficient fire, the body feels heavy and lacks the energy to move, making it hard to rise in the morning. Focus on eliminating the cold-damp qi, and this condition will improve.