Questions and Answers on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Contemplation 25

Question: Last night at 11:30, I began meditating on the sofa in the half-lotus position. After chanting the Heart Sutra, my mind calmed down, and I started observing my breath, gradually entering a state between sleep and wakefulness. After about 30 minutes, my body felt comfortable, light as if floating. Slowly, my body began to vibrate, and the vibrations grew stronger... I lost control, stopped breathing, my body swayed, my eyes couldn't open, my heartbeat accelerated as if I were about to suffocate... I was aware mentally but couldn't control myself... I felt terrified, as if I were going to die. I couldn't speak, shout, or move, and it took great effort to finally collapse onto the floor. It took a long time before I regained calm.

Answer: When initially cultivating meditative concentration (samadhi), after the mind quiets down, the smooth flow of qi and channels may lead to phenomena of qi mechanism activation. This is a positive sign indicating the clearing of the body's meridian pathways, which can effectively regulate the body. If one's physical condition is very poor, one should not enter samadhi too abruptly; instead, proceed gradually, regulating the body bit by bit to avoid sudden changes that may be difficult to adapt to.

At the beginning, entering and exiting samadhi may feel involuntary; the body is controlled by the qi mechanism and doesn't readily obey one's commands. Over time, this will ease considerably, and you will gain full control. When the body's qi mechanism activates, simply rest assured. Do not concern yourself with anything; the emptier the mind, the better it will be. Just let go completely, relinquish into emptiness, dare to be empty—once empty, all will be well.