Q&A 27 on the Four Foundations of Mindfulness Practice

Q: How should one practice mindfulness of breathing?

A: When observing the breath, one should focus all attention solely on the breathing itself, without concerning oneself with the state of the body, whether the Yang Spirit will emerge in the future, and so forth. The Daoist concept of Yang Spirit is unrelated to our practice. There is no need to investigate too many such matters; understanding the influence of energy channels (qi) on the physical body is sufficient. Knowing this theory is adequate. Do not dwell on Yang Spirit, as we are not cultivating Yang Spirit but rather cultivating the mind to attain the wisdom that eradicates the view of self. As for physical phenomena, a basic understanding is sufficient. Deep or extensive knowledge of bodily cultivation is irrelevant to our mind cultivation. Do not expend energy on unnecessary areas.

We study the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, currently focusing primarily on mindfulness of breathing. Apart from the breath, minimize attention to other aspects of the physical body. Direct your awareness exclusively to the breath. When mindfulness of breathing reaches a certain depth and concentration strengthens, you will naturally perceive the objective truths of the physical body: its emptiness, illusory nature, impermanence, and non-self, among others. If you pay excessive attention to the physical body, it will scatter your focus and hinder the observation of the breath.

While observing, strive to remain objective and calm. Do not introduce subjective consciousness. Simply acknowledge the state of the physical body without adding excessive thoughts, guidance, or conceptualizations. In the initial stages, you may regulate the breath, but afterward, cease regulating and simply follow the breath naturally. In this way, your mind will naturally transcend the five aggregates and turn back to observe both the five aggregates and the breath, viewing the state of the physical body from a higher vantage point. This approach facilitates both entry into meditative concentration (samādhi) and the arising of wisdom, enabling the discovery of many truths previously unknown. Gradually, you will perceive the physical body as profoundly impermanent, unreliable, and illusory, and the wisdom of non-self will gradually arise.