Answers to Questions on Contemplative Practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness 31

Question: If the qi mechanism keeps activating during sitting meditation and stays in the head, what will happen? 

Answer: If the qi channels remain in the head, it means there is an obstruction in the head that temporarily prevents them from fully passing through. If there were no obstruction and the qi channels were flowing freely, there would be no talk of a qi mechanism at all. If the qi channels in the head can be opened through and the circulation of qi and blood is good, one's thinking will be extremely clear, one's energy abundant, and wisdom will arise. Even opening through only a part of them is quite good. When the qi channels are opened through, the mind is pure, the body emits a fragrance—very fragrant—and the mood is joyful, happy and free of worry.

When the qi channels cannot get past the head, push through if you can; if you cannot hold out, contemplate the qi exiting from the Baihui point at the crown of the head, or get off the cushion and let it disperse. But even after dispersing, it will still strike the head; only a complete opening through can solve the problem. Even if the head is not completely opened through, the qi mechanism will still pass through, circulating to the Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) in front, then from the Conception Vessel to the Governing Vessel (Du Mai), and then to the crown of the head. Until it enters the central channel (avadhūtī) and exits from the crown of the head, the qi channels of the whole body will not be completely opened through, and the body will still have obstructions; once they are completely opened through, the body will have no more obstructions, and the practice of meditative concentration (dhyāna) will proceed unimpeded. Now that meditative concentration has arisen and you are able to engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), you should no longer concern yourself with the qi channels—just let it be.