Answers to Questions on the Contemplative Practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness 37

Question: When the white-bone contemplation truly enters a meditative state and the white bones appear before one, is there still breathing? I have practiced the white-bone contemplation for a long time, but I keep indulging in mental proliferation within consciousness and cannot bring about the appearance of the bone sign at the level of the manas. Is this because my cultivation through repeated familiarization is insufficient?  

Answer: The entire process of practicing the white-bone contemplation takes place within meditative concentration below the first dhyāna, so of course there is breathing. Even when one realizes the white-bone contemplation and it appears before one, this is still a state of samādhi below the first dhyāna, and of course there is still breathing. In any meditative concentration below the fourth dhyāna there is breathing; from the second dhyāna upward, there is neither initial application nor sustained examination, so the white-bone contemplation will not appear. Therefore, when the samādhi of the white-bone contemplation manifests, there is certainly still breathing.

The entire contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) of the white-bone contemplation begins by using the solitary mental consciousness to contemplate, while constantly familiarizing the manas through repeated cultivation, so that the manas also engages in contemplation. When the manas's contemplation succeeds, the samādhi of the white-bone contemplation will manifest—that is the realization of the white-bone contemplation, the attainment of its fruit. Whatever degree of familiarization the manas has undergone, that is the degree of white-bone contemplation state one will have; if it has not been cultivated to accomplishment, there will be no white-bone contemplation state. 

Question: Previously I was breathing deliberately, but starting yesterday my breathing became natural, yet it grew shorter. I don't know why? 

Answer: Whether the breath becomes longer or shorter, pay it no mind. As long as the mind is focused on the breath, both the degree of concentration and the contemplative practice will grow; when the qi channels open, the breathing will naturally become deep, fine, and long. As long as there is meditative concentration, everything can be managed, and even the body's condition can be changed. Contemplating the breath means single-mindedly contemplating the state of the breathing; do not consider anything else, do not think about other matters—just come to understand your own breathing clearly. The sutra texts contain the steps of contemplative practice: if the first step is not done well, do not proceed to the second step; do not go further. In one period of time, contemplate only one dharma—no more. If there is too much, the mind will become scattered. When your power of concentration reaches a certain level, then gradually increase the content of your contemplative practice, and the mind will not become scattered. During contemplative practice, apart from contemplating the breath, other things such as intellectual understanding of the Dharma and reflections are of no use. Do not think too much in the mind, lest it interfere with contemplating the breath.