The Relationship of Samādhi and Prajñā to Qi Channels

It is often said that one must open the central channel (avadhūtī) in order to attain enlightenment, or that once the central channel is opened, enlightenment will naturally follow. These claims are incorrect; there is no necessary connection between the opening of the central channel and enlightenment through seeing the Path. However, seeing the Path is not unrelated to the qi channels and meridians either. So what is the relationship between the qi channels and seeing the Path? Cultivation cannot be separated from the physical body. By making full use of the physical body and removing its obstructions, it becomes easier to see the Path. Seeing the Path is the product of being fully endowed with both meditative concentration (samādhi) and wisdom, and the arising of samādhi and wisdom cannot be separated from the harmonization of the four great elements of the physical body. The more harmonized the four great elements are, the more unobstructed the body becomes, the stronger the power of concentration, the more focused the mind, the stronger the capacity for contemplation, and the greater the wisdom.

The circulation of qi through the body's channels is divided into three: the Conception Vessel (rèn mài) in the front of the body, the Governing Vessel (dū mài) along the back, and the central channel running through the middle between front and back. When the front Conception Vessel is blocked, the internal organs always have ailments and obstructions. When the mind enters meditative concentration and a channel becomes blocked, the internal organs will feel pain, and the mind is immediately drawn away by the pain; the power of concentration vanishes, and Chan investigation and contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) are interrupted. When the back Governing Vessel is blocked, pain and discomfort will appear along the entire back, up to the back of the neck and the crown of the head. When the pain is severe, one will emerge from concentration, and Chan investigation and contemplative practice will be interrupted. Even if they are not interrupted, the energy is dispersed and the power of wisdom (prajñā-bala) weakens. But back pain is easier to endure than pain in the internal organs, and the power of concentration is weakened less, so a blockage of the Governing Vessel is better than a blockage of the Conception Vessel.

To enter deep concentration, to have stable meditative absorption, and for contemplative practice and Chan investigation to be effective, the Conception Vessel must be open; the Governing Vessel should ideally also be opened—at the very least, it must not have severe blockages—but the central channel need not be opened. When the mind becomes pure and one can enter concentration regularly, the circulation of the qi channels will also become smooth, the four great elements will be relatively harmonized, and major illnesses of the body will be eliminated; the factors that interfere with meditative concentration and contemplative practice will gradually be removed. When the body's qi channels are smooth and unobstructed, it is easy to forget the body, and one will not be distracted by it. At this point, meditative concentration becomes deep, all of one's energy can be applied to contemplation and investigation, and wisdom grows quickly.

Having understood the relationship between samādhi, wisdom, and the qi channels, one should, in the course of one's daily study and practice, do one's best to remove bodily obstructions and keep the body healthy and the channels unobstructed. Then samādhi and wisdom will grow continuously, and ultimately one will be able to see the Path.