Dharma Teachings

24 Oct 2023 Tuesday 1st Teach Total 4038

The Phenomena That Arise from Cultivating Profound Dhyāna

<h2 style="text-indent: 2em;">Question: In recent days, whenever I go out, I cannot bear any noise. For over half a month now, whether at home or out, I get badly startled by any sound if I am not careful. The first two days were especially severe—I felt as if my body were floating, unable to keep my balance, as if my body were out of my control, and it felt as if there were a hole at the top of my head with wind drilling into it. Usually I dare not go out, fearing I will be frightened. My daughter says I no longer pay attention to them, and that I look as if my soul has departed and I have no spirit. She even took me to the hospital for a check-up, but nothing was found to be wrong. Sitting in meditation contemplating the meaning of the Dharma in my room at home makes things much better, but sometimes I feel a sense of panic in my heart. This has never happened to me before. Has something gone wrong with me?</h2>

Answer: You may not understand the matter of how qi channels and vessels operate in the body, nor do you know whether the qi has passed through the Conception Vessel (Ren Mai) at the front of the body and the Governing Vessel (Du Mai) along the back, and finally, after circulating one full loop around the front and back of the body, entered the central channel (avadhūtī) of the body, with the qi about to rush out through the crown of the head. When the Baihui point at the crown of the head is about to open, the top of the head becomes very soft and is sensitive to cold, so you will feel wind pouring into the crown of the head. The feeling of lightness and floating in the body arises because meditative concentration (samādhi) transforms the coarse and heavy human four great elements of the body, making the four great elements more subtle, approaching the material body of devas in the desire realm. After the first dhyāna is cultivated, the four great elements of the body become even more subtle, and the body becomes even lighter and more floating, approaching the material body of devas in the form realm. When the fourth dhyāna is reached, because the four great elements of the body become extremely subtle and the body feels especially light and floating, one can fly up to heaven and into the earth, gaining the superknowledge of psychic power (ṛddhi); at the same time, the mind also becomes extremely subtle, and the superknowledge of knowing others' minds will appear.

Your current state belongs to a state of extreme inner stillness, paying no attention whatsoever to the external world; you can no longer attend to realms outside the mind or outside the body, dwelling only in your inner world. Therefore, any movement or sound in the external world startles you. At this time, try not to go out and avoid people, so as not to be frightened. After the crown of the head opens, there are still some matters that require avoiding people; during this time you must be careful to protect yourself from being startled, and whenever there is something to be done, let others handle it as much as possible.

Your meditative concentration (samādhi) is already very deep, and it will deepen further in the future. As long as you know that these are all states of meditative concentration, and the mind does not attach to signs, then simply abide in concentration according to conditions—do not care about anything, and there will be no problem. It is precisely because you are unclear about these matters and lack inner assurance that you feel a sense of panic.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings

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