The Relationship Between Material Body Restoration and Mental Contemplation

To sink qi to the dantian, simply use deep breathing to guide qi downward to the dantian area. Combine this with visualization—visualize qi reaching the dantian—to direct qi there. Qi follows the will; wherever the will goes, qi and blood will follow. This "will" encompasses both the will of manas (the seventh consciousness) and the will of consciousness (the sixth consciousness), but only the will of manas can guide the movement of qi and blood. The will of consciousness can only guide manas.

The functional activities of the physical body arise from either the Tathāgatagarbha’s independent functions or the combined functions of manas and the Tathāgatagarbha. To put it simply, most functions in the physical body involve the volitional component of manas. Without the active participation of manas’s will, many things cannot be accomplished. Although consciousness may focus its will on the dantian, it yields no effect unless consciousness successfully guides manas, and manas then activates its will. Consciousness "concentrating" on the dantian is false concentration—qi will not follow. Consciousness cannot guide qi or blood; it can only guide manas. This is consciousness’s greatest and most useful capability.

The repair and regulation of tissues and cells in the physical body also partially involve manas. If manas cooperates actively, maintaining an optimistic attitude without impatience or agitation, the body’s positive energy increases, accelerating physical repair. The difference in physical repair is significant when manas participates versus when it does not. For example, during acupuncture, directing one’s will into the needle tip produces very obvious and rapid effects, instantly altering the physical body. If someone has cultivated genuine qi and combines it with acupuncture, the effect is even better—sufficient to swiftly adjust the body’s four elements (earth, water, fire, wind), leading to remarkably fast physical recovery, potentially immediate. If genuine qi circulates within the body and is channeled through the palm into another person’s back, the stronger the will, the more qi enters the body and the faster it circulates, resulting in immediate physical improvement. When qi and blood fill the body, health is achieved.

Where the will goes, qi follows. Therefore, physical repair involving manas’s active participation occurs quite rapidly. Where the will does not reach, circulation becomes obstructed or ceases. For instance, if attention is scattered while eating, qi and blood disperse, impairing digestion. If one concentrates intensely on thinking immediately after a meal, qi and blood gather in the brain, leaving insufficient qi and blood for the stomach, which also hinders digestion. Prolonged neglect leads to stomach ailments. Similarly, if attention wanders during urination or defecation, the process becomes obstructed—where the will is, qi is present; when the will departs, qi departs. Thus, the force of will is immensely powerful. How is this force generated? When meditative concentration (samādhi) strengthens, mental power increases—mental power is precisely the power of will.