Where Attention Is, There Thought Is Felt

Question: During the past two days of sitting in meditation and reciting the Buddha's name, I initially found that the recitation would vanish before my eyes and I couldn't continue. Starting yesterday, I felt the thought disappearing from below my navel. Will continuing like this lead to deviation?

Answer: This is merely a matter of attention. Wherever your attention is focused, you will feel the thought is located there. When you focus the mind on the dantian (elixir field), qi (vital energy) gathers at the dantian, the body's qi channels become unobstructed, and the mind becomes pure, making it easier to still thoughts. Therefore, it will not lead to deviation.