Q&A on the Contemplation of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness 12

Q: During meditation, I feel bloated with gas in my abdomen, but I cannot expel or dissolve it. What should I do?

A: Meditation regulates the body, and waste, toxins, and impurities within the body are expelled through the release of gas. If you feel the need to pass gas but cannot, it indicates blockages within the body, possibly due to dampness obstruction. Consume foods with high thermal energy or drink hot ginger water to warm the body and dispel cold. The waste gas will then be expelled.

Q: Around forty minutes into meditation, tears flow from both eyes, reaching the corners of my mouth. Previously, only one eye teared. What should I do about this?

A: The eyes are intimately connected to the liver. Tearing from the eyes can be a manifestation of liver disease or a sign that the energy channels (qi) have passed through the subtle sense faculties at the back of the head, expelling eye ailments. If there is eye discharge, it indicates the expulsion of liver heat. You can address it based on the specific situation, or you can ignore it and intensify your meditation practice, allowing the qi channels to flow naturally and eliminate all disease obstacles.

Q: During sitting meditation, I feel a sensation like melting ice at the joints of my bones, or like melted ice water slowly flowing from one place. It's hard to describe whether it's a cool sensation or something else, but it feels quite comfortable. What is this situation?

A: This is a natural reaction as qi and blood pass through the joints to regulate the body. Originally, there may have been cold-damp stagnation or waste blockages in the joint areas. When qi and blood circulate there, they carry away some cold-dampness and waste, thus clearing the joints. This brings a sense of comfort, though it may be mixed with discomfort from the expelled pathogenic qi. Your body is relatively healthy, and the disease obstacles are not severe. In more serious cases, one would feel pain and might even be unable to sit cross-legged.