Questions and Answers on the Contemplative Practice of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness 15

Question: When observing the breath, which consciousness is manipulating the breathing? How many consciousnesses are observing the breath? Why does the body become hot and sweat during breath observation? Which consciousness controls the heating and sweating?

Answer: When observing the breath, it is the mental consciousness (mano-vijñāna) that observes. There is awareness from the body consciousness (kāya-vijñāna), so the sense-centered consciousness (pañca-vijñānakāya-samprayukta-manovijñāna) becomes aware. If concentration is focused, the mental faculty (manas, the seventh consciousness) accompanies the mental consciousness simultaneously in observation. If concentration is scattered, the mental faculty only lightly attends to the object, and due to the lack of focus, there may be no particular sensations or thoughts.

During observation, when the mental attention follows the breath to the dantian (elixir field), the dantian will become warm. As the heat disperses, one may automatically sweat. These phenomena are manifestations produced by the Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature) in accordance with conditions; they arise dependently and are not necessarily controlled by any specific consciousness. If there is a controlling mind, mental focus becomes scattered, and meditative concentration (dhyāna) will become shallow.

Some Dharma principles are extremely profound and difficult to observe. As they are currently of no practical use to our practice, there is no need to insist on investigating them. Concentrate your energy on doing well the task at hand—a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. The true capability lies in being able to sever the view of self (satkāya-dṛṣṭi).