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 when observing the breath? When the body becomes hot and sweats, which consciousness is controlling it? 

Answer: When observing the breath, it is the mind consciousness that observes; there is also the awareness of the body consciousness, so it is the mental consciousness accompanying the five sense consciousnesses (pañcavijñāna-sahagata-manovijñāna) that is aware. If your attention is focused, the manas observes together with the mind consciousness simultaneously; if your attention is not focused, the manas only lightly touches upon it, and because it is not concentrated, there will not be any particular feelings or thoughts. When observing, if your attention follows the breath down to the dantian, the dantian will become warm, the heat will dissipate, and perhaps you may sweat automatically. These dharmas are manifested by the tathāgatagarbha in accordance with conditions; they arise from causes and conditions, and there is not necessarily any particular consciousness controlling them. If there is a mind that tries to control, the mind's thoughts become scattered, and meditative concentration (samādhi) will become shallower. Some dharmas are extremely profound and difficult to observe, and they are of no use to our present cultivation, so there is no need to insist on probing into them. Concentrate your energy on doing well what is at hand—one bird in the hand is worth two birds in the bush. Being able to eliminate self-view (ātma-dṛṣṭi) is the real skill.