Blue Sky Observation Log, September 16

Day 156 of Meditation

Observing the Breath This morning during sitting meditation, I observed the breath. As I inhaled, starting from the entry of air at the tip of the nose, I followed the path of the airflow: nasal cavity, throat, trachea, chest cavity, down through the upper abdomen, middle abdomen, and finally to the Dantian (elixir field). During exhalation, starting from the Dantian, the airflow passed out through the aforementioned channels. I could feel the airflow passing through each part of the respiratory tract. While inhaling, I could perceive the condition of the area where the leading edge of the airflow reached. While exhaling, I could sense the trailing edge of the airflow contracting upward from the Dantian towards the chest. Wherever the airflow passed in and out, there was a tingling sensation.

My concentration was relatively focused during this morning's meditation. There were no phenomena like head pressure or surging Qi. The mind was clear and bright, the breath was even and relaxed, without the resistance experienced in previous periods. Not long after entering the observation of the breath, the area around the sternum felt as if it had opened up, warm and very comfortable. Then both shoulders felt the same way, the bones seeming to open up with great comfort – this might be what is called Sukha (blissful ease). The abdomen was warm, not as hot as before. As the observation of the breath continued, the depth of the breath increased. While inhaling, the airflow could reach the bottom of the abdomen, and while exhaling, I could also perceive the flow of Qi entering and exiting at the ankles. Unconsciously, the time for the meditation session ended. Now, I feel the meditation time was somewhat short.

Comment: All the phenomena observed above are just phenomena. The key is, what truth did you discover in these phenomena? What insights do you have regarding these phenomena? For example, a child playing with toys will eventually find it boring after playing for a while. Why does it become boring? For example, doing the same thing repeatedly over a long period will eventually make it feel boring. Why does it become boring? For example, eating every day – one should theoretically get bored of eating, but one eats out of necessity. Of course, the vast majority of people do not have such thoughts. For example, in this life of a person – birth, aging, sickness, death, affection and enmity, the constant pursuit of the five desires – some people live their lives and eventually feel that life is just like this, suddenly finding it meaningless. Of course, the vast majority of people do not have such thoughts.

These are not yet the ultimate truth. Delving deeper, there will be new discoveries. Only by realizing emptiness can wisdom arise. Perceiving arising and cessation is wisdom; perceiving emptiness is true wisdom. A person without wisdom, even after a lifetime of setbacks, will not feel the emptiness of life. A wise person, even with a lifetime of smooth sailing, will not feel that life has inherent meaning. Through prolonged observation, one will realize the arising and cessation of phenomena and perceive the emptiness of phenomena. When one phenomenon is seen as empty, other phenomena related to it will also be seen as empty, and ultimately, the Five Aggregates (Skandhas) are all empty.