How to Approach Physical Energy Channel Issues

When the qi channels are in the head, causing headaches, toothaches, and eye pain, how should this be resolved?

Yaoling's answer: If the qi really cannot sink down, you can place your attention on the pit of the heart, or on the Mingmen point at the middle of the lumbar vertebrae on the back, contemplating the white bones at the lumbar vertebrae, or place your attention on the big toe of the left foot. In fact, if you truly practice the contemplation of the white bones, the mind will naturally relax, and the qi will certainly be able to sink down. After that, it is best to hold only the right mindfulness of "All marks are false and illusory," and hold nothing else; then naturally all conditions are let go, not a single thought arises, and the qi channels will open up very quickly. When you completely let go of this body, it will quickly recover on its own.

If you harbor a desire such as "I want my body to feel more comfortable," it shows that you are chasing after the body's sensations, discriminating and grasping. What you need to do is contemplate "All marks are false and illusory"—this bodily sensation is empty and unattainable—and then let go of the bodily sensation, no longer chasing after or discriminating it, and let the mind not stick to the body's sensations. This is what is called letting go of the body's sensations. Likewise, toward other various states, such as external sounds, let go in the same way, and do not let the mind stick to them. At this time, your own mind is still perfectly clear, knowing that you are not sticking to these states and marks and giving rise to discrimination. In this way, the qi will quickly sink down, and the body will quickly achieve the harmony of water and fire.

Of course, it is best not to skip the contemplation of impurity and the contemplation of the white bones; otherwise, if you cling to the people around you as truly existing, then it is impossible for you to let go of your chasing after them. When the mind returns to the source and the qi returns to the source, any state that you take as real will become a demonic obstruction, preventing you from returning to the source. Therefore, you must contemplate "all dharmas are without self" to break through inverted attachments.