The Relationship Between Manas and the Samadhi State

When the contemplation of the skeleton is practiced to its culmination, the samadhi of skeleton contemplation is attained. With eyes open or closed, the practitioner can perceive both their own and others' physical forms as skeletons. This is a mind-made form, invisible to others and only perceptible to those who have achieved this samadhi state. Such a meditative state arises from prolonged mental visualization by the conscious mind, which successfully perfumes the manas. As the manas comes to accept that the physical body truly appears as a skeleton, the Tathagatagarbha manifests the skeleton form, allowing the conscious mind to perceive the skeleton appearance at will and everywhere, thus achieving the fruition of contemplation.

Therefore, all meditative states and samadhi are the result of the conscious mind's visualization successfully perfuming and transforming the manas. That is to say, only when the manas is accomplished does the samadhi state manifest. While the conscious mind readily accepts various theories, the manas, due to its profound ignorance and entrenched habits, finds acceptance extremely difficult, making spiritual practice challenging. Each sentient being's manas possesses differing degrees of ignorance and habits. The thinner the ignorance, the faster the practice progresses, the more easily meditation arises, the more readily samadhi is entered, and the more effortlessly the Dharma is realized. Upon achieving the skeleton contemplation, the view of the body as self is eradicated; the body is denied as the self, desire is subdued, attachment to the body ceases, and a degree of liberation is attained.

The same principle applies to the contemplation of the sun, and indeed to all contemplative practices, all meditative states, and all great wisdom.