The Relationship Between Manas and the Samadhi State

The practice of the White Bone Contemplation culminates in the attainment of the samadhi of White Bone Contemplation. With this samadhi, whether one's eyes are open or closed, one perceives both one's own and others' physical bodies as white bones. This is a form derived from concentration, invisible to others and only perceptible to those who have cultivated this samadhi state. Such a state of concentration is achieved through the long-term contemplation of the conscious mind, which successfully permeates the manas (mind faculty). When the manas comes to recognize the physical body as having the appearance of white bones, the Tathagatagarbha (Buddha-nature) manifests the form of white bones. Thus, the conscious mind perceives the white bone appearance anytime and anywhere, marking the accomplishment of the contemplation.

Therefore, all states of concentration and samadhi result from the conscious mind's contemplation successfully permeating and transforming the manas. In other words, only when the manas is accomplished does the samadhi state manifest. The conscious mind readily accepts various theories, but the manas, due to its profound ignorance and strong habitual tendencies, is difficult to convince. This creates the difficulty in spiritual practice. The degree of ignorance and habitual tendencies in the manas differs for each sentient being. 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. When the White Bone Contemplation is accomplished, the view of the body as self is eradicated; the body is no longer mistaken for the self. Craving is subdued, attachment to the body ceases, and a degree of liberation is attained.

The same applies to the Contemplation of the Setting Sun, and indeed to all contemplative practices. All states of concentration and great wisdom follow this same principle.