Question 53: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO BE AWARE OF THE WHOLE BODY AND THE SENSATION OF THE WHOLE BODY DURING MEDITATION?

Answer: Being aware of the chest and abdomen during meditation offers several benefits:

• The skin covers a large area of the body, so when we focus our attention on the body, the entire surface of the skin is activated, creating a strong sense of mindfulness for the mind. In contrast, if we focus only on the head, the mindfulness generated is minimal and tends to weaken over time. The body generates mindfulness for the mind. This is a very special principle that the Buddha taught in the Nikaya scriptures: “Aware of the whole body, I breathe in; aware of the whole body, I breathe out.”
• Interestingly, wandering thoughts originate from the lower parts of the body, not from the brain. This surprising discovery comes from experienced meditation practitioners. When we focus only on the head, we are unable to prevent the sudden rise of wandering thoughts from the lower body. However, when we anchor our awareness in the lower body, we can stop wandering thoughts at their source. This is a fascinating insight into meditation.
• Focusing attention on the lower body, especially deep down in the bottom of the abdomen, helps preserve the body’s inner vital energy (Chân Âm). Typically, we tend to deplete this vital energy because we usually focus too much on the head from birth. Thoughts occur in the head, and the senses of sight and hearing are also concentrated there, gradually depleting this vital energy. During meditation, we should direct our attention to the lower body to restore this vital energy, which helps keep the mind awake, strengthens the internal organs, and significantly reduces distracting thoughts.