Janna · Nov 13, 2026
MEDITATION Q&A 71–75: DOPAMINE, MEDITATIVE BLISS, TRUE MIND AND BUDDHA-NATURE
QUESTION 71: AFTER FINDING THE BREATH CONNECTED TO THE MIND, WHAT SHOULD BE DONE NEXT?
ANSWER: Once you have found the breath with the appropriate intensity that connects to the mind, you gain firm confidence in your path of spiritual cultivation. Holding onto this volume of breath means maintaining control over the mind. At this stage, you should skillfully sustain the correct breath intensity to prevent the mind from wandering. However, the tranquility achieved at this point is only superficial. Deep within the subconscious, many hidden faults remain, which must be recognized and eradicated.
At this point, we must remember that past karma has not yet been fully cleansed. The merit needed for the highest levels of enlightenment is still insufficient. And deep within, ignorance, ego-clinging, conceit, selfishness, and impurities still persist. It is essential to apply contemplations, as taught in the Nikaya scriptures, to eliminate these lingering faults in the mind.
Each individual can select appropriate contemplative subjects, synchronizing them with the breath. For instance, as you breathe in, contemplate27 a specific intention, and as you breathe out, affirm it. For example:
Breathing in, silently contemplating, “May I be free from conceit.”
Breathing out, affirm, “May I be free from conceit.”
Or, “Breathing in, may I be free from selfishness. Breathing out, may I be free from selfishness.”
This practice is like sending a message deep into your subconscious. Over time, these messages gradually dissolve the latent faults within the mind, paving the way for deeper spiritual progress.
In meditation, one should anchor the mind at the bottom of the abdomen and skillfully maintain the correct breath intensity to avoid being misled by the sensations of bliss and joy, which could foster conceit. At the same time, it is crucial to earnestly bow to the Buddha Buddha and make vows to guide one’s cultivation across countless lifetimes to come: “May the Buddha bless me so that, even if one day I realize the mind and see that my true nature is the all-encompassing serene mind, I will remain vigilant and clearly recognize that this profound mind still harbors ignorance and ego-clinging, and that it could still be stirred. May this awareness prevent me from turning outward and ensure that I continue cultivating toward the ultimate goal of non-self, completely eradicating ignorance.”
QUESTION 72: WHEN MINDFULNESS BEGINS TO DEVELOP, WANDERING THOUGHTS ARE RECOGNIZED THE MOMENT THEY ARISE, AND UPON RECOGNITION, THEY DISSIPATE. CAN THE METHOD OF MONITORING WANDERING THOUGHTS BE USED TO FOCUS THE MIND?
ANSWER: When mindfulness begins to develop, the practitioner does not need to fight against wandering thoughts; He/she simply recognizes them as they arise. At this stage, one may mistakenly believe that the recognition of wandering thoughts causes them to dissipate, preventing them from leading the mind astray and creating a sense of stability. Consequently, this person might adopt the practice of monitoring wandering thoughts as their primary method of spiritual cultivation. However, focusing on monitoring wandering thoughts directs too much attention to the head, causing invisible vital air to concentrate there. This weakens the brain and may lead to physical ailments such as cardiovascular issues, high blood pressure, or diabetes.
Meditation aims to gradually subside wandering thoughts, but not through direct confrontation or vigilant monitoring to eliminate them. Wandering thoughts naturally settle when the correct method is practiced, rather than through direct intervention.
When mindfulness arises, the practitioner should be aware of the following:
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Avoid monitoring individual thoughts in detail. Instead, recognize the overall state of the mind as a chaotic whole. Even if the mind seems calm, it remains a block of ignorance and wrongdoing.
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Maintain awareness of the entire body. Do not lose the sensation of the whole body, especially awareness of the bottom of the abdomen. This ensures brain health and prevents unwanted physical ailments.
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Sustain the correct volume of the breath to remain aligned with the path of meditation.
QUESTION 73: ACCORDING TO THE SEQUENCE OF THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH, AFTER A PERIOD OF RIGHT ENDEAVOUR, WE MOVE TO THE STAGE OF RIGHT MINDFULNESS. AT THIS POINT, IS IT CONSIDERED HAVING ENTERED MEDITATIVE ABSORPTION? COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN FURTHER?
ANSWER: We must diligently cultivate the stage of Right Endeavour, the duration of which depends on each individual’s potential. When this cultivation matures, mindfulness strengthens, becomes more consistent, and the inner mind is controlled without interruption. At this point, we transition to the stage of Right Mindfulness.
However, the strength and depth of mindfulness vary among individuals. If mindfulness is not yet strong, wandering thoughts may still linger and intermittently appear, though they no longer dominate the mind as before. If mindfulness is profound, wandering thoughts completely vanish. Regardless of whether mindfulness is shallow or deep, or whether wandering thoughts no longer influence the mind, we must remain cautious, as subtle mental impressions hidden deep within the unconscious still persist. This is why, even when the mind achieves some tranquility, we must remind ourselves of the ultimate truth: deep within, ignorance and wrongdoing still exist.
At this stage, one discovers the breath subtly connected to the mind. Remaining anchored to this breath indicates progress toward meditative absorption, symbolizing entry into the courtyard of the grand castle. Conversely, if we abandon this breath to marvel at or indulge in the wondrous meditative experiences, we are moving toward exiting meditative absorption, akin to turning back and stepping out of the castle gate, returning to the dense forest as we were before.
Attaining Right Mindfulness signifies the beginning of results in meditation, but it is not yet considered having entered meditative absorption. Therefore, we must continue to anchor the mind to the breath until the end, while not forgetting to contemplate the truth that our mind still harbors ignorance and wrongdoing.
QUESTION 74: WHEN THE MIND BECOMES SERENE, WHAT IS THE SOURCE OF JOY AND BLISS?
ANSWER: The human body produces various types of hormones that create a sense of happiness, particularly dopamine. Dopamine functions both as a hormone and a neurotransmitter, playing a role in learning ability, memory, movement, and generating feelings of joy. Aging and stress can gradually reduce the brain's production of dopamine. When dopamine levels are depleted, individuals may develop various conditions such as hand tremors, memory decline, heart weakness, kidney failure, and reduced pancreatic function, leading to diabetes.
To maintain long-term dopamine production, two main practices should be followed: helping others (while physical exercise also generates dopamine, its effect is not significant) and practicing meditation to calm the mind. In daily life, we should strive to maintain emotional stability and avoid excessive excitement, meaning we conserve dopamine for long-term well-being.
Especially in meditation, when the mind becomes deeply tranquil, the sensation of joy and bliss spreading throughout the body is a result of neurons in the brain producing a significant amount of dopamine. This is a scientific characteristic of meditation. Specifically, Professor Tobias Esch and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School discovered that Meditation increases the release of endogenous dopamine, effectively helping individuals relax and relieve stress28. Additionally, research by neuroscientist Troels Kjaer and his team at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, found that the amount of endogenous dopamine released through meditation can increase by more than 65% compared to the baseline level29. The dopamine produced through meditation does not cause side effects or addiction, unlike externally introduced substances.
We should also note that the sensation of joy and bliss is not limitless, as the brain's production of dopamine is not infinite. Therefore, we must focus our attention on the lower abdomen, staying anchored at the correct breath volume to moderate the feeling of joy and bliss. This also helps conserve dopamine, preventing brain deterioration and ensuring long-term stability in our practice.
QUESTION 75: WHEN THE MIND IS CALM, MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER THAT STATE AS THE TRUE MIND OR BUDDHA-NATURE. WHY DID THE BUDDHA NOT MENTION THE TRUE MIND OR BUDDHA-NATURE DURING HIS TIME?
ANSWER: Because the Buddha guided sentient beings toward non-self Nirvana, a state in which there is no separate self, characterized by profound serenity and clarity. Any state of consciousness, no matter how extraordinary, still contains a sense of self. As long as the self remains, there are still many errors, meaning it cannot yet be called the True Mind or Buddha-Nature. Many meditation practitioners, upon experiencing a calm mind in meditation, mistakenly label their special state of consciousness as the True Mind or Buddha-Nature. In reality, this is no longer in accordance with the Buddha's original teaching.
When a meditation practitioner perceives themselves as superior, they can easily fall into conceit and boastfulness, which leads to a severe loss of merit. Achieving inner tranquility requires diligent spiritual cultivation and performing numerous acts of merit for the world, gradually transforming restlessness into serenity. Therefore, we must always pray for the Buddha’s guidance to ensure that our practice follows the right path and constantly remind ourselves of our ignorance and past wrongdoings. If any of us can understand and firmly hold onto this ultimate truth—no matter how peaceful our mind becomes—we will have the opportunity to step onto the summit of non-self in the grand palace of meditation.
On the other hand, misunderstanding this truth can lead us into delusion, making us believe that we have attained great enlightenment or that Buddha-nature inherently exists within our minds. This misconception can cause us to lose the merits of our practice and may even lead to spiritual decline in the future. Instead, we should follow the Buddha’s teaching and aim toward the goal of non-self, seeing ourselves as nothing, as mere dust or grass. By maintaining this humble perspective, we avoid conceit and complacency, ensuring that our path of meditation remains steady and enduring.
Written by:
Janna
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