問18：尊者，為什麼你教禪修者從觀照「起與伏」開始禪修？

Q18: Venerable Sir, why do you instruct yogis to start their practice with noting 「rising and falling」?

問18：尊者，為什麼你教禪修者從觀照「起與伏」開始禪修？

It will take time to develop concentration if you note an obiect too varied, or too subtle, while it can be aroused faster if you observe an obvious and limited object. That is why we instruct yogis to start their practice with watching the abdomen characterized by stiffness, pressure, vibration, which are identical with vayo-dhātu, the air-element.

如果觀照過于變化多端或太微細的所緣，需要花很長時間才能培養出定力，而當你觀照明顯和有限的所緣，能較快地生起定力。這就是為什麼我們教導禪修者從觀照腹部開始禪修，其緊繃、擠壓、振動的特徵正是風元素。