Problems
Real difficulties meditators report — with evidence-classed answers.
Breath Stops, or Won't Behave — Should I Worry?
A problem page: when the breath gets shallow, pauses, or feels fought during sitting — the tradition's name for the gentle version (taixi's arrival), its warning about the forced version, and the medical boundary.
Is restlessness or discomfort in sitting a sign I should stop?
A problem page: physical restlessness and unease during sitting — the Chinese sources' explicit exit conditions (Taiping Jing) and the tradition's stance against forcing.
Seeing Light or Images During Sitting — What Does It Mean?
A problem page: visual phenomena during stillness — the Zhuangzi's 'empty room gives rise to white light,' the tradition's counsel not to grasp, and the medical boundary.
Why do I get drowsy or fall asleep during sitting — and is that stillness?
A problem page: drowsiness (昏沉) vs stillness (入静) — the manuals' explicit distinction, the named causes, and the remedies, plus the modern fatigue reading.
Why does the mind keep wandering during quiet sitting?
A problem page: mental wandering during sitting is documented across Chinese contemplative sources from the Han chamber method to Zhu Xi's classroom. What the sources say, and what is unknown.