Re-Examining Doubts Concerning the Practical Value of the Contemplation of the Dharmadhātu: Focusing on the Absence of Methods for Regulating the Body and Breath

The Contemplation of the Dharmadhātu (Fajie guan 法界觀) is frequently criticized for lacking practical value due to its “theoretical” character—specifically, the absence of concrete methods for regulating the body (tiaoshen 調身) and regulating the breath (tiaoxi 調息), while containing only abstract discussions on regulating the mind (tiaoxin 調心). However, this absence does not negate its practical value. In essence, it belongs to dhyāna contemplation (changuan 禪觀), where methods for regulating the body and breath are widely shared; therefore, their omission is inconsequential. Nevertheless, this effectively establishes a threshold: practitioners must either be capable of regulating the body and breath or possess the capacity to acquire such resources from other sources. Given that it emerged and flourished in Sui–Tang (隋唐) Chang’an (長安)—a milieu characterized by eminent monks and abundant Buddhist resources—this threshold was easy to cross. Thereafter, it was continuously transmitted; however, this threshold restricted practitioners primarily to the elite. Ultimately, the Qing (清) Master Xufa 續法 (1641–1728) provided the required supplements, completing its practical framework.