SHIH-FU:

If prostration becomes part of your practice schedule it is very good, but it shouldn't substitute for meditation. You should prostrate in addition to meditating. However, when you try to sit and just feel too uncomfortable, either in body or mind, then it is okay to prostrate instead.

STUDENT:

During retreats, sometimes you say we should reflect on our imperfections and then forget about them and concentrate on the movements of the prostrations. What is the purpose of this?

SHIH-FU:

When I have you do prostrations, I sometimes ask you to reflect on your inadequacies, and other times I ask you to prostrate with gratitude to the Three Jewels. The purpose is to call up this sentiment of repentance or gratitude within yourself. When we have this kind of sentiment, it is easier for the mind to calm down and for our energy to settle. That is good for meditation.

STUDENT:

I find it difficult knowing how to do it. During retreats I find myself forcefully trying to call up these feelings of repentance and gratitude. I'm not sure if that is where all my concentration should go, or if I should say it kind of loosely in the beginning and then leave it in the back of my mind and just concentrate on movements. I get confused and become tense.

SHIH-FU: