Sickness of the body can arise from many causes. One is an incorrect attitude toward the practice. For example, if you are hoping through meditation to develop supernormal powers, you are in for trouble. Some people hope through meditation to stay young forever or to have super sexual powers. Such attitudes lead to problems in the body. You may feel temporarily younger, stronger or more virile, but eventually it will lead to ill health, and possibly an early or violent death.

Another reason for physical problems is if you are not clear about correct posture or breathing. Another is improper nutrition, such as when food intake is not being regulated. Some people try to sit for a long time without eating or drinking. If you reach a point in meditation where you have no sense of time, lack of nutrition may not matter, but if time still exists in your mind, you should not pass up meals. Another cause of physical Ch'an sickness is lack of sleep. Some people think that meditation is a replacement for sleep, so they forego sleep altogether or cut back on their sleep time. This can lead to serious problems, especially with the nervous system. If one sits for too long without adequate movement or exercise, the body's energy channels can become blocked.

Many people hear that meditation will improve their health or cure their ills. It is true that meditation can enhance one's health, but it doesn't happen overnight. Meditation can alleviate or even cure ills by helping to release blocked energy channels, but it takes time. However, people who are in poor health before they start meditating have to be careful. If people are looking for quick results, and as a result spend too much time meditating before they are able to handle it, their conditions could worsen.