Yogi: When I meditate, the mind gets very concentrated and quiet; and I observe the quietness. What questions should I ask?

Sayadaw: When you observe the quietness, it just becomes quieter; you need to recognize the awareness.

When it becomes very quiet and nothing changes, it can lead to boredom.

Yogi: Yes, I either fall asleep or I get up because of the boredom.

Sayadaw: The mind gets bored or sleepy because there is no wisdom or curiosity working.

So, there is quietness and you’re aware of it; and you must come back to the awareness.

When it is that quiet, the nature of awareness is quite obvious.

Are quietness and the awareness the same thing? You can ask yourself in your sitting.

Quietness is a mental state; it is an object and is also mind. Awareness is also mind, but it does something different from quietness – quietness is like the background and awareness is active.

To not get too concentrated, you need to know the awareness, and if the mind is balanced, you will not only know mind, but also things are happening in the body.

It is better to know both mental and physical experiences at the same time.