MN118 — Ānāpānassatisutta
Thus have I heard: At one time, the Blessed One was staying at Sāvatthī, in the Eastern Park, at the palace of Migāramātā, together with many well-known elder disciples: with the Venerable Sāriputta, the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, the Venerable Mahākassapa, the Venerable Mahākaccāyana, the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhita, the Venerable Mahākappina, the Venerable Mahācunda, the Venerable Anuruddha, the Venerable Revata, the Venerable Ānanda, and other well-known elder disciples.
At that time, the elder disciples were instructing and advising the new disciples.
Some elder disciples were instructing and advising ten disciples, some were instructing and advising twenty disciples, some were instructing and advising thirty disciples, and some were instructing and advising forty disciples.
And those new disciples, being instructed and advised by the elder disciples, made great progress.
At that time, on the fifteenth day of the full moon, the Blessed One, surrounded by the community of disciples, was sitting in the open air.
Then the Blessed One, after surveying the silent community of disciples, addressed them:
Disciples, be diligent in this practice;
Be resolute in this practice.
Therefore you should strive even more for the attainment of the unattained, the realization of the unrealized, the achievement of the unachieved.
Here in Sāvatthī, I will spend the four months of the rainy season.
The disciples from the countryside heard: The Blessed One will spend the four months of the rainy season here in Sāvatthī. Those disciples from the countryside came to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One.
And the elder disciples instructed and advised the new disciples even more.
Some elder disciples instructed and advised ten disciples, some instructed and advised twenty disciples, some instructed and advised thirty disciples, and some instructed and advised forty disciples.
And those new disciples, being instructed and advised by the elder disciples, made great progress.
At that time, on the fifteenth day of the full moon of the rainy season, the Blessed One, surrounded by the community of disciples, was sitting in the open air.
Then the Blessed One, after surveying the silent community of disciples, addressed them:
Disciples, this assembly is free from idle chatter; it is established in purity and essence. Such is this community of disciples; such is this assembly that it is worthy of offerings, hospitality, gifts, and reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world.
Such is this community of disciples; such is this assembly, that even a small gift given to it becomes great, and a great gift becomes even greater.
Such is this community of disciples; such is this assembly, that it is rare to see in the world.
Such is this community of disciples; such is this assembly, that it is worthy of traveling a great distance to see, even with a heavy load.
There are in this community, arahants, those who have destroyed the taints, lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached the goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and are completely liberated through final knowing: such disciples are in this community.
There are in this community, those who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are spontaneously reborn and attain final Nibbāna there, without returning from that world: such disciples are in this community.
There are in this community, those who, with the destruction of three fetters and with the attenuation of lust, hatred, and delusion, are once-returners, who will return to this world only once more and then make an end of suffering: such disciples are in this community.
There are in this community, those who, with the destruction of three fetters, are stream-enterers, no longer subject to rebirth in the lower worlds, fixed in destiny, with enlightenment as their destination: such disciples are in this community.
There are in this community, those who are devoted to the development of the four dwellings of mindfulness: such disciples are in this community.
In the community, there are those who are devoted to the development of the four right efforts...
The four bases of spiritual power...
The five faculties...
The five strengths...
The seven factors of enlightenment...
and the noble eightfold path:
Such disciples, exist in this community of disciples.
There are, disciples in this community who are devoted to the development of goodwill...
compassion...
sympathetic joy...
equanimity...
the contemplation of the unattractive...
the perception of impermanence: such disciples, exist in this community.
There are, disciples in this community who are devoted to the development of mindfulness of breathing.
Mindfulness of in-&-Out Breathing
Mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and great benefit.
Mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, fulfills the four dwellings of mindfulness.
The four dwellings of mindfulness, when developed and cultivated, fulfill the seven factors of enlightenment.
The seven factors of enlightenment, when developed and cultivated, fulfill true knowing and liberation.
How, is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and great benefit?
Here, a disciple goes to the forest, to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, sits down, crosses his legs, holds his body erect, and establishes mindfulness on itself.
Ever mindful, he breathes in; ever mindful, he breathes out.
Breathing in long, he knows; or when breathing out long, he knows;
Breathing in short, he knows; or when breathing out short, he knows.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the whole body; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the whole body.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the bodily formation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the bodily formation.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing rapture; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing rapture.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing pleasure; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing pleasure.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mental formation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mental formation.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the mental formation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the mental formation.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mind; He trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mind.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in gladdening the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out gladdening the mind.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in concentrating the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out concentrating the mind.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in liberating the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out liberating the mind.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in contemplating impermanence; he trains thus: I shall breathe out contemplating impermanence.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in contemplating fading away; he trains thus: I shall breathe out contemplating fading away.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in contemplating cessation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out contemplating cessation.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in contemplating relinquishment; he trains thus: I shall breathe out contemplating relinquishment.
Thus developed and cultivated, mindfulness of breathing is of great fruit and great benefit.
The Four Dwellings of Mindfulness
How, is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so that it fulfills the four dwellings of mindfulness?
Whenever, a disciple breathes in long, he knows; or breathes out long, he knows; When he breathes in short, he knows; or breathes out short, he knows.
He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the whole body; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the whole body. He trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the bodily formation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the bodily formation.
At that time, a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.
I tell you that the in-&-out breath is a body among bodies.
Therefore, at that time a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.
Whenever, a disciple trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing rapture; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing rapture; he trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing pleasure; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing pleasure; he trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mental formation;
He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mental formation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mental formation. He trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the mental formation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the mental formation.
At that time a disciple dwells experiencing feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.
Abiding In feelings, he becomes one with these feelings by careful attention to the in and out breath. Therefore at that time a disciple dwells experiencing feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.
At that time a disciple trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mind. He trains thus: I shall breathe in gladdening the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out gladdening the mind. He trains thus: I shall breathe in concentrating the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out concentrating the mind. He trains thus: I shall breathe in liberating the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out liberating the mind.
- [ ] At that time a disciple dwells experiencing the mind in the mind, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. I do not say that mindfulness of breathing is for one who is forgetful and not fully aware. Therefore at that time a disciple dwells experiencing the mind in the mind, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.
At that time a disciple trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing impermanence; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing impermanence. He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing fading away; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing fading away. He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing cessation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing cessation. He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing relinquishment; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing relinquishment.
At that time a disciple dwells experiencing phenomena in phenomena, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. Seeing with wisdom the abandonment of covetousness and grief, he remains equanimous. Therefore at that time a disciple dwells experiencing phenomena in phenomena, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.
Thus developed and repeatedly practiced mindfulness of breathing fulfills the four dwellings of mindfulness.
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
And how do the four dwellings of mindfulness, when developed and repeatedly practiced, fulfill the seven factors of enlightenment?
At that time a disciple dwells experiencing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. At that time, his mindfulness is established and not forgotten. When his mindfulness is established and not forgotten, the mindfulness enlightenment factor is aroused. He develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor, and it comes to fulfillment by development.
Dwelling thus, he investigates and examines that state with wisdom, and he applies thorough investigation. At that time, the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor is aroused. He develops the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor, and it comes to fulfillment by development. As he investigates and examines that state with wisdom, energy that is unshaken arises. At that time, the energy enlightenment factor is aroused. He develops the energy enlightenment factor, and it comes to fulfillment by development.
When energy is aroused, rapture that is free from sensual pleasures arises. At that time, the rapture enlightenment factor is aroused. He develops the rapture enlightenment factor, and it comes to fulfillment by development. When the mind is uplifted by rapture, the body and mind become tranquil. At that time, the tranquility enlightenment factor is aroused. He develops the tranquility enlightenment factor, and it comes to fulfillment by development.
The mind of one who is physically tranquil and happy becomes concentrated.
At the time when the mind of a disciple who is physically tranquil and happy becomes concentrated, the enlightenment factor of concentration is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of concentration, and the enlightenment factor of concentration reaches fulfillment of development in him.
He dwells in equanimity with the mind thus concentrated.
At the time when a disciple dwells in equanimity with the mind thus concentrated, the enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, and the enlightenment factor of equanimity reaches fulfillment of development in him.
At the time when a disciple dwells contemplating feelings...
the mind...
contemplating phenomena, ardent, clearly knowing, mindful, having removed covetousness and grief in regard to the world, mindfulness is established in him.
At the time when mindfulness is established in a disciple, the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, and the enlightenment factor of mindfulness reaches fulfillment of development in him.
Dwelling thus mindfully, he investigates and examines that phenomenon with wisdom, and embarks upon a full inquiry into it.
At the time when a disciple dwelling thus mindfully investigates and examines that phenomenon with wisdom, and embarks upon a full inquiry into it, the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, and the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena reaches fulfillment of development in him.
As he investigates and examines that phenomenon with wisdom, and embarks upon a full inquiry into it, his energy is aroused unshakened.
At the time when a disciple's energy is aroused unshakened as he investigates and examines that phenomenon with wisdom, and embarks upon a full inquiry into it, the enlightenment factor of energy is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of energy, and the enlightenment factor of energy reaches fulfillment of development in him.
When his energy is aroused, there arises in him a rapture that is free from sensual pleasure.
At the time when a disciple's energy is aroused and there arises in him a rapture that is free from sensual pleasure, the enlightenment factor of rapture is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of rapture, and the enlightenment factor of rapture reaches fulfillment of development in him.
When he is rapturous, his body and mind become tranquil.
At the time when a disciple's body and mind become tranquil as he is rapturous, the enlightenment factor of tranquility is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of tranquility, and the enlightenment factor of tranquility reaches fulfillment of development in him.
The mind of one who is physically tranquil and happy becomes concentrated.
At the time when the mind of a disciple who is physically tranquil and happy becomes concentrated, the enlightenment factor of concentration is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of concentration, and the enlightenment factor of concentration reaches fulfillment of development in him.
He dwells with equanimity with the mind thus concentrated.
At the time when a disciple dwells with equanimity with the mind thus concentrated, the enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in him, he develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, and the enlightenment factor of equanimity reaches fulfillment of development in him.
Thus developed the four dwellings of mindfulness, thus frequently practiced, fulfill the seven enlightenment factors.
Knowledge and Liberation
And how are the seven enlightenment factors developed and frequently practiced to fulfill knowing and liberation?
Here a disciple develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and ripens in relinquishment.
He develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena...
the enlightenment factor of energy...
the enlightenment factor of rapture...
the enlightenment factor of tranquility...
the enlightenment factor of concentration...
the enlightenment factor of equanimity which is based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and ripens in relinquishment.
Thus developed the seven enlightenment factors, thus frequently practiced, fulfill knowing and liberation.
The Blessed One said this. Satisfied, those disciples delighted in the Blessed One's words.
The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing is finished.