SN54.13 — The First Discourse to Ānanda

Originating in Sāvatthī.

Then the Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One, paid homage to him, and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One:

Is there, venerable sir, one thing developed and cultivated that fulfills four things, four things developed and cultivated that fulfill seven things, and seven things developed and cultivated that fulfill two things?

There is, Ānanda, one thing developed and cultivated that fulfills four things, four things developed and cultivated that fulfill seven things, and seven things developed and cultivated that fulfill two things.

But what, venerable sir, is that one thing developed and cultivated that fulfills four things, four things developed and cultivated that fulfill seven things, and seven things developed and cultivated that fulfill two things?

Ānanda, it is mindfulness of breathing that, when developed and cultivated, fulfills the four foundations of mindfulness; the four foundations 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.

And how, Ānanda, is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so that it fulfills the four foundations of mindfulness?

Here, Ānanda, a disciple, having gone to the forest, to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, sits down; having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness on itself, ever mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out.

Breathing in long, he understands: I breathe in long; or breathing out long, he knows. ...

He trains thus: I shall breathe in contemplating relinquishment; he trains thus: I shall breathe out contemplating relinquishment.

On that occasion, Ānanda, a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

And why is that? Because, Ānanda, I say that this is a certain body among the bodies, namely, in-breathing and out-breathing.

Therefore, Ānanda, on that occasion a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

On that occasion, Ānanda, 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 the mental formation; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mental formation.

On that occasion, Ānanda, a disciple dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

And why is that? Because, Ānanda, I say that this is a certain feeling among the feelings, namely, in-breathing and out-breathing.

Therefore, Ānanda, on that occasion a disciple dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

On that occasion, Ānanda, 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 liberating the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out liberating the mind.

On that occasion, Ānanda, a disciple dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

And why is that? Because, Ānanda, I do not say that there is development of mindfulness of breathing for one who is forgetful and not fully aware.

Therefore, Ānanda, on that occasion a disciple dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

On that occasion, Ānanda, a disciple 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 relinquishment; he trains thus: I shall breathe out contemplating relinquishment.

On that occasion, Ānanda, a disciple dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

Seeing with wisdom the abandoning of covetousness and grief, he closely looks on with equanimity.

Therefore, Ānanda, on that occasion a disciple dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.

Thus developed and cultivated, Ānanda, mindfulness of breathing fulfills the four foundations of mindfulness.

And how, Ānanda, are the four foundations of mindfulness developed and cultivated so that they fulfill the seven factors of enlightenment?

At the time, Ānanda, when a disciple dwells contemplating the body in the body: at that time, the disciple's mindfulness is established and not confused.

At the time, Ānanda, when the disciple's mindfulness is established and not confused: the mindfulness enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor, and the mindfulness enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

Dwelling thus mindful, he investigates, examines, and inquires into that state with wisdom.

At the time, Ānanda, when a disciple dwelling thus mindful investigates, examines, and inquires into that state with wisdom: the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor, and the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

As he investigates, examines, and inquires into that state with wisdom, energy that is not slack is aroused in him.

At the time, Ānanda, when the disciple's energy that is not slack is aroused: the energy enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the energy enlightenment factor, and the energy enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

When energy is aroused, joy that is free from sensuality arises.

At the time, Ānanda, when joy that is free from sensuality arises in the disciple whose energy is aroused: the joy enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the joy enlightenment factor, and the joy enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

When the mind is joyful, the body and mind become tranquil.

At the time, Ānanda, when the disciple's body and mind become tranquil: the tranquility enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the tranquility enlightenment factor, and the tranquility enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

When the body is tranquil and happy, the mind becomes concentrated.

At the time, Ānanda, when the disciple's mind becomes concentrated: the concentration enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the concentration enlightenment factor, and the concentration enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

Dwelling thus with a concentrated mind, he carefully observes with equanimity.

At the time, Ānanda, when a disciple dwelling thus with a concentrated mind carefully observes with equanimity: the equanimity enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the equanimity enlightenment factor, and the equanimity enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

At the time, Ānanda, when a disciple dwells contemplating feelings...

mind... phenomena: at that time, the disciple's mindfulness is established and not confused.

At the time, Ānanda, when the disciple's mindfulness is established and not confused, the mindfulness enlightenment factor is aroused in the disciple at that time, the disciple develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor, and the mindfulness enlightenment factor reaches fulfillment in the disciple at that time.

(As with the first foundation of mindfulness, so it should be elaborated.)

Dwelling thus with a concentrated mind, he carefully observes with equanimity.

Thus developed, Ānanda, the four foundations of mindfulness thus frequently practiced fulfill the seven factors of enlightenment.

How, Ānanda, are the seven factors of enlightenment developed and frequently practiced to fulfill knowing and liberation?

Here, Ānanda, a disciple develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor dependent on seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and leading to relinquishment,

develops the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor... develops the equanimity enlightenment factor dependent on seclusion, dispassion, cessation, and leading to relinquishment.

Thus developed, Ānanda, the seven factors of enlightenment thus frequently practiced fulfill knowing and liberation.