SN54.4 — First Fruit Discourse

Mindfulness of breathing when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and great benefit.

And 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.

He breathes in mindfully, he breathes out mindfully...

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

Thus developed thus cultivated, mindfulness of breathing is of great fruit and great benefit.

When mindfulness of breathing is thus developed and cultivated, one of two fruits is to be expected: either final knowing here and now, or if there is a trace of clinging left, non-returning.

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