SN54.5 — Dutiyaphalasutta

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, folds his legs crosswise, sets his body erect, and establishes mindfulness on itself.

Ever mindful, he breathes in; ever mindful, he breathes out...

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.

When developed and cultivated in this way, seven fruits and benefits are to be expected.

What are the seven fruits and benefits?

One attains final knowing early in this very life;

if not, then at the time of death;

if not, then with the destruction of the five lower fetters, one becomes an attainer of Nibbāna in the interval;

or an attainer of Nibbāna upon landing;

or an attainer of Nibbāna without exertion;

or an attainer of Nibbāna with exertion;

or one bound upstream, heading towards the highest realm.

Thus developed and cultivated mindfulness of breathing is of great fruit and great benefit, and these seven fruits and benefits are to be expected.

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