Breathing Fulfils the 4 Foundations of Awareness!
Once in
Savatthi
the Blessed
Buddha said this:
How,
Ānanda, is
this fine
concentration by
Awareness by Breathing
(Ānāpānasati) developed and
cultivated so that it fulfils the
Four Foundations of Awareness
(Sati)
?
Whenever,
Ānanda, a Bhikkhu:
1: Breathing long, knows, notes & understands: I breathe in & out long!
2: Breathing short, knows, notes & understands: I breathe in & out short!
3: Trains thus: Experiencing this entire body, I will breathe in & out!
4: Trains thus: Calming all bodily activity, I will breathe in & out!
On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body as
a group,
keen, clearly comprehending, and aware, thereby removing all desire and
frustration rooted in this world! This is a certain kind of body,
Ānanda,
a kind of accumulation, just this breathing in and breathing out in itself...
Whenever,
Ānanda, a Bhikkhu:
5:
Trains thus: Experiencing enraptured joy, I will breathe in & out!
6: Trains thus: Experiencing a happy pleasure, I will breathe in & out!
7: Trains thus: Experiencing all mental activity, I will breathe in & out!
8: Trains thus: Calming all mental activity, I will breathe in & out!
On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating feeling as
a reaction,
keen, clearly comprehending, & aware, thereby removing all desire and
frustration rooted in this world! For what reason? Close attention to
breathing in & breathing out is also a certain kind of feeling,
Ānanda...
Whenever,
Ānanda, a Bhikkhu: :
9: Trains thus: Experiencing the present mood, I will breathe in & out!
10: Trains thus: Elating, & satisfying the mind, I will breathe in & out!
11: Trains thus: Concentrating, & focusing mind, I will breathe in & out!
12: Trains thus: Releasing, & liberating the mind, I will breathe in & out!
On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating mind only as moods,
keen, clearly comprehending, & aware, thereby removing all desire and
frustration rooted in this world! I tell you,
Ānanda, there is no gaining
concentration by awareness by breathing for one, who is confused, and
who lacks clear comprehension of the actually present mentality & mood!
Whenever,
Ānanda, a Bhikkhu:
13:
Trains thus: Contemplating impermanence, I will breathe in & out!
14: Trains thus: Contemplating disillusion, I will breathe in & out!
15: Trains thus: Contemplating ceasing, I will breathe in & out!
16: Trains thus: Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in & out!
On that occasion the Bhikkhu dwells contemplating all phenomena as
mental states, keen, clearly comprehending, & aware, thereby removing
all desire and frustration rooted in this world! Having by understanding
seen what really is the elimination of greed and discontent, he is one
who just looks on, over-viewing carefully in imperturbable equanimity...
It is, Ānanda, when
Awareness by Breathing is trained, developed
and
refined in this very way, that it fulfils the 4
Foundations of Awareness...
These 16 steps should be memorized fully. Print out & bring to pillow!
The Buddha explains
Awareness by Breathing
(Ānāpānasati Sutta, Majjhima
Nikāya 118)
More on this sublime technique used by all Buddhas at Awakening:
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/II/Awareness_by_Breathing.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/Manual/Meditation.Manual.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/library/DPPN/wtb/a/anapana_sati.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_I.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_II.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_III.htm
http://What-Buddha-Said.net/drops/IV/The_LAMP_IV.htm
Full text and all classic commentarial explanations:
http://www.pariyatti.com/book.cgi?prod_id=404502
Source
(edited extract):
The
Grouped Sayings of the Buddha. Samyutta
Nikāya. [V:329-31]
section 54: Ānāpānasamyutta.
Thread 13: Ānanda!
Unique & Subtle Breathing!
