'mindfulness on in-and-out-breathing',
is one of the most important exercises for reaching mental concentration and the
4 absorptions (jhāna, q.v.).
In the Satipatthāna Sutta (M. 10, D. 22) and elsewhere, 4
methods of practice are given, which may also serve as basis for insight
meditation. The 'Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing' (ānāpānasati Sutta,
M. 118) and other texts have 16 methods of practice, which divide into 4 groups
of four. The first three apply to both tranquillity (samatha, q.v.) and
insight-meditation, while the fourth refers to pure insight practice only. The
second and the third group require the attainment of the absorptions.
"With attentive mind he breathes in, with attentive mind
he breathes out.
I. (1) "When making a long inhalation he knows: 'I
make a long inhalation'; when making a long exhalation he knows: 'I make a
long exhalation.'
(2) "When making a short inhalation he knows: 'I make
a short inhalation'; when making a short exhalation he knows: 'I make a short
exhalation.'
(3) " 'Clearly perceiving the entire (breath-) body
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'clearly perceiving the entire
(breath-) body I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(4) " 'Calming this bodily function I will breathe
in,' thus he trains himself; 'calming this bodily function I will breathe
out,' thus he trains himself.
II. (5) " 'Feeling rapture (pīti) I will
breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'feeling rapture I will breathe out,'
thus he trains himself.
(6) " 'Feeling joy I will breathe in,' thus he
trains himself; 'feeling joy I will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(7) " 'Feeling the mental construction (citta-sankhāra)
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself, 'feeling the mental construction I
will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(8) " 'Calming the mental construction I will breathe
in,' thus he trains himself; 'calming the mental construction I will breathe
out,' thus he trains himself.
III. (9) " 'Clearly perceiving the mind (citta)
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'clearly perceiving the mind I
will breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(10) " 'Gladdening the mind I will breathe in,' thus
he trains himself; 'gladdening the mind I will breathe out,' thus he trains
himself.
(11) " 'Concentrating the mind I will breathe in,
thus he trains himself; 'concentrating the mind I will breathe out', thus he
trains himself.
(12) " 'Freeing the mind I will breathe in,' thus he
trains himself; 'freeing the mind I will breathe out,' thus he trains
himself
IV. (13) " 'Reflecting on impermanence (anicca)
I will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on impermanence I will
breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(14) " 'Reflecting on detachment (virāga) I will
breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on detachment I will
breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(15) " 'Reflecting on extinction (nirodha) I
will breathe in,' thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on extinction I will
breathe out,' thus he trains himself.
(16) " 'Reflecting on abandonment (patinissagga)
I will breathe in, thus he trains himself; 'reflecting on abandonment I will
breathe out,' thus he trains himself."
In M. 118 it is further shown how these 16 exercises bring
about the 4 foundations of mindfulness (satipatthāna, q.v.), namely:
-
1-4
contemplation of the body,
-
5-8 contemplation of feeling,
-
9-12 contemplation of
mind (consciousness),
-
13-16 contemplation of mind-objects.
-
Then it is shown how
these 4 foundations of mindfulness bring about the 7 factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga,
q.v.); then these again deliverance of mind (ceto-vimutti, q.v.) and
deliverance through wisdom (paññā-vimutti, q.v.).
-
Literature: Ānāpānasati Samyutta (S. LIV). -
-
Pts.M. Ānāpānakathā
- Full explanation of practice in Vis.M. VIII, 145ff. -
-
For a comprehensive
anthology of canonical and commentarial texts, see Mindfulness of
Breathing, ñānamoli Thera (Kandy: BPS, 1964).

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