8.
Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing
144. Thus have I heard - On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthī in the Eastern Park, in Migāramātā's mansion, together with many well-known well-known elder disciples - with the Venerable Sāriputta and the Venerable Mahāmoggallāna and the Venerable Mahākassapa and the Venerable Mahākaccāyana and the Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika and the Venerable Mahākappina and the Venerable Mahācunda and the Venerable Anuruddha and the Venerable Revata and the Venerable Ānanda, and with other well-known well-known elder disciples.
Now at that time the elder monks were exhorting and instructing the new monks. Some elder monks were exhorting and instructing ten monks, some elder monks were exhorting and instructing twenty monks, some elder monks were exhorting and instructing thirty monks, some elder monks were exhorting and instructing forty monks. And those new monks, being exhorted and instructed by the elder monks, knew a lofty distinction from before to after.
145. Now at that time, on the uposatha day, the fifteenth, on the full moon night of the invitation ceremony to admonish, the Blessed One was seated in the open air surrounded by the Community of monks. Then the Blessed One, having surveyed the Community of monks who were silent, completely silent, addressed the monks - "I am satisfied, monks, with this practice; I am satisfied in mind, monks, with this practice. Therefore, monks, arouse energy exceedingly for the attainment of the unattained, for the achievement of the unachieved, for the realisation of the unrealised. I shall wait right here at Sāvatthī for the Komudī full moon of the fourth month." The country monks heard - "The Blessed One, it is said, will wait right there at Sāvatthī for the Komudī full moon of the fourth month." Those country monks came to Sāvatthī to see the Blessed One. And the elder monks exceedingly exhorted and instructed the new monks. Some elder monks were exhorting and instructing ten monks, some elder monks were exhorting and instructing twenty monks, some elder monks were exhorting and instructing thirty monks, some elder monks were exhorting and instructing forty monks. And those new monks, being exhorted and instructed by the elder monks, knew a lofty distinction from before to after.
146. Now at that time, on the uposatha day, the fifteenth, the full moon night of the Komudī, the fourth month, the Blessed One was seated in the open air surrounded by the Community of monks. Then the Blessed One, having surveyed the Community of monks who were silent, completely silent, addressed the monks - "This assembly is without prattle, monks; this assembly is free from prattle, monks; pure, established in its core. Such is this Community of monks, monks; such is this assembly, monks, an assembly that is worthy of offerings, worthy of hospitality, worthy of gifts, worthy of reverential salutation, an unsurpassed field of merit for the world. Such is this Community of monks, monks; such is this assembly, monks, an assembly to which a little given becomes much, and much given becomes more. Such is this Community of monks, monks; such is this assembly, monks, an assembly that is rare to see for the world. Such is this Community of monks, monks; such is this assembly, monks, an assembly that it is fitting to go many yojanas to see, even with provisions."
147. "There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who are Worthy Ones, who have eliminated the mental corruptions, who have lived the holy life, who have done what was to be done, who have laid down the burden, who have attained their own welfare, who have completely destroyed the fetter of becoming, who are completely liberated through final knowledge - such monks too, monks, there are in this community of monks. There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who, with the utter elimination of the five lower mental fetters, are ones of spontaneous birth, attaining final nibbāna there, not subject to return from that world - such monks too, monks, there are in this community of monks. There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who, with the utter elimination of the three mental fetters and with the reduction of lust, hate, and delusion, are once-returners, who, having come to this world only once more, will make an end of suffering - such monks too, monks, there are in this community of monks. There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who, with the utter elimination of the three mental fetters, are stream-enterers, no longer subject to fall into lower realms, fixed in destiny, heading for the highest enlightenment - such monks too, monks, there are in this community of monks.
"There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of the four establishments of mindfulness - such monks too, monks, there are in this community of monks. There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of the four right strivings... etc... of the four bases for spiritual power... of the five faculties... of the five powers... of the seven factors of enlightenment... who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of the noble eightfold path - such monks too, monks, there are in this community of monks. There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of friendliness... who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of compassion... who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of altruistic joy... who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of equanimity... who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of foulness... who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of the perception of impermanence - such monks too, monks, there are in this community of monks. There are, monks, monks in this community of monks who dwell engaged in the pursuit of the development of mindfulness of breathing. Mindfulness of breathing, monks, when developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and great benefit. Mindfulness of breathing, monks, when developed and cultivated, fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness. The four establishments of mindfulness, when developed and cultivated, fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment. The seven factors of enlightenment, when developed and cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation.
148. "And how, monks, is mindfulness of breathing developed, how is it cultivated, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit? Here, monks, a monk, having gone to the forest, or having gone to the root of a tree, or having gone to an empty house, sits down, folding his legs crosswise, directing his body upright, having established mindfulness in front of him. He, mindful, breathes in; mindful, he breathes out.
Breathing in long, he understands: 'I breathe in long'; or breathing out long, he understands: 'I breathe out long'; or breathing in short, he understands: 'I breathe in short'; or breathing out short, he understands: 'I breathe out short'; he trains: 'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Calming the bodily activity, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Calming the bodily activity, I shall breathe out.'
He trains: 'Experiencing joy, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing joy, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Experiencing happiness, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing happiness, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Experiencing mental activity, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing mental activity, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Calming mental activity, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Calming mental activity, I shall breathe out.'
He trains: 'Experiencing the mind, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing the mind, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Gladdening the mind, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Gladdening the mind, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Concentrating the mind, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Concentrating the mind, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Releasing the mind, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Releasing the mind, I shall breathe out.'
He trains: 'Observing impermanence, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing impermanence, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Observing dispassion, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing dispassion, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Observing cessation, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing cessation, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe out.' Thus developed, monks, mindfulness of breathing, thus cultivated, is of great fruit and great benefit.
149. "And how, monks, is mindfulness of breathing developed, how is it cultivated, so that it fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness? At the time, monks, when a monk breathing in long understands: 'I breathe in long', or breathing out long understands: 'I breathe out long'; or breathing in short, he understands: 'I breathe in short'; or breathing out short, he understands: 'I breathe out short'; he trains: 'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing the whole body, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Calming the bodily activity, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Calming the bodily activity, I shall breathe out'; at that time, monks, a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. Among bodies, monks, I say this is a certain body, that is to say - the in-breath and out-breath. Therefore, monks, at that time a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.
"At the time, monks, when a monk trains: 'Experiencing joy, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Experiencing joy, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Experiencing happiness, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing happiness, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Experiencing mental activity, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Experiencing mental activity, I shall breathe out'; trains: 'Calming mental activity, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Calming mental activity, I shall breathe out'; at that time, monks, a monk dwells observing feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. Among feelings, monks, I say this is a certain feeling, that is to say - thorough attention to the in-breath and out-breath. Therefore, monks, at that time a monk dwells observing feelings in feelings, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.
"At the time, monks, when a monk trains: 'Experiencing the mind, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Experiencing the mind, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Gladdening the mind, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Gladdening the mind, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Concentrating the mind, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Concentrating the mind, I shall breathe out'; trains: 'Releasing the mind, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Releasing the mind, I shall breathe out'; at that time, monks, a monk dwells observing mind in mind, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. I do not, monks, speak of mindfulness of breathing for one who is unmindful and not fully aware. Therefore, monks, at that time a monk dwells observing mind in mind, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.
"At the time, monks, when a monk trains: 'Observing impermanence, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Observing impermanence, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Observing dispassion, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing dispassion, I shall breathe out'; he trains: 'Observing cessation, I shall breathe in'; he trains: 'Observing cessation, I shall breathe out'; trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe in'; trains: 'Observing relinquishment, I shall breathe out'; at that time, monks, a monk dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world. He, having seen with wisdom that abandoning of covetousness and displeasure, becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity. Therefore, monks, at that time a monk dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world.
"Thus developed, monks, mindfulness of breathing, thus cultivated, fulfils the four establishments of mindfulness.
150. "And how, monks, are the four establishments of mindfulness developed, how are they cultivated, so that they fulfil the seven factors of enlightenment? At the time, monks, when a monk dwells observing the body in the body, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world, at that time his mindfulness is established and unconfused. At the time, monks, when a monk's mindfulness is established and unconfused, at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused in the monk. At that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"He, dwelling thus mindful, investigates that phenomenon with wisdom, examines it, and commits to thorough inquiry. At the time, monks, when a monk, dwelling thus mindful, investigates that phenomenon with wisdom, examines it, and commits to thorough inquiry, at that time the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, at that time the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For him, investigating that phenomenon with wisdom, examining it, committing to thorough inquiry, energy is aroused and unsluggish. At the time, monks, when for a monk investigating that phenomenon with wisdom, examining it, committing to thorough inquiry, energy is aroused and unsluggish, at that time the enlightenment factor of energy is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of energy, at that time the enlightenment factor of energy goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one with aroused energy, spiritual rapture arises. At the time, monks, when for a monk with aroused energy spiritual rapture arises, at that time the enlightenment factor of rapture is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of rapture, at that time the enlightenment factor of rapture goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one whose mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm and the mind becomes calm. At the time, monks, when for a monk whose mind is filled with rapture the body becomes calm and the mind becomes calm, at that time the enlightenment factor of tranquillity is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, at that time the enlightenment factor of tranquillity goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one whose body is calm, who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. At the time, monks, when for a monk whose body is calm, who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated, at that time the enlightenment factor of concentration is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of concentration, at that time the enlightenment factor of concentration goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"He becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. At the time, monks, when a monk becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated, at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
151. "At the time, monks, when a monk in feelings... etc. In mind... dwells observing mental phenomena in mental phenomena, ardent, fully aware, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure regarding the world, at that time his mindfulness is established and unconfused. At the time, monks, when a monk's mindfulness is established and unconfused, at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, at that time the enlightenment factor of mindfulness goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"He, dwelling thus mindful, investigates that phenomenon with wisdom, examines it, and commits to thorough inquiry. At the time, monks, when a monk, dwelling thus mindful, investigates that phenomenon with wisdom, examines it, and commits to thorough inquiry, at that time the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena, at that time the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For him, investigating that phenomenon with wisdom, examining it, committing to thorough inquiry, energy is aroused and unsluggish. At the time, monks, when for a monk investigating that phenomenon with wisdom, examining it, committing to thorough inquiry, energy is aroused and unsluggish, at that time the enlightenment factor of energy is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of energy, at that time the enlightenment factor of energy goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one with aroused energy, spiritual rapture arises. At the time, monks, when for a monk with aroused energy spiritual rapture arises, at that time the enlightenment factor of rapture is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of rapture, at that time the enlightenment factor of rapture goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one whose mind is filled with rapture, the body becomes calm and the mind becomes calm. At the time, monks, when for a monk whose mind is filled with rapture the body becomes calm and the mind becomes calm, at that time the enlightenment factor of tranquillity is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity, at that time the enlightenment factor of tranquillity goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"For one whose body is calm, who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated. At the time, monks, when for a monk whose body is calm, who is happy, the mind becomes concentrated, at that time the enlightenment factor of concentration is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of concentration, at that time the enlightenment factor of concentration goes to fulfilment through development for the monk.
"He becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. At the time, monks, when a monk becomes one who thoroughly looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated, at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in the monk, at that time the monk develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, at that time the enlightenment factor of equanimity goes to fulfilment through development for the monk. Thus developed, monks, the four establishments of mindfulness, thus cultivated, fulfil the seven enlightenment factors.
152. "And how, monks, are the seven factors of enlightenment developed, how are they cultivated, so that they fulfil true knowledge and liberation? Here, monks, a monk develops the enlightenment factor of mindfulness, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. He develops the enlightenment factor of investigation of phenomena... etc. He develops the enlightenment factor of energy... He develops the enlightenment factor of rapture... He develops the enlightenment factor of tranquillity... He develops the enlightenment factor of concentration... He develops the enlightenment factor of equanimity, based upon seclusion, based upon dispassion, based upon cessation, maturing in release. Thus developed, monks, the seven factors of enlightenment, thus cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and liberation."
This is what the Blessed One said. Those monks, delighted, rejoiced in what the Blessed One had said.
The Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing is concluded as eighth.