Cultivating Mindfulness of Breathing Fulfills Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Seven Factors of Enlightenment, True Wisdom and Liberation

There is, Monks, one thing which, when developed and cultivated, fulfills four things; and four things which, when developed and cultivated, fulfill seven things; and seven things which, when developed and cultivated, fulfill two things.

Concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), Monks, is the one thing which, when developed and cultivated, fulfills The Four Foundations of Mindfulness. The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, when developed and cultivated, fulfill The Seven Factors of Enlightenment. The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, when developed and cultivated, fulfill true wisdom and liberation.

Mindfulness of Breathing Fulfills

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness

How, Monks, is concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated so that it fulfills The Four Foundations of Mindfulness?

Here, Monks, a Monk, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty hut, sits down. Having folded his legs crosswise, straightened his body, and set up mindfulness in front of him, just mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out

Breathing in long, he knows: I breathe in long;

or breathing out long, he knows: I breathe out long.

Breathing in short, he knows: I breath in short;

or breathing out short, he knows: I breathe out short.

He trains thus: Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Experiencing joy, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Experiencing joy, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Calming the mental activity, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Calming the mental activity, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Experiencing the mind, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Experiencing the mind, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Gladdening the mind, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Gladdening the mind, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Concentrating the mind, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Concentrating the mind, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Liberating the mind, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Liberating the mind, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Reflecting on impermanence, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Reflecting on impermanence, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Reflecting on fading away, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Reflecting on fading away, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Reflecting on elimination, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Reflecting on elimination, I will breathe out.

He trains thus: Reflecting on letting go, I will breathe in;

he trains thus: Reflecting on letting go, I will breathe out.

Whenever, Monks, a Monk, when breathing in long, knows: I breathe in long; or, when breathing out long, knows: I breathe out long; or when breathing in short, knows: I breathe in short; or, when breathing out short, knows: I breathe out short; when he trains thus: Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe in: when he trains thus: Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe out. — on that occasion, the Monk resides reflecting on the body as body, dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

For what reason?

I call this a certain kind of body, Monks, that is, breathing in and breathing out.

Therefore, Monks, on that occasion the Monk resides reflecting on the body as body, dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

Whenever, Monks, a Monk trains thus: Experiencing joy, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Experiencing joy, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Calming the mental activity, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Calming the mental activity, I will breathe out — on that occasion, the Monk resides reflecting on feelings as feelings dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

For what reason?

I call this a certain kind of feeling, Monks, that is, close attention to breathing in and breathing out.

Therefore, Monks, on that occasion the Monk resides reflecting on feelings as feelings, dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

Whenever, Monks, a Monk trains thus: Experiencing the mind, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Experiencing the mind, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Gladdening the mind, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Gladdening the mind, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Concentrating the mind, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Concentrating the mind, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Liberating the mind, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Liberating the mind, I will breathe out - on that occasion, the, Monk resides reflecting on mind as mind, dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

For what reason?

I say, Monks, that there is no development of concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) for one who is muddled and who lacks clear comprehension.

Therefore, Monks, on that occasion the Monk resides reflecting on mind as mind, dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

Whenever, Monks, a Monk trains thus: Reflecting on impermanence, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Reflecting on impermanence, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Reflecting on fading away, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Reflecting on fading away, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Reflecting on elimination, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Reflecting on elimination, I will breathe out; when he trains thus: Reflecting on letting go, I will breathe in; when he trains thus: Reflecting on letting go, I will breathe out - on that occasion, the Monk resides reflecting on mental objects as mental objects, dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

Having seen with wisdom what is the abandoning of craving and displeasure, the Monk is one who looks on closely with equanimity.

Therefore, Monks, on that occasion the Monk resides reflecting on mental objects as mental objects, dedicated, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed craving and displeasure in regard to the world.

It is, Monks, when concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated in this way that it fulfills The Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

Four Foundations of Mindfulness Fulfill

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment

And how, Monks, are The Four Foundations of Mindfulness developed and cultivated so that they fulfill The Seven Factors of Enlightenment?

Whenever, Monks, a Monk resides reflecting on the body as body, on that occasion unmuddled mindfulness is established in that Monk. Whenever, Monks, unmuddled mindfulness has been established in a Monk, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

Residing thus mindfully, he penetrates that Teaching with wisdom, examines it, makes an investigation of it. Whenever, Monks, a Monk residing thus mindfully penetrates that Teaching with wisdom, examines it, makes an investigation of it, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of investigation is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of investigation; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of investigation goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

While he penetrates that Teaching with wisdom, examines it, makes an investigation of it, his energy is aroused without slackening. Whenever, Monks, a Monk's energy is aroused without slackening as he penetrates that Teaching with wisdom, examines it, makes an investigation of it, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of energy is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of energy; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of energy goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

When his energy is aroused, there arises in him joy. Whenever, Monks, joy arises in a Monk whose vitality is aroused, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of joy is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of joy; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of joy goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

For one whose mind is uplifted by joy, the body becomes tranquil and the mind becomes tranquil. Whenever, Monks, the body becomes tranquil and the mind becomes tranquil in a Monk whose mind is uplifted by joy, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of tranquility is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of tranquility; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of tranquility goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

For one whose body is tranquil and who is joyful, the mind becomes concentrated. Whenever, Monks, the mind becomes concentrated in a Monk whose body is tranquil and who is joyful, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of concentration is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of concentration; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of concentration goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

He becomes one who closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. Whenever, Monks, a Monk becomes one who closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of equanimity goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

Whenever, Monks, a Monk resides reflecting on feelings as feelings … mind as mind … mental objects as mental objects, on that occasion unmuddled mindfulness is established in that Monk. Whenever, Monks, unmuddled mindfulness has been established in a Monk, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

(The remaining three (3) Foundations of Mindfulness should be elaborated as in the case of The First Foundation of Mindfulness.)

He becomes one who closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. Whenever, Monks, a Monk becomes one who closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated, on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused by the Monk; on that occasion the Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity; on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of equanimity goes to fulfillment by development in the Monk.

It is, Monks, when The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are developed and cultivated in this way that they fulfill The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

Seven Factors of Enlightenment Fulfill

True Wisdom and Liberation

How, Monks, are The Seven Factors of Enlightenment developed and cultivated so that they fulfill true wisdom and liberation?

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of investigation, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of energy, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of joy, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of tranquility, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of concentration, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity, which is based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

It is, Monks, when The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are developed and cultivated in this way that they fulfill true wisdom and liberation.

(Reference: MN 10)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the one thing that leads to the development of many important aspects of The Path to Enlightenment.

As part of this Path to Enlightenment, a Practitioner will need to develop many aspects of their life practice. The Buddha shares that Breathing Mindfulness Meditation is that one thing that leads to the development of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, true wisdom, and liberation of the mind or Enlightenment. These are all important aspects of The Path to Enlightenment and need to be learned and practiced to train the mind.

The Buddha is a Master at showing the causes and conditions of how one thing leads to another. He explains the ordering of how one thing leads to another throughout his Teachings so a Practitioner can see the exact progress of The Path to Enlightenment and how to develop one’s mind.

Detailed explanation on developing a meditation practice is available in Chapter 11 of this same book series found in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

Next, The Buddha explains The Four Foundations of Mindfulness and how these lead to developing The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

Detailed explanation on The Four Foundations of Mindfulness is available in Chapter 5 of this same book series found in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

Lastly, The Buddha explains The Seven Factors of Enlightenment and how these lead to developing true wisdom and liberation as part of The Ten Fold Path as Right Wisdom and Right Liberation.

Detailed explanation on The Seven Factors of Enlightenment is available in Chapter 3 of this same book series found in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

Detailed explanation on The Ten Fold Path is available in Chapter 5 of this same book series found in the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).