Cultivating Mindfulness of Breathing Fulfills Four Foundations of Mindfulness, Seven Factors of Enlightenment, True Wisdom and Liberation (Another Discourse)

Monks, I am content with this progress. My mind is content with this progress. So arouse still more energy to attain the unattained, to achieve the unachieved, to realize the unrealized. I shall wait here at Sāvatthī for the Komudi full moon of the fourth month.

The Monks of the countryside heard: The Perfectly Enlightened One will wait there at the Sāvatthī for the Komudi full moon of the fourth month. And the Monks of the countryside left in due course for Sāvatthī to see The Perfectly Enlightened One.

And elder Monks - the Venerable Sāriputta, the Venerable Mahā Moggallāna, the Venerable Mahā Kassapa, the Venerable Mahā Kaccāna, the Venerable Mahā Koțthita, the Venerable Mahā Kappina, the Venerable Mahā Cunda, the Venerable Anuruddha, the Venerable Revata, the Venerable Ānanda, and other very well-known elder disciples - intensively taught and instructed new Monks; some elder Monks taught and instructed ten new Monks, some elder Monks taught and instructed twenty .. thirty ... forty Monks. And the new Monks, taught and instructed by the elder Monks, achieved successive stages of high distinction.

On that occasion — the Uposatha day of the fifteenth the full-moon night of the Komudī full moon of the fourth month - The Perfectly Enlightened One ... addressed them thus:

Monks, this assembly is free from unbeneficial speech, this assembly is free from idle chatter. It consists purely of heartwood. Such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly as is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respectful salutation, an incomparable field of merit for the world - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly that a small gift given to it becomes great and a great gift greater - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly as is rare for the world to see - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

Such an assembly as would be worth journeying many leagues with a travel bag to see - such is this Community of Monks, such is this assembly.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who are Arahants with taints destroyed, who have lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached their own goal, destroyed the fetters of existence, and are completely liberated through final knowledge (wisdom) - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are due to reappear spontaneously (in the heavenly realm) and there attain Final Nibbāna (Final Enlightenment), without ever returning from that world - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who, with the destruction of three fetters and with the fading of craving, anger, and ignorance, are Once- Returners, returning once to this world to make an end of discontentedness - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who, with the destruction of the three fetters, are Stream-Enterers, no longer subject to hell, bound (for liberation), headed for Enlightenment - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (body, feelings, mind, mental objects) - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks. In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of the four right kinds of striving (Right Effort) ... of the four bases for spiritual power (also known as ‘mental power’: initiative, energy, mind, investigation) ... of the five sense bases (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body) ... of the five powers (confidence, energy, mindfulness, concentration, wisdom) ... of The Seven Factors of Enlightenment (mindfulness, investigation, energy, joy, tranquility, concentration, equanimity) ... of The Noble Eight Fold Path - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks.

In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of loving-kindness ... of compassion ... of sympathetic joy ... of equanimity … of the meditation on unattractiveness of the body ... of the perception of impermanence - such Monks are there in this Community of Monks. In this Community of Monks there are Monks who reside devoted to the development of Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation).

Monks, when Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, it is of great fruit and great benefit. When Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, it fulfills The Four Foundations of Mindfulness. When The Four Foundations of Mindfulness are developed and cultivated, they fulfill The Seven Factors of Enlightenment. When The Seven Factors of Enlightenment are developed and cultivated, they fulfill true wisdom and liberation.

And how, Monks, is Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit?

Here a Monk, gone to the forest or to the foot of a tree or to an empty hut, sits down; having folded his legs crosswise, set his body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him, ever mindful he 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. Breathing in short, he understands: I breathe in short; or breathing out short, he understands: I breathe out short. He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the whole body; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the whole body. He trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the bodily sensations; he trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the bodily sensations.

He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing joy; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing joy. He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing pleasure; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing pleasure. He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mental activity; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mental activity. He trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the mental activity; he trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the mental activity.

He trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mind. He trains thus: I shall breathe in gladdening the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out gladdening the mind.

He trains thus: I shall breathe in concentrating the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out concentrating the mind. He trains thus: I shall breathe in liberating the mind; he trains thus: I shall breathe out liberating the mind.

He trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on impermanence; he trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on impermanence. He trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on fading away; he trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on fading away. He trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on elimination; he trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on elimination. He trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on letting go; he trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on letting go.

Monks, that is how Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit.

Mindfulness of Breathing Fulfills

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness

And how, Monks, does Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), developed and cultivated, fulfill The Four Foundations of Mindfulness?

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk, breathing in long, understands: I breathe in long, or breathing out long, understands: I breathe out long; breathing in short, understands: I breathe in short or breathing out short, understands: I breathe out short; trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the whole body; trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the whole body; trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the bodily sensations; trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the bodily sensations - on that occasion a Monk resides reflecting on the body as a body, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

I say that this is a certain body among the bodies, namely, in-breathing and out-breathing.

That is why on that occasion a Monk resides reflecting on the body as a body, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing joy; trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing joy; trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing peacefulness; trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing peacefulness; trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mental activity; trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mental activity; trains thus: I shall breathe in calming the mental activity; trains thus: I shall breathe out calming the mental activity; on that occasion, a Monk resides reflecting on feelings as feelings, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

I say that this is a certain feeling among the feelings, namely, giving close attention to in-breathing and out-breathing.

That is why on that occasion a Monk resides reflecting on feelings as feelings, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk trains thus: I shall breathe in experiencing the mind; trains thus: I shall breathe out experiencing the mind; trains thus: I shall breathe in gladdening the mind; trains thus: I shall breathe out gladdening the mind; trains thus: I shall breathe in concentrating the mind; trains thus: I shall breathe out concentrating the mind; trains thus: I shall breathe in liberating the mind; trains thus: I shall breathe out liberating the mind; on that occasion a Monk resides reflecting on mind as mind, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

I do not say that there is the development of Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) for one who is forgetful, who is not fully aware.

That is why on that occasion a Monk resides reflecting on mind as mind, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on impermanence; trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on impermanence; trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on fading away; trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on fading away; trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on elimination; trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on elimination; trains thus: I shall breathe in reflecting on letting go; trains thus: I shall breathe out reflecting on letting go; on that occasion, a Monk resides reflecting on mental objects as mental objects, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

Having seen with wisdom the abandoning of craving and grief, he closely looks on with equanimity.

That is why on that occasion a Monk resides reflecting on mental objects as mental objects, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world.

Monks, that is how Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), developed and cultivated, fulfills The Four Foundations of Mindfulness.

Four Foundations of Mindfulness Fulfill

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment

And how, Monks, do The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, developed and cultivated, fulfill The Seven Factors of Enlightenment?

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk resides reflecting on the body as a body, dedicated, fully aware and mindful, having put away craving and grief for the world; on that occasion unending mindfulness is established in him. On whatever occasion unending mindfulness is established in a Monk — on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

Residing thus mindful, he investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it. On whatever occasion, residing thus mindful, a Monk investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it - on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of investigation is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

In one who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it, tireless energy is aroused. On whatever occasion tireless energy is aroused in a Monk who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it - on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of energy is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

In one who has aroused energy, unworldly joy arises. On whatever occasion unworldly joy arises in a Monk who has aroused energy - on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of joy is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

In one who is joyful, the body and the mind become tranquil. On whatever occasion the body and the mind become tranquil in a Monk who is joyful - on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of tranquility is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

In one whose body is tranquil and who feels joy, the mind becomes concentrated. On whatever occasion the mind becomes concentrated in a Monk whose body is tranquil and who feels joy - on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of concentration is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

He closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. On whatever occasion a Monk closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated - on that occasion the Enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk, resides reflecting on feelings as feelings, dedicated, clearly aware and mindful, having put aside craving and worry for the world ... (repeated as described in the above for “body as body”)... the equanimity Enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk resides reflecting on mind as mind, dedicated, clearly aware and mindful, having put aside craving and worry for the world ... (repeated as described in the above for “body as body”) ... the Enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

Monks, on whatever occasion a Monk resides reflecting on mental objects as mental objects, dedicated, clearly aware and mindful, having put aside craving and worry for the world ... (repeated as described in the above for “body as body”)…the Enlightenment factor of equanimity is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfillment in him.

Monks, that is how The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, developed and cultivated, fulfill The Seven Factors of Enlightenment.

The Seven Factors of Enlightenment Fulfill

True Wisdom and Liberation

And how, Monks, do The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, developed and cultivated, fulfill true wisdom and liberation?

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness, which is supported by seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, and ripens in letting go.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of investigation, which is supported by seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, and ripens in letting go.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of energy, which is supported by seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, and ripens in letting go.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of joy, which is supported by seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, and ripens in letting go.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of tranquility, which is supported by seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, and ripens in letting go.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of concentration, which is supported by seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, and ripens in letting go.

He develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity, which is supported by seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, and ripens in letting go.

Monks, that is how The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, developed and cultivated, fulfill true wisdom and liberation.

(Reference: MN 118)

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).