Great Fruit and Benefit of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Anāpānasati) (Another Discourse)

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

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

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) ... (as in Chapter 14) ... he develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

It is in this way that Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and benefit.

One of Two Fruits to be Predicted

Monks, when Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, one of two fruits is to be predicted: either final knowledge (wisdom) in this very life or, if there is a residue of clinging, the state of Non-Returner.

And how, Monks, is Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated so that one of two fruits is to be predicted: either final knowledge (wisdom) in this very life or, if there is a residue of clinging, the state of Non-Returner?

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) ... (as in Chapter 14) ... he develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

It is in this way that Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated so that one of two fruits is to be predicted: either final knowledge (wisdom) in this very life or, if there is a residue of clinging, the state of Non-Returner.

Leading to Great Good

Monks, when Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, it leads to great good.

And how, Monks, is Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated so that it leads to great good?

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) ... (as in Chapter 14) ... he develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

It is in this way that Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated so that it leads to great good.

Leading to Great Security From Bondage

(Enlightenment)

Monks, when Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, it leads to great security from bondage (Enlightenment).

And how, Monks, is Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated so that it leads to great security from bondage (Enlightenment)?

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) ... (as in Chapter 14) ... he develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

It is in this way that Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated so that it leads to great security from bondage (Enlightenment).

Leading to a Great Sense of Motivation

Monks, when Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, it leads to a great sense of motivation.

And how, Monks, is Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated so that it leads to a great sense of motivation?

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) ... (as in Chapter 14)... he develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

It is in this way that Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated so that it leads to great sense of motivation.

Residing in Great Comfort

Monks, when Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, it leads to residing in great comfort.

And how, Monks, is Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated so that it leads to residing in great comfort?

Here, Monks, a Monk develops the Enlightenment factor of mindfulness accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) ... (as in Chapter 14) ... he develops the Enlightenment factor of equanimity accompanied by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), based upon seclusion, freedom from strong feelings, and elimination, maturing in release.

It is in this way that Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated so that it leads to residing in great comfort.

Monks, just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too a Monk who develops and cultivates The Seven Factors of Enlightenment slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

And how, Monks, does a Monk develop and cultivate The Seven Factors of Enlightenment so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna (Enlightenment)?

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 in this way, Monks, that a Monk develops and cultivates The Seven Factors of Enlightenment so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna (Enlightenment).

(Reference: SN 46.57)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how Breathing Mindfulness Meditation leads to the development of The Seven Factors of Enlightenment which leads to multiple benefits.

The Buddha explains that for one who practices Breathing Mindfulness Meditation “great fruit and benefit” can be predicted. “One of two fruits to be predicted”, a Practitioner will either attain Enlightenment in this life or the third Stage of Enlightenment as a Non-Returner. A Non-Returner would be reborn in the heavenly realm making an end to discontentedness by attaining Enlightenment from that realm, no longer being reborn after that existence.

Further, there are then several Teachings where the benefits of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation are explained. Through practicing Breathing Mindfulness Meditation which leads to the development of The Seven Factors of Enlightenment, this “leads to great good”, “great security from bondage (Enlightenment)”, “a great sense of motivation”, and “residing in great comfort”.

A Practitioner who “develops and cultivates The Seven Factors of Enlightenment so that he slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna (Enlightenment)”. “Just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too a Monk who develops and cultivates The Seven Factors of Enlightenment slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna (Enlightenment)”.

A Practitioner who practices Breathing Mindfulness Meditation will have the likelihood of attaining Enlightenment in this life or the third Stage of Enlightenment as a Non-Returner.