Mindfulness of Breathing Leads Exclusively to Nibbāna (Enlightenment)

Monks, there is one thing that, when developed and cultivated, leads exclusively to liberation, to freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace, to direct knowledge (experience), to Enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

What is that one thing?

Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation)

This is that one thing that, when developed and cultivated, leads exclusively to liberation, to freedom from strong feelings, to elimination, to peace, to direct knowledge (experience), to Enlightenment, to Nibbāna.

(Reference: AN 1.302)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how important Breathing Mindfulness Meditation is to experience liberation of mind or Enlightenment.

While there is much more that is needed than only Breathing Mindfulness Meditation to attain Enlightenment, there is one thing that is the primary training that one needs to develop and cultivate and without it, you would not be able to attain Enlightenment.

That one thing The Buddha describes is “Mindfulness of Breathing” (i.e. Breathing Mindfulness Meditation).

There is an entire path to Enlightenment described as The Eight Fold Path. All aspects of The Eight Fold Path need to be learned, reflected on, and practiced to attain Enlightenment. A Practitioner will need to know The Eight Fold Path so deeply, that it is first nature and soaked deeply into the mind that one can practice it with ease. This is going to take much effort and development but the benefits of doing so are substantial.

The complete elimination of discontentedness from the mind - permanently and no longer being reborn into a new existence within The Cycle of Rebirth to ever experience any grief, sorrow, pain, displeasure, or despair.

Breathing Mindfulness Meditation is the one thing that leads to this objective but, a Practitioner will need to ensure that all the other aspects of this path are also well developed and cultivated to experience freedom from strong feelings.

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