Seven Predicted Fruits and Benefits of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation

Monks, Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), when developed and cultivated, 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, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or 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 breathe 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.

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

When, Monks, Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) has been developed and cultivated in this way, seven fruits and benefits may be predicted.

What are the seven fruits and benefits?

(1) One attains final knowledge (wisdom) early in this very life.

(2) If one does not attain final knowledge (wisdom) early in this very life, then one attains final knowledge (wisdom) at the time of death.

(3) If one does not attain final knowledge (wisdom) early in this very life or at the time of death, then with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters one becomes an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) between one life and the next.

(4) If one does not attain final knowledge (wisdom) early in this very life or at the time of death or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) between one life and the next, then with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters one becomes an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) upon landing.

(5) If one does not attain final knowledge (wisdom) early in this very life or at the time of death or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) between one life and the next or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) upon landing, then with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters one becomes an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) without extra effort.

(6) If one does not attain final knowledge (wisdom) early in this very life or at the time of death or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) between one life and the next or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) upon landing or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) without extra effort, then with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters one becomes an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) with extra effort.

(7) If one does not attain final knowledge (wisdom) early in this very life or at the time of death or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) between one life and the next or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) upon landing or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) without extra effort or become an attainer of Nibbāna (Enlightenment) with extra effort, then with the complete destruction of the five lower fetters one becomes one bound upstream, heading towards the heavenly realm.

When, Monks, Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) has been developed and cultivated in this way, these seven fruits and benefits may be predicted.

(Reference: SN 54.5)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how Breathing Mindfulness Meditation leads to seven benefits. All of the benefits The Buddha describes in this Teaching are related to the attainment of Enlightenment and escaping The Cycle of Rebirth.

Breathing Mindfulness Meditation is a primary practice that needs to be developed by any Practitioner who aspires to attain Enlightenment. One would not be able to attain Enlightenment without Breathing Mindfulness Meditation. But, there is also much more than only Breathing Mindfulness Meditation that one would need to learn and practice to attain Enlightenment.

You will find detailed explanation of these methods of attaining Enlightenment in this same book series found in Chapter 37 of the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5).