The Final In-Breaths and Out-Breaths Are Known

Rāhula, develop meditation on Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation). When Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, it is of great fruit and great benefit. And how is Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and cultivated, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit?

Here, Rāhula, 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 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…. (Repeat as at Chapter 1)

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

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

Rāhula, that is how Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit. When Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated in this way, even the final in-breaths and out-breaths are known as they cease, not unknown.

(Reference: MN 62)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares a Teaching with his son, Rāhula, to help him learn Breathing Mindfulness Meditation.

He explains how Breathing Mindfulness Meditation is of “great fruit and great benefit” helping him to learn this important meditation technique.

The Buddha explains how through observing the breath in Breathing Mindfulness Meditation throughout your life, having developed and cultivated a consistent ongoing practice, then when one comes to the end of their life they will be able to know their “final in-breaths and out-breaths” with full awareness maintaining a concentrated mind all the way until death.