Breathing Mindfulness Meditation An Excellent and Peaceful Dwelling

(The Buddha commented on the incidences of Monks’ dying through suicide by themselves or by encouraging and assisting others to do so. On this occasion The Perfectly Enlightened One had given them the discourses of Anāpānasati (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation).)

Monks, this concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), when developed and cultivated, is peaceful and superb, an excellent and peaceful dwelling, and it dissolves and extinguishes right on the spot evil unwholesome states whenever they arise.

Just as, Monks, in the last month of the hot season, when a mass of dust and dirt has swirled up, a great rain cloud out of season disperses it and extinguishes it on the spot, so too concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), when developed and cultivated, is peaceful and superb, an excellent and peaceful dwelling, and it dissolves and extinguishes on the spot evil unwholesome states whenever they arise.

And how is this so?

Here, Monks, a Monk, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to 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…. (Repeated as at Chapter 74)

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

It is in this way, Monks, that concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) is developed and cultivated so that it is peaceful and superb, an excellent and peaceful dwelling, and it dissolves and extinguishes on the spot evil unwholesome states whenever they arise.

(Reference: SN 54.9)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how Breathing Mindfulness Meditation develops peacefulness in the mind eliminating any evil unwholesome mental states. While this is true, it does require practice to develop one’s mind to the point where it can “dissolve and extinguish right on the spot evil unwholesome states whenever they arise”.

If you have never meditated before, one should not expect that the mind can immediately eliminate evil unwholesome states. Instead, it is through gradual training and gradual practice that the mind will experience gradual progress towards the ability of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation to “dissolve and extinguish right on the spot evil unwholesome states whenever they arise”.

Developing a dedicated practice of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation with the guidance of a Teacher will be needed to progress on The Path to Enlightenment. In doing so, one can eliminate all unwelcomed feelings including suicidal thoughts or interest in assisting others to die by suicide.

You can access resources to assist you in developing your practice using this Youtube Channel which has a Playlist of a series of nine (9) videos to guide you in your learning along with other resources to help you. You can also seek personalized guidance with the author of this book.

Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha (Youtube Channel)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUfJkuk9Ri10m_3Wunf8BGQ