Great Fruit and Benefit of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Anāpānasati)

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, one of two fruits may be predicted: either final knowledge (wisdom) in this very life or, if there is a residue of clinging, the state of Non-Returner.

(Reference: SN 54.1)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares guidance for training the mind using Breathing Mindfulness Meditation.

There are two benefits that The Buddha is describing associated with Breathing Mindfulness Meditation. The benefits he describes are “final knowledge (wisdom) in this very life or, if there is a residue of clinging, the state of Non-Returner”.

One who has attained “final knowledge (wisdom)” is an Enlightened being and “the state of Non-Returner” is the third Stage of Enlightenment, the Stage of Enlightenment just prior to attaining Enlightenment as an Arahant in the fourth Stage of Enlightenment.

Breathing Mindfulness Meditation is a primary aspect of training the mind to attain Enlightenment. One would not be able to attain Enlightenment without Breathing Mindfulness Meditation but one would not be able to attain Enlightenment with only Breathing Mindfulness Meditation. Gotama Buddha prioritized Breathing Mindfulness Meditation above all other forms of meditation.

Anāpānasati is the Pāli word to refer to Breathing Mindfulness Meditation.

Detailed explanation of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation is available in this same book series found in Chapter 11 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).

The Buddha’s Teachings on Breathing Mindfulness Meditation are available in this same book series found in the book “Breathing Mindfulness Meditation” (Volume 7). A detailed explanation of his guidance will be explained in (Volume 7).