SN 54.10

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Kimbila in the Bamboo Grove. There the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Kimbila thus: "How is it now, Kimbila, that concentration by mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and benefit?"
When this was said, the Venerable Kimbila was silent. A second time . .. A third time the Blessed One addressed the Venerable Kirnbila: "How is it now, Kimbila, that concentration by mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and benefit?" A third time the Venerable Kimbila was silent.
When this happened, the Venerable Ananda said to the Blessed One: "Now is the time for this, Blessed One! Now is the time for this, Fortunate One! The Blessed One should speak on concentration by mindfulness of breathing. Having heard it from the Blessed One, the bhikkhus will remember it."
"Well then, Ananda, listen and attend closely, I will speak."
"Yes, venerable sir," the Venerable Ananda replied. The Blessed One said this:
"And how, Ananda, is concentration by mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so that it is of great fruit and benefit? Here, Ananda, a bhikkhu, 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.... He trains thus: 'Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in'; he trains thus: 'Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out:

(i. Contemplation of the body)

"Whenever, Ananda, a bhikkhu, when breathing in long, knows: 'I breathe in long'; or, when breathing out long, knows: 'I breathe out long'; when breathing in short, knows: 'I breathe in short'; or, when breathing out short, knows: 'I breathe out short';
When he trains thus: 'Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe in'; when he trains thus: 'Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe out'; when he trains thus: 'Tranquillizing the bodily formation, I will breathe in'; when he trains thus: 'Tranquillizing thebodily formation, I will breathe out'-on that occasion the bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. For what reason?
I call this a certain kind of body, Ananda, that is, breathing in and breathing out. Therefore, Ananda, on that occasion the bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world.


(ii. Contemplation of feelings)

"Whenever, Ananda, a bhikkhu trains thus: 'Experiencing rapture, I will breathe in'; when he trains thus: 'Experiencing rapture, I will breathe out'; when he trains thus: 'Experiencing happiness, I will breathe in'; when he trains thus: 'Experiencing happiness, I will breathe out'; when he trains thus: 'Experie ncing the mental formation, I will breathe in'; when he trains thus:
'Experiencing the mental formation, I will breathe out'; when he trains thus: 'Tranquillizing the mental formation, I will breathe in'; when he trains thus: 'Tranquillizing the mental formation, I will breathe out'-on that occasion the bhikkhu dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. For what reason? I call this a certain kind of feeling, Ananda, that is, close attention to breathing in and breathing out. Therefore, Ananda, on that occasion the bhikkhu dwells contemplating feelings in feelings, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world.


(iii. Contemplation of mind)

"Whenever, Ananda, a bhikkhu trains thus:
'Experiencing the mind, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Experiencing the mind, I will breathe out';
when he trains thus: 'Gladdening the mind, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Gladdening the mind, I will breathe out';
when he trains thus: 'Con centrating the mind, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Concentrating the mind, I will breathe out';
when he trains thus: 'Liberating th e mind, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Lib erating th e mind, I will breathe out'

On that occasion the bhikkhu dwellcontemplating mind in mind, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. For what reason? I say, Ananda, that there is no development of concentration by mindfulness of breathing for one who is muddled and who lacks clear comprehension.
Therefore, Ananda, on that occasion the bhikkhu dwells contemplating mind in mind, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world.


(iv. Contemplation of phenomena)

"Whenever, .Ananda, a bhikkhu trains thus:
'Contemplating impermanence, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Contemplating impermanence, I will breathe out';
when he trains thus: 'Contemplating fading away, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Contemplating fading away, I will breathe out';
when he trains thus: 'Contemplating cessation, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Contempla ting cessation, I will breathe out';
when he trains thus: 'Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in';
when he trains thus: 'Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out'

On that occasion the bhikkhu dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, clearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world. Having seen with wisdom the abandoning of covetousness and displeasure, he is one who looks on closely with equanimity. Therefore, Ananda, on that occasion the bhikkhu dwells contemplating phenomena in phenomena, ardent, dearly comprehending, mindful, having removed covetousness and displeasure in regard to the world.
"Suppose, .Ananda, at a crossroads there is a great mound of soil. If a cart or chariot comes from the east, west, north, or south, it would flatten that mound of Soil. So too, kanda, when a bhikkhu dwells contemplating the body in the body, feelings in feelings, mind in mind, phenomena in phenomena, he flattens evil unwholesome states."
(Bodhi)

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