Alexander Hipple<\/p>
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was living at S\u0101vatth\u012b in the Eastern Park, in the Palace of Mig\u0101ra\u2019s Mother, together with many very well known elder disciples\u2014the venerable S\u0101riputta, the venerable Mah\u0101 Moggall\u0101na, the venerable Mah\u0101 Kassapa, the venerable Mah\u0101 Kacc\u0101na, the venerable Mah\u0101 Ko\u1e6d\u1e6dhita, the venerable Mah\u0101 Kappina, the venerable Mah\u0101 Cunda, the venerable Anuruddha, the venerable Revata, the venerable \u0100nanda, and other very well known elder disciples.<\/p>\n
Now on that occasion elder bhikkhus had been teaching and instructing new bhikkhus; some elder bhikkhus had been teaching and instructing ten bhikkhus, some elder bhikkhus had been teaching and instructing twenty\u2026thirty\u2026forty bhikkhus. And the new bhikkhus, taught and instructed by the elder bhikkhus, had achieved successive stages of high distinction.<\/p>\n
On that occasion\u2014the Uposatha day of the fifteenth, on the full-moon night of the Pav\u0101ra\u1e47\u0101 ceremony\u2014the Blessed One was seated in the open surrounded by the Sangha of bhikkhus. Then, surveying the silent Sangha of bhikkhus, he addressed them thus:<\/p>\n
‘Bhikkhus, I am content with this progress. My mind is content with this progress. So arouse still more energy to attain the unattained, to achieve the unachieved, to realise the unrealised. I shall wait here at S\u0101vatth\u012b for the Komud\u012b full moon of the fourth month.’<\/p>\n
The bhikkhus of the countryside heard: ‘The Blessed One will wait there at S\u0101vatth\u012b for the Komud\u012b full moon of the fourth month.’ And the bhikkhus of the countryside left in due course for S\u0101vatth\u012b to see the Blessed One.<\/p>\n
And elder bhikkhus still more intensively taught and instructed new bhikkhus; some elder bhikkhus taught and instructed ten bhikkhus, some elder bhikkhus taught and instructed twenty\u2026thirty\u2026forty bhikkhus. And the new bhikkhus, taught and instructed by the elder bhikkhus, achieved successive stages of high distinction.<\/p>\n
On that occasion\u2014the Uposatha day of the fifteenth, the full-moon night of the Komud\u012b full moon of the fourth month\u2014the Blessed One was seated in the open surrounded by the Sangha of bhikkhus. Then, surveying the silent Sangha of bhikkhus, he addressed them thus:<\/p>\n
‘Bhikkhus, this assembly is free from prattle, this assembly is free from chatter. It consists purely of heartwood. Such is this Sangha of bhikkhus, such is this assembly. Such an assembly as is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverential salutation, an incomparable field of merit for the world\u2014such is this Sangha of bhikkhus, such is this assembly. Such an assembly that a small gift given to it becomes great and a great gift greater\u2014such is this Sangha of bhikkhus, such is this assembly. Such an assembly as is rare for the world to see\u2014such is this Sangha of bhikkhus, such is this assembly. Such an assembly as would be worth journeying many leagues with a travel-bag to see\u2014such is this Sangha of bhikkhus, such is this assembly.<\/p>\n
‘In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who are arahants with taints destroyed, who have lived the holy life, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, reached their own goal, destroyed the fetters of being, and are completely liberated through final knowledge\u2014such bhikkhus are there in this Sangha of bhikkhus.<\/p>\n
‘In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who, with the destruction of the five lower fetters, are due to reappear spontaneously in the Pure Abodes and there attain final Nibb\u0101na, without ever returning from that world\u2014such bhikkhus are there in this Sangha of bhikkhus.<\/p>\n
‘In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who, with the destruction of three fetters and with the attenuation of lust, hate, and delusion, are once-returners, returning once to this world to make an end of suffering\u2014such bhikkhus are there in this Sangha of bhikkhus.<\/p>\n
‘In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who, with the destruction of the three fetters, are stream-enterers, no longer subject to perdition, bound for deliverance, headed for enlightenment\u2014such bhikkhus are there in this Sangha of bhikkhus.<\/p>\n
‘In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who abide devoted to the development of the four foundations of mindfulness\u2014such bhikkhus are there in this Sangha of bhikkhus. In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who abide devoted to the development of the four right kinds of striving\u2026of the four bases for spiritual power\u2026of the five faculties\u2026of the five powers\u2026of the seven enlightenment factors\u2026of the Noble Eightfold Path\u2014such bhikkhus are there in this Sangha of bhikkhus.<\/p>\n
‘In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who abide devoted to the development of loving-kindness \u2026of compassion\u2026of altruistic joy\u2026of equanimity\u2026of the meditation on foulness\u2026of the perception of impermanence\u2014such bhikkhus are there in this Sangha of bhikkhus. In this Sangha of bhikkhus there are bhikkhus who abide devoted to the development of mindfulness of breathing.<\/p>\n
Mindfulness of Breathing<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, when mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it is of great fruit and great benefit. When mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, it fulfils the four foundations of mindfulness. When the four foundations of mindfulness are developed and cultivated, they fulfil the seven enlightenment factors. When the seven enlightenment factors are developed and cultivated, they fulfil true knowledge and deliverance.<\/p>\n ‘And how, bhikkhus, is mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit?<\/p>\n ‘Here a bhikkhu, gone to the forest or to the root 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.<\/p>\n ‘Breathing in long, he understands: \u2018I breathe in long\u2019; or breathing out long, he understands: \u2018I breathe out long.\u2019 Breathing in short, he understands: \u2018I breathe in short\u2019; or breathing out short, he understands: \u2018I breathe out short.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing the whole body of breath\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing the whole body of breath.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in tranquillising the bodily formation\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out tranquillising the bodily formation.\u2019<\/p>\n ‘He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing rapture\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing rapture.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing pleasure\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing pleasure.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing the mental formation\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing the mental formation. \u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in tranquillising the mental formation\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out tranquillising the mental formation.\u2019<\/p>\n ‘He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing the mind\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing the mind.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in gladdening the mind\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out gladdening the mind.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in concentrating the mind\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out concentrating the mind.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in liberating the mind\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out liberating the mind.\u2019<\/p>\n ‘He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating impermanence\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating impermanence. \u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating fading away\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating fading away.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating cessation\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating cessation.\u2019 He trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating relinquishment\u2019; he trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating relinquishment. \u2019<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, that is how mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated, so that it is of great fruit and great benefit.<\/p>\n Fulfilment of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘And how, bhikkhus, does mindfulness of breathing, developed and cultivated, fulfil the four foundations of mindfulness?<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu, breathing in long, understands: \u2018I breathe in long,\u2019 or breathing out long, understands: \u2018I breathe out long\u2019; breathing in short, understands: \u2018I breathe in short,\u2019 or breathing out short, understands: \u2018I breathe out short\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing the whole body of breath\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing the whole body of breath\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in tranquillising the bodily formation\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out tranquillising the bodily formation\u2019\u2014on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. I say that this is a certain body among the bodies, namely, in-breathing and out-breathing. That is why on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing rapture\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing rapture\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing pleasure\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing pleasure\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing the mental formation\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing the mental formation\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in tranquillising the mental formation\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out tranquillising the mental formation\u2019\u2014on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating feelings as feelings, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. I say that this is a certain feeling among the feelings, namely, giving close attention to in-breathing and out-breathing. That is why on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating feelings as feelings, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in experiencing the mind\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out experiencing the mind\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in gladdening the mind\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out gladdening the mind\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in concentrating the mind\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out concentrating the mind\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in liberating the mind\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out liberating the mind\u2019\u2014on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating mind as mind, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. I do not say that there is the development of mindfulness of breathing for one who is forgetful, who is not fully aware. That is why on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating mind as mind, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating impermanence\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating impermanence\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating fading away\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating fading away\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating cessation\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating cessation\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe in contemplating relinquishment\u2019; trains thus: \u2018I shall breathe out contemplating relinquishment\u2019\u2014on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating mind-objects as mind-objects, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. Having seen with wisdom the abandoning of covetousness and grief, he closely looks on with equanimity. That is why on that occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating mind-objects as mind-objects, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, that is how mindfulness of breathing, developed and cultivated, fulfils the four foundations of mindfulness.<\/p>\n Fulfilment of the Seven Enlightenment Factors<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘And how, bhikkhus, do the four foundations of mindfulness, developed and cultivated, fulfil the seven enlightenment factors?<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world\u2014on that occasion unremitting mindfulness is established in him. On whatever occasion unremitting mindfulness is established in a bhikkhu\u2014on that occasion the mindfulness enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development, it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘Abiding thus mindful, he investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it. On whatever occasion, abiding thus mindful, a bhikkhu investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it\u2014on that occasion the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘In one who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it, tireless energy is aroused. On whatever occasion tireless energy is aroused in a bhikkhu who investigates and examines that state with wisdom and embarks upon a full inquiry into it\u2014on that occasion the energy enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘In one who has aroused energy, unworldly rapture arises. On whatever occasion unworldly rapture arises in a bhikkhu who has aroused energy\u2014 on that occasion the rapture enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘In one who is rapturous, the body and the mind become tranquil. On whatever occasion the body and the mind become tranquil in a bhikkhu who is rapturous\u2014on that occasion the tranquillity enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘In one whose body is tranquil and who feels pleasure, the mind becomes concentrated. On whatever occasion the mind becomes concentrated in a bhikkhu whose body is tranquil and who feels pleasure\u2014on that occasion the concentration enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘He closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated. On whatever occasion a bhikkhu closely looks on with equanimity at the mind thus concentrated\u2014on that occasion the equanimity enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating feelings as feelings, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world\u2026repeat as at \u00a7\u00a730\u201336\u2026the equanimity enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating mind as mind, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world\u2026repeat as at \u00a7\u00a730\u201336\u2026the equanimity enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, on whatever occasion a bhikkhu abides contemplating mind-objects as mind-objects, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world\u2026repeat as at \u00a7\u00a730\u201336\u2026 \u2026the equanimity enlightenment factor is aroused in him, and he develops it, and by development it comes to fulfilment in him.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, that is how the four foundations of mindfulness, developed and cultivated, fulfil the seven enlightenment factors.<\/p>\n Fulfilment of True Knowledge and Deliverance<\/strong><\/p>\n ‘And how, bhikkhus, do the seven enlightenment factors, developed and cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and deliverance?<\/p>\n ‘Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the mindfulness enlightenment factor, which is supported by seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and ripens in relinquishment. He develops the investigation-of-states enlightenment factor\u2026the energy enlightenment factor\u2026the rapture enlightenment factor\u2026the tranquillity enlightenment factor\u2026the concentration enlightenment factor\u2026the equanimity enlightenment factor, which is supported by seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, and ripens in relinquishment.<\/p>\n ‘Bhikkhus, that is how the seven enlightenment factors, developed and cultivated, fulfil true knowledge and deliverance.’<\/p>\n That is what the Blessed One said. The bhikkhus were satisfied and delighted in the Blessed One\u2019s words.”<\/p>\n \u2014MN 118<\/h6>\n