Teachings¶
Mindfulness of Breathing
Ānāpānassati
[MN 118]
ānāpānassati bhikkhave bhāvitā bahulī-katā mahapphalā hoti mahā-nisaṃsā
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ānāpānassati | noun | fem.nom.sg | attention to in and out breathing mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation |
| bhāvitā | pp | fem.nom.sg | cultivated, developed, lit. caused to be |
| bahulīkatā | adj | fem.nom.sg | practised often, devoted oneself to, lit. made much of |
| mahapphalā | adj | fem.nom.sg | of great fruit, yielding good results |
| hoti | verb | pr.3.sg | is |
| mahānisaṃsā | adj | fem.nom.sg | of great benefit, highly profitable |
Monks, (when) mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation is developed and practised often, it is of great fruit and great benefit.
ānāpānassati bhikkhave bhāvitā bahulī-katā cattāro satipaṭṭhāne paripūreti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| ānāpānassati | noun | fem.nom.sg | attention to in and out breathing mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation |
| bhāvitā | pp | fem.nom.sg | cultivated, developed, lit. caused to be |
| bahulīkatā | adj | fem.nom.sg | practised often, devoted oneself to, lit. made much of |
| cattāro | adj | masc.acc.pl | four (4) |
| satipaṭṭhāne | noun | masc.acc.pl | establishing mindfulness, setting up attention, foundations of mindfulness |
| paripūreti | verb | pr.3.sg | fills up, suffuses, lit. causes to fill |
Monks, (when) mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation is developed and practised often, it is fills up four foundations of mindfulness
cattāro satipaṭṭhānā bhāvitā bahulī-katā satta-bojjhaṅge paripūrenti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| cattāro | adj | masc.acc.pl | four (4) |
| satipaṭṭhānā | noun | masc.nom.pl | establishing mindfulness, setting up attention, foundations of mindfulness |
| bhāvitā | pp | fem.nom.pl | cultivated, developed, lit. caused to be |
| bahulīkatā | adj | fem.nom.pl | practised often, devoted oneself to lit. made much of |
| satta- | adj | seven (7) | |
| bojjhaṅge | noun | masc.acc.pl | elements of awakening, factors of enlightenment |
| paripūreti | verb | pr.3.pl | fill up, suffuse, lit. cause to fill |
four foundations of mindfulness, (when) developed and practised often, they fill up seven factors of awakening.
satta-bojjhaṅgā bhāvitā bahulī-katā vijjā-vimuttiṃ paripūrenti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| vijjā- | noun | knowledge, wisdom, understanding | |
| vimuttiṃ | noun | fem.acc.sg | freedom, liberation |
seven factors of awakening, (when) developed and practised often, they fill up liberation by understanding.
kathaṃ bhāvitā ca bhikkhave ānāpānassati kathaṃ bahulī-katā mahapphalā hoti mahā-nisaṃsā?
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| kathaṃ | ind | how? why? |
And how monks mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation is developed? How practised often it is of great fruit and great benefit?
idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati, pallaṅkaṃ ābhujitvā, ujuṃ kāyaṃ paṇidhāya, parimukhaṃ satiṃ upaṭṭhapetvā
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| idha- | ind | here | |
| bhikkhu | noun | masc.nom.sg | monk |
| arañña-gato | pp | masc.nom.sg | gone to a forest |
| vā | ind | or | |
| rukkha-mūla-gato | pp | masc.nom.sg | gone to the foot of a tree |
| vā | ind | or | |
| suñña-agāra-gato | pp | masc.nom.sg | gone to the empty dwelling |
| vā | ind | or | |
| nisīdati | verb | pr.3.sg | sits down |
| pallaṅkaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | cross-legged sitting position |
| ābhujitvā | verb | abs | having bent, having folded |
| ujuṃ | ind | adv | straightly, erectly |
| kāyaṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | body |
| paṇidhāya | verb | ger | guiding, directing, determining |
| parimukhaṃ | ind | adv | as first priority, to the fore, in front of |
| satiṃ | noun | fem.acc.sg | mindfulness, presence, awareness |
| upaṭṭhapetvā | v.caus | abs | having caused to attend, having set up having made sure is present |
Here monk, having gone to the forest, to the root of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, sits down, having folded cross-legged sitting position, directing body erectly and having set up mindfulness in front of hiṃ
so sato'va assasati, sato'va passasati. dīghaṃ vā assasanto dīghaṃ assasāmī'ti pajānāti, dīghaṃ vā passasanto dīghaṃ passasāmī'ti pajānāti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| so | pron | masc.nom.sg | he |
| sato-eva | adj | masc.nom.sg | just mindful |
| assasati | verb | pr.3.sg | breathes in; inhales |
| sato-eva | adj | masc.nom.sg | just mindful |
| passasati | verb | pr.3.sg | breathes out |
just mindful, he breathes in, just mindful, he breathes out
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| dīghaṃ | ind | adv | long, deeply |
| vā | ind | or | |
| assasanto | prp | masc.nom.sg | breathing in |
| dīghaṃ | ind | adv | deeply |
| assasāmī'ti | verb | pr.3.sg | I breathe in; inhale |
| pajānāti | verb | pr.3.sg | knows clearly |
breathing in deeply he knows clearly: I'm breath in deeply.'
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| dīghaṃ | ind | adv | long, deeply |
| vā | ind | or | |
| passasanto | prp | masc.nom.sg | breathing out |
| dīghaṃ | ind | adv | deeply |
| passasāmī'ti | verb | pr.3.sg | I breathes out |
| pajānāti | verb | pr.3.sg | knows clearly |
or breathing out deeply he knows clearly: I'm breath out deeply.'
rassaṃ vā assasanto rassaṃ assasāmī'ti pajānāti, rassaṃ vā passasanto rassaṃ passasāmī'ti pajānāti
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| rassaṃ | ind | adv | short, shortly |
| vā | ind | or | |
| assasanto | prp | masc.nom.sg | breathing in |
| rassaṃ | ind | adv | shortly |
| assasāmī'ti | verb | pr.3.sg | I breathe in; inhale |
| pajānāti | verb | pr.3.sg | knows clearly |
or breathing in shortly he knows clearly: I'm breath in shortly.'
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| rassaṃ | ind | adv | short, shortly or |
| vā | ind | or | |
| passasanto | prp | masc.nom.sg | breathing out |
| rassaṃ | ind | adv | shortly |
| passasāmī'ti | verb | pr.3.sg | I breathe out |
| pajānāti | verb | pr.3.sg | knows clearly |
or breathing out shortly he knows clearly: I'm breath out shortly.'
sabbakāyapaṭisaṃvedī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, sabbakāyapaṭisaṃvedī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| sabba- | adj | all, whole | |
| kāya- | noun | body | |
| paṭisaṃvedī | adj | masc.nom.sg | who experiences, feels |
| assasissāmī'ti | verb | fut.3.sg | I will breathe in; inhale |
| sikkhati | verb | pr.3.sg | learns; trains himself; practises |
he trains: I will breathe in experiencing the whole body.”
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| sabba- | adj | all, whole | |
| kāya- | noun | body | |
| paṭisaṃvedī | adj | masc.nom.sg | who experiences, feels |
| passasissāmī'ti | verb | fut.3.sg | I will breathe out |
| sikkhati | verb | pr.3.sg | learns; trains himself; practises |
he trains: I will breathe out experiencing the whole body.”
passambhayaṃ kāyasaṅkhāraṃ assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, passambhayaṃ kāyasaṅkhāraṃ passasissāmī'ti sikkhati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| passambhayaṃ | prp.caus | masc.nom.sg | calming, stilling, settling |
| kāya- | noun | masc | body |
| saṅkhāraṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | condition, construction, formation intention |
| assasissāmī'ti | verb | fut.3.sg | I will breathe in; inhale |
| sikkhati, | verb | pr.3.sg | learns; trains himself; practises |
he trains: I will breathe in calming the bodily formation.”
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| passambhayaṃ | prp.caus | masc.nom.sg | calming, stilling, settling |
| kāya- | noun | masc | body |
| saṅkhāraṃ | noun | masc.acc.sg | condition, construction, formation intention |
| passasissāmī'ti | verb | fut.3.sg | I will breathe out |
| sikkhati, | verb | pr.3.sg | learns; trains himself; practises |
he trains himself: I will breathe out calming the bodily formation.”
pīti-paṭisaṃvedī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, pīti-paṭisaṃvedī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| pīti- | noun | fem | joy; delight; emotion |
| paṭisaṃvedī | noun | masc.nom.sg | who experiences, feels |
He trains: 'I will breathe in experiencing rapture.' He trains: 'I will breathe out experiencing rapture.
sukha-paṭisaṃvedī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, sukha-paṭisaṃvedī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| sukha- | noun | pleasure, ease, happiness |
cittasaṅkhāra-paṭisaṃvedī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, cittasaṅkhāra-paṭisaṃvedī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| citta-saṅkhāra- | noun | mental activity, thought formation |
He trains: 'I will breathe in experiencing mental activity.' He trains: 'I will breathe out experiences mental activity.'
passambhayaṃ cittasaṅkhāraṃ assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, passambhayaṃ cittasaṅkhāraṃ passasissāmī'ti sikkhati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| passambhayaṃ | prp | masc.nom.sg | calming, lit. causing to be calṃ |
| citta-saṅkhāra- | noun | mental activity, thought formation |
He trains: 'I will breathe in calming mental activity.' He trains: 'I will breathe out calming mental activity.'
cittapaṭisaṃvedī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, cittapaṭisaṃvedī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| citta- | noun | masc | mind |
He trains: 'I will breathe in experiences the mind.' He trains: 'I will breathe out experiences the mind.'
abhippamodayaṃ cittaṃ assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, abhippamodayaṃ cittaṃ passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| abhippamodayaṃ | prp | masc.nom.sg | gladdening, satisfying, making please |
He trains: 'I will breathe in gladdening the mind.' He trains: 'I will breathe out gladdening the mind.'
samādahaṃ cittaṃ assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, samādahaṃ cittaṃ passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| samādahaṃ | prp | masc.nom.sg | composing, stabilizing, collecting |
He trains: 'I will breathe in stabilizing the mind.' He trains: 'I will breathe out stabilizing the mind.'
vimocayaṃ cittaṃ assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, vimocayaṃ cittaṃ passasissāmī'ti sikkhati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| vimocayaṃ | prp | masc.nom.sg | releasing; freeing |
He trains: 'I will breathe in releasing the mind.' He trains: 'I will breathe out releasing the mind.
anicc-ānupassī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, anicc-ānupassī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| anicca- | noun | impermanence, unsuitability | |
| anupassī | adj | masc.nom.sg | observer; one who contemplates. |
He trains: 'I will breathe in observing impermanence.' He trains: 'I will breathe out observing impermanence.'
virāgānupassī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, virāgānupassī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| virāga- | noun | fading away of desire, waning of passion |
He trains: 'I will breathe in observing fading away of desire.' He trains: 'I will breathe out observing fading away of desire.'
nirodhānupassī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, nirodhānupassī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati;
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| nirodha- | noun | ending, cessation, finishing |
He trains: 'I will breathe in observing cessation.' He trains: 'I will breathe out observing cessation
paṭinissaggānupassī assasissāmī'ti sikkhati, paṭinissaggānupassī passasissāmī'ti sikkhati
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| paṭinissagga- | noun | giving up; rejection; relinquishment |
He trains himself, 'I will breathe in observing relinquishment.' He trains himself, 'I will breathe out observing relinquishment.'
evaṃ bhāvitā kho, bhikkhave, ānāpānassati evaṃ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṃsā.
| Pāli | POS | Grammar | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| evaṃ | ind | thus, this, like this, just as, such | |
| bhāvitā | pp | fem.nom.sg | cultivated, developed, lit. caused to be |
| kho | ind | indeed | |
| ānāpānassati | noun | fem.nom.sg | attention to in and out breathing mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation |
| evaṃ | ind | thus, this, like this, just as, such | |
| bahulīkatā | adj | fem.nom.sg | practised often, devoted oneself to, lit. made much of |
| mahapphalā | adj | fem.nom.sg | of great fruit, yielding good results |
| hoti | verb | pr.3.sg | is |
| mahānisaṃsā | adj | fem.nom.sg | of great benefit, highly profitable |
In this way cultivated indeed, monks, in this way mindfulness of inhalation and exhalation practiced often, it is of great fruit and great benefit.