Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation

Q.17. How should a meditator conduct Ānāpānāssati to develop fourfold Rūpāvacara jhāna?

An. The mediator should sit comfort properly with his body and head eared. He should close his eyes and breathe normally:

The first important step in mindfulness of breathing is to be constantly aware of the in-going breath and the out-going breath by their gentle brushing either at the nostrils or at the upper lip.

Only if the meditator practices ānāpānassati by establishing his mindfulness on the breath at the point of distinct contact with the in-breath and the out-breath, will the ānāpānassati concentration and meditation be fully accomplished in him.

           If his mind is wandering and rape late, he should use the counting better. When he can continuously focus on the in-breath and the out-breath for about one hour at every sitting, he should continuous to the second step. He takes note of the length of breath while he is trying to be aware of the in-breath and the out-breath. He goes to third step by mindfully aware of the whole breath from the beginning to the end by its touch at the nostrils or the upper lip. He should not follow the breath either inwards or outwards. He should act like the gate-keeper or sawyer; always focusing paid attention all the breaths at the touching.

           As he mindfully watches the in-going breathe and the out-going breathe to be aware of the beginning, the middle, and the end of the whole breath, his breathing becomes more and more gentle and subtle. Until the breath become no longer the sting. Then so he should go on sitting as he was temporarily substitutes the place where the breaths normally touched for the actual breaths as the object of contemplation. When the breath will appear, he focuses in meditation mind on the breath again. Meditation sign you should disappear at this step. The appearance of meditation sign as the concentration rises, the image or sign may become very clear and bright like the evening star. This image is taken to be the counter sign. Again this is a general description.

           When the sign appears a meditator should fix his mind on the image; and so from now on his development proceeds by way of fixing. He should put away extraneous aspects, and anchor his mind upon the on-going breath and the out-going breath.

           From the time the counter image appears, his hindrances are suppressed, his defilements subside, his mindfulness is established and his mind is concentrated in access concentration. He should avoid the seven unsuitable things and cultivate the seven suitable things. Then, guarding it thus, he should make it grow and improve with repeated attention he should balance energy with concentration, and faith with wisdom.

           As he strives thus the first rūpāvacara kusala jhāna will arise in due course. Then after acquiring mastery in five ways with respect to the first jhāna, he can go on developing the fourfold or fivefold higher jhānas on that same counter image in the same way as described under the earth-kasina.

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