Mindfulness of Breathing Meditation

 

Q.5. How did the Buddha praise Ānāpānassati?

           An. Ānāpānassati is included in the ten Recollections (Anussati). It is not at all an insignificant subject of Meditation. The Buddha praised thus: the concentration through mindfulness of breathing, when develop and practice much is both peaceful and sublime. Nothing need be added to it. It is an unadulterated blissful abiding, and it banishes at once and still evil unprofitable thoughts as soon as they arise.

          

Q.6.What is the significant of Ānāpānāssati?

           An. The significant of Anāpānāssati is:

1.    It is indeed a very important subject of meditation which is constantly used by noble men (mahāpurisas) like the Buddha, the Pacceka-buddhas and the disciples of Buddha known as the Buddha’s son.

2.    This concentration through mindfulness of breathing, when develop and practiced much, is both peaceful and sublime.

3.    Nothing need be added to it. It is an unadulterated blissful abiding.

4.    It banishes at once and still evil unprofitable thoughts as soon as they arise.

5.    Anāpānāssati is one of the most effective meditation-subject for developing concentration quickly.

6.    It is suitable for many mediators and used in many meditations centers as the basic special meditation subject for developing concentration.

7.    If properly practiced, if can develop the mind up to the fourth Rupāvacar Jhāna in fourfold method.

8.    It should be develop to cut of the initial application.

9.    It can use both of temerity meditation and insight meditation leading to emancipation from suffering.

 

Q.7. Describe the four basic steps of Ānāpānāssati for developing concentration.

An. 1. The meditators should be developed mindfulness to be aware of the in-breath and out-breath at the most distinct touching point the breath with the nostrils or upper lip.

2. He should be aware of the length of the in-breath and the out-breath.

3. He should be aware of the whole breath clearly, that is, the beginning and the end of the in-breath and the out-breath.

4. He should strive to tranquillize the bodily formation of both the in-breath and the out-breath.

 

Q.8. How should a meditator maintain his posture in Ānāpānassati meditation?

An. A meditator can meditate on Ānāpānassati and anyone of the four postures- viz., sitting, standing, lying and walking but he should not change his posture during one cession of meditation. The Buddha, however, recommends the sitting position for one can meditate comfortably for a long time in this posture. The meditator should sit comfortably either cross-legged or in any preferable posture on mat or seat. He should keep his body and head erect while relaxing all his muscles. He should not move any part of his body during meditation, although he is allowed to change his posture to relieve any unbearable pain in his body. Even than he must tolerate any bodily pain; He should place his hand with legs, preferably with the right hand on the left hand with palms turning upward. He closed his eyes and breathes normally.

 

Q.9.What should a meditator who is undertaking Ānāpānāssati do when bodily pain arises in him?

An. He should neglect the pain and focus attention more attentively on the in-breath and the out-breath. As the mind can be aware of only one thing at a time the pain will no longer be noticed by doing so. If the pain does not disappear he should tolerate it as much as possible. When he can not tolerate it any longer he should change posture to relieve the pain. Even than, he should change this posture very gently with hard awareness if he has to, still mindful of breathing while he does so; He should not place attention to the pain as it is clearly stated in visudhimagga:

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

 

Q.10. Should a meditator pay attention to the natural characteristic and common characteristic of the breath and the bodily sensation such as pain and itching while he is undertaking Ānāpānāssati meditation? Why?

           An. The Meditators of Ānapanassati should not pay attention to the natural characteristic of the breath such as hardness of Pathavī for he is not doing the element meditation. Either should he pay attention to the common characteristic of mentality materiality (nāma rūpa) viz. nearly impermanence (Anicca), suffering (dukkha), non-self (Anatta) for he is not doing Vipassanā meditation. He should develop the right concentration by Ānāpānāssati first before he undertakes Vipassanā. Moreover, he should not take note of the bodily concentration such as pain and itching. Otherwise, the mind will be districted from Ānāpānāssati meditation. The meditation subject of Ānāpānāssati is in-breath and out-breath. It is takes up clearly in Visudhimagga that:

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