Bhikkhus, anapanasati that one has developed and made much of, perfects the four applications of mindfulness. The four applications of mindfulness that one has developed and made much of, perfect the seven factors of awakening. The seven factors of awakening that one has developed and made much of, perfect knowledge and liberation.

Bhikkhus, how is anapanasati developed and made much of so that there are great fruits and benefits?

Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu in this training, goes into the forest, or to the base of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, then sits cross-legged with body upright and securely established mindfulness. That bhikkhu is ever mindful breathing in, and is mindful breathing out.

(1) When breathing in long, that bhikkhu thoroughly understands, "I am breathing in long"; when breathing out long, he thoroughly understands, "I am breathing out long."

(2) When breathing in short, that bhikkhu thoroughly understands, "I am breathing in short"; when breathing out short, she thoroughly understands, "I am breathing out short."

(3) That bhikkhu trains himself, "experiencing all bodies I will breathe in"; he trains himself, "experiencing all bodies I will breathe out."

(4) That bhikkhu trains herself, "calming the body-conditioner I will breathe in"; she trains herself, "calming the body-conditioner I will breathe out."

(5) That bhikkhu trains himself, "experiencing rapture I will breathe in"; he trains himself, "experiencing rapture I will breathe out."

(6) That bhikkhu trains herself, "experiencing joy I will breathe in"; she trains herself, "experiencing joy I will breathe out."

(7) That bhikkhu trains himself, "experiencing the mind-conditioner I will breathe in"; he trains himself, "experiencing the mind-conditioner I will breathe out."

(8) That bhikkhu trains herself, "calming the mind-conditioner I will breathe in"; she trains herself, "calming the mind-conditioner I will breathe out."

(9) That bhikkhu trains himself, "experiencing the mind I will breathe in"; he trains himself, "experiencing the mind I will breathe out."

(10) That bhikkhu trains herself, "exalting the mind I will breathe in"; she trains herself, "exalting the mind I will breathe out."

(11) That bhikkhu trains himself, "concentrating the mind I will breathe in"; he trains himself, "concentrating the mind I will breathe out."

(12) That bhikkhu trains herself, "liberating the mind I will breathe in"; she trains herself, "liberating the mind I will breathe out."

(13) That bhikkhu trains himself, "contemplating impermanence I will breathe in"; he trains himself, "contemplating impermanence I will breathe out."

(14) That bhikkhu trains herself, "contemplating fading away I will breathe in"; she trains herself, "contemplating fading away I will breathe out."

(15) That bhikkhu trains himself, "contemplating quenching I will breathe in"; he trains himself, "contemplating quenching I will breathe out."

(16) That bhikkhu trains herself, "contemplating tossing back I will breathe in"; she trains herself, "contemplating tossing back I will breathe out."

Bhikkhus, anapanasati which one has developed and made much of in just this way naturally has enormous fruits and great benefits.

Excerpt from Majjhima Nikaya #118

From the Suan Mokkh Chanting Book,
translated by Santikaro Bhikkhu,
following Ajarn Buddhadasa's translation of the Pali into Thai.

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