Saṁyutta Nikāya:
V. Mahā-Vagga
54. ĀnāpānaSaṁyutta

Kindred Sayings About
In-Breathing and Out-Breathing

Sutta 20

Asavakkhaya Sutta

Destruction of the Āsavas

 

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THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was staying near Sāvatthī at Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's Park.

Monks, intent concentration on in-breathing and out-breathing conduces to the destruction of the āsavas.

And how cultivated, how made much of, does it conduce to the abandoning of the fetters, to thorough knowledge of the way, to the destruction of the āsavas?

In this method, a monk who goes to 'the forest
or the foot of a tree
or a lonely place,
sits down cross-legged,
holding the body straight.
Setting mindfulness in front of him,
he breathes in mindfully
and mindfully breathes out.

As he draws in a long breath he knows:
A long breath I draw in.

As he draws in a short breath he knows:
A short breath I draw in.

As he breathes out a short breath he knows:
I breathe out a short breath.

Thus he makes up his mind (repeating):
"I shall breathe in,
feeling it go through the whole body.

Feeling it go through the whole body
I shall breathe out.

Calming down the bodily aggregate
I shall breathe in.

Calming down the bodily aggregate
I shall breathe out."

Thus he makes up his mind (repeating):
"Feeling the thrill of zest
I shall breathe in.

Feeling the thrill of zest
I shall breathe out.

Feeling the sense of ease
I shall breathe in.

Feeling the sense of ease
I shall breathe out."

He makes up his mind (repeating):

"Aware of all mental factors
I shall breathe in.

Aware of all mental factors
I shall breathe out.

Calming down the mental factors
I shall breathe in.

Calming down the mental factors
I shall breathe out.

Aware of mind I shall breathe in.
Aware of mind I shall breathe out.

"He makes up his mind (repeating):

"Gladdening my mind I shall breathe in.
Gladdening my mind I shall breathe out.

Composing my mind I shall breathe in.
Composing my mind I shall breathe out.

Detaching my mind I shall breathe in.
Detaching my mind I shall breathe out.

"He makes up his mind (repeating):

"Contemplating impermanence I shall breathe in.

Contemplating impermanence I shall breathe out.

Contemplating dispassion I shall breathe in.

Contemplating dispassion I shall breathe out.

Contemplating cessation I shall breathe in.

Contemplating cessation I shall breathe out.

Contemplating renunciation I shall breathe in.
Contemplating renunciation I shall breathe out.

"Thus cultivated, monks,
thus made much of,
intent concentration on in-breathing and out-breathing
conduces to the abandoning of the fetters,
to thorough knowledge of the way,
to the destruction of the āsavas.