Lessons In Practical Buddhism - Sirimangalo.Org

2. paṇīto – is subtle
3. asecanako – is unadulterated
4. sukho vihāro – is a pleasant abiding
5. uppannuppanne pāpake akusale dhamme
ṭhānaso antaradhāpeti vūpasameti – verifiably
overcomes, extinguishes all kinds of arisen evil,
unwholesome states.
For this reason, the Buddha gave mindfulness of breathing
prominence in his teaching; even in the practice of the four
foundations of mindfulness, mindfulness of breathing comes
first.
What is the experience of breathing? It is simply the breath
coming into the body and leaving it; the expansion of the
stomach when the air comes in and the contraction when it
goes out; a cold feeling when the air comes in and then a hot
feeling as the breath goes out. All of these are a part of
ultimate reality, and this is where our practice must begin;
by understanding these experiences for what they are, and
coming to see them as the basis for reality. The point of the
tenth perception is to remind us that Buddhism is a practical
teaching. It is not taught for the purpose of intellectualizing,
to think or ponder or doubt about; it is to realize the truth for
ourselves through the practice.
Conclusion
The perceptions the Buddha taught to Ānanda in the
Girimananda Sutta only have meaning in regards to the
meditation practice: walking and sitting, being aware of the
four satipaṭṭhānā, starting with ānāpānasati, then
mindfulness of the postures of the body, vedanā, cittā and
dhammā – the hindrances, the senses, etc. This teaching
can only be understood by one who undertakes the practice
of insight meditation in this way; it should be clear from this
sutta that the Buddha’s teaching is profound and not subject
to intellectual speculation. This is what should be expected,
of course; only investigation of reality can allow one to
understand the truth.
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