Buddha Abhidhamma - Ultimate Science - BuddhaNet

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death may come at any moment, one sheds all pride, anger,
attachment, etc., and one endeavours to make the best use of
one’s life by working for self-development instead of wholly
indulging in sensual pleasures.
Ãnàpànassati is one of the best kammaññhànas for developing
concentration as well as insight. It is the staple kammaññhàna
practised by all Buddhas. It is easy to practise and can be
practised anywhere at any time while sitting, standing, walking
or lying. Breathing exists all the time and what is required is just
to be mindful of it.
The mindfulness (sati) should be placed at the tip of the
nose where the breath touches and pushes itself in and out. From
that watch-point, one must be aware of the in-going breath and
the out-going breath. It is like sitting at the gate of entrance and
checking the people going in and coming out.
In the suttas this simple method of mindfulness of
respiration is explained as follows:-
1 Attentively he breathes in, attentively he breathes out.
2 When making a long inhalation he knows: “I make a
long inhalation’, when making a short inhalation he
knows: “I make a short inhalation”; when making a long
exhalation he knows: “I make a long exhalation”; when
making a short exhalation he knows: “I make a short
exhalation”.
3 “Clearly perceiving the entire body (breath) I will
inhale”; thus he trains himself; “clearly perceiving the
entire body (breath) I will exhale”; thus he trains himself.
(It means that one must be mindful to know every part
of the breath; i.e. the whole breath.)
4 “Calming this breathing process I will inhale”; thus he