Saɱyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
54. Ānāpāna Saɱyutta
2. Ānanda or Dutiya Vagga

Connected Discourses on Breathing

Book 2: Ānanda

Sutta 20

Āsava-k-Khaya Suttaɱ

The Destruction of the Taints

Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Bodhi

 

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[1][pts][olds] " ... leads to the destruction of the taints.

"And how, bhikkhus, is concentration by mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so that it leads to the abandoning of the fetters, to the uprooting of the underlying tendencies, to the full understanding of the course, to the destruction of the taints?

"Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty hut, sits down. Having folded his legs crosswise, straightened his body, and set up mindfulness in front of him, just mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out.... [341] He trains thus: 'Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe In'; he trains thus: 'Contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out.'

"It is in this way, bhikkhus, that concentration by mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated so that it leads to the abandoning of the fetters, to the uprooting of the underlying tendencies, to the full understanding of the course, to the destruction of the taints."