Ānāpānasati Sutta |
Your path to awakening
First Tetrad: Mindfulness of the Body (Kāyānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna)
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This tetrad focuses on developing awareness of the breath and its calming effect on the body. It helps establish mindfulness and deepens concentration.
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One observes the inhalation and exhalation, notices whether the breath is long or short, expands awareness to experience the whole body through the breath, and finally, uses breath awareness to relax bodily formations and bring a sense of tranquility.
Second Tetrad: Mindfulness of Feelings (Vedanānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna)
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This stage emphasizes recognizing, accepting, and transforming feelings to develop inner balance.
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A meditator begins by experiencing joy arising from meditation, followed by a deep sense of happiness and contentment. Then, one becomes aware of mental formations, noticing how emotions and thoughts arise and fade. Finally, through mindfulness, these mental formations are calmed, leading to emotional stability and peace.
Third Tetrad: Mindfulness of the Mind (Cittānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna)
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This tetrad deepens self-awareness by observing the state of the mind and its qualities.
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The meditator first observes whether the mind is concentrated, restless, or clouded. Next, they cultivate wholesome mental states, such as joy and serenity. As concentration strengthens, the mind becomes fully stable and focused. Eventually, the mind is liberated from negative tendencies, reaching a state of pure awareness and equanimity.
Fourth Tetrad: Mindfulness of Mental Objects (Dhammānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna)
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This final tetrad leads to wisdom and insight by contemplating the nature of reality.
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A meditator reflects on impermanence, seeing how all experiences arise and pass away. This realization leads to dispassion, reducing attachment and aversion. By understanding the cessation of suffering, the meditator gains insight into liberation. Finally, one practices letting go completely, leading to the ultimate state of freedom and enlightenment.
The Four Tetrads of Ānāpānasati Sutta:
A Path to Awakening
In the Ānāpānasati Sutta, the Buddha presents sixteen steps of meditation, grouped into four tetrads (sets of four). Each tetrad is linked to one of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Satipaṭṭhāna), guiding a meditator through progressive stages of awareness, concentration, and wisdom.
The Sermon
The Ānāpānasati Sutta (Pāli) or Ānāpānasmṛti Sūtra (Sanskrit), is the sermon (discourse) by the Buddha. It is one of the most important teachings in Buddhism and is referred as a direct spiritual guidance to his disciples. Anapanasati Sutta, often translated as "Discourse on Mindfulness of Breathing," is a profound teaching from the Majjhima Nikaya (MN 118) of the Pāli Canon. In this discourse, the Buddha expounds the practice of Ānāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing), emphasizing how conscious awareness of the breath serves as a foundational anchor for meditation, leading to deep states of tranquility and insight.
The sutta outlines a structured sixteen-step practice, systematically divided into four tetrads (groups of four steps each). These tetrads are intricately linked to the four Satipaṭṭhānas (foundations of mindfulness)—mindfulness of the body, feelings, mind, and mental objects—providing a clear path toward heightened awareness, deep concentration (samādhi), and ultimately, liberation (nibbāna).