Anapanasati

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Beginer
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Anapanasati

Post by Beginer »

Dear all :heart:
Is practicing anapanasati alone will lead me to Nirvana? Kindly give a detailed reply for a beginer
Thank you all
SarathW
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by SarathW »

The short answer is yes.
The long answer is that Samma Sati (say Satipathana) is only one factor of the Noble Eightfold Path.
So you have to practice the whole Noble Eightfold Path in unison.
“As the lamp consumes oil, the path realises Nibbana”
Inedible
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by Inedible »

The 16 steps of Anapanasati are four groups of four. They are the four foundations of mindfulness and contemplating them generates the seven awakening factors. These overcome the five hindrances and ten fetters. So it can finish the job and help you become Arhat. But it isn't easy.
Enam
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by Enam »

Beginer wrote: Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:02 am Is practicing anapanasati alone will lead me to Nirvana? Kindly give a detailed reply for a beginer
Yes & no. Practicing anapanasati alone will lead the mind onto the stream to Nirvana and also provide a clear taste of Nirvana, which is why practicing anapanasati alone will definitely lead to Stream-Entry. About a clear taste of Nirvana, the Anapanasati Sutta says about experiences [in blue colour] that are related to Nirvana:
On whatever occasion, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu trains himself: 'contemplating aniccā, I will breathe in', trains himself: 'contemplating aniccā, I will breathe out', trains himself: 'contemplating virāga [dispassion], I will breathe in', trains himself: 'contemplating virāga, I will breathe out', trains himself: 'contemplating nirodha [cessation], I will breathe in', trains himself: 'contemplating nirodha, I will breathe out', trains himself: 'contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe in', trains himself: 'contemplating relinquishment, I will breathe out', on that occasion, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu dwells observing dhammas in dhammas, ātāpī sampajāno, satimā, having given up abhijjhā-domanassa towards the world.

Whoever has abandoned abhijjhā-domanassa, having seen with paññā, is thoroughly endowed with upekkhā [equanimity]. Therefore, bhikkhus, on that occasion, a bhikkhu dwells observing dhammas in dhammas, ātāpī sampajāno, satimā, having given up abhijjhā-domanassa towards the world.

And how, bhikkhus, are the seven bojjhaṅgas cultivated, how are they pursued to bring vijjā [knowledge] and vimutti [freedom] to their completude?

Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu develops the sati sambojjhaṅga founded on viveka, founded on virāga, founded on nirodha, resulting in detachment. He develops the dhammavicaya sambojjhaṅga founded on viveka, founded on virāga, founded on nirodha, resulting in detachment. He develops the vīriya sambojjhaṅga founded on viveka, founded on virāga, founded on nirodha, resulting in detachment. He develops the pīti sambojjhaṅga founded on viveka, founded on virāga, founded on nirodha, resulting in detachment. He develops the passaddhi sambojjhaṅga founded on viveka, founded on virāga, founded on nirodha, resulting in detachment. He develops the samādhi sambojjhaṅga founded on viveka, founded on virāga, founded on nirodha, resulting in detachment. He develops the upekkhā sambojjhaṅga founded on viveka, founded on virāga, founded on nirodha, resulting in detachment.

http://www.buddha-vacana.org/sutta/majjhima/mn118.html
If the mind reaches jhana, which is required for Nirvana, knowing of breathing will cease; therefore ananapasati will cease until the mind emerges from jhana. :smile:
justindesilva
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by justindesilva »

Beginer wrote: Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:02 am Dear all :heart:
Is practicing anapanasati alone will lead me to Nirvana? Kindly give a detailed reply for a beginer
Thank you all
Not necessarily but anapanasati leads one from breathing techniques to calm ones mind and to be restful. Once ones mind is quiet one can slowly step in to be mindful of the surronding sonds or smells or with open eyes sights and unite them which is dammanussati . Once when one is breathing restfully think about your own body parts , kayanussati . Again one can again be mindful about ones feelings within as anger, sorrow etc . This is how one can follow up with anapanasati and further concentration and enter sati and samadhi , Meditation is like practising swimming or cycling needs ones own effort and self practise .
santa100
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by santa100 »

Beginer wrote: Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:02 am Dear all :heart:
Is practicing anapanasati alone will lead me to Nirvana? Kindly give a detailed reply for a beginer
Thank you all
If Anapanasati being used as the basis for further implementation of Satipatthana, which also based on the same Four Frames of Reference, but with a broader set of "exercises", then yes, absolutely:
MN 10 wrote:"Now, if anyone would develop these four frames of reference in this way for seven years, one of two fruits can be expected for him: either gnosis right here & now, or — if there be any remnant of clinging/sustenance — non-return.

"Let alone seven years. If anyone would develop these four frames of reference in this way for six years... five... four... three... two years... one year... seven months... six months... five... four... three... two months... one month... half a month, one of two fruits can be expected for him: either gnosis right here & now, or — if there be any remnant of clinging/sustenance — non-return.

"Let alone half a month. If anyone would develop these four frames of reference in this way for seven days, one of two fruits can be expected for him: either gnosis right here & now, or — if there be any remnant of clinging/sustenance — non-return.

"'This is the direct path for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow & lamentation, for the disappearance of pain & distress, for the attainment of the right method, & for the realization of Unbinding — in other words, the four frames of reference.' Thus was it said, and in reference to this was it said."

That is what the Blessed One said. Gratified, the monks delighted in the Blessed One's words.
TRobinson465
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by TRobinson465 »

Alone, probably not, but it will set you on the path to it. you need to do vipassana meditation on the 3 marks of existence to reach final release.
"Do not have blind faith, but also no blind criticism" - the 14th Dalai Lama

"The Blessed One has set in motion the unexcelled Wheel of Dhamma that cannot be stopped by brahmins, devas, Maras, Brahmas or anyone in the cosmos." -Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
2600htz
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by 2600htz »

Hi:

Yes contrary to commentaries haha :clap:

Regards
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Dxm10
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Re: Anapanasati

Post by Dxm10 »

Beginer wrote: Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:02 am Dear all :heart:
Is practicing anapanasati alone will lead me to Nirvana? Kindly give a detailed reply for a beginer
Thank you all
Nope and this is a common misunderstanding these days. You probably can't even practice anapanasati properly without first being a stream-enterer. Mindfulness is the 7th factor of the path, right view is the first. Trying to practice anapanasati in order to attain stream entry is like trying to build a house but first starting with the roof.

There are countless cases in the suttas where people attain stream entry. It always happens while listening to a discourse, not while practicing mindfulness.

How does it work: Imagine there were some bushmen that saw a car for the first time. They would think the car is an animal or that it's pushed forward by some invisible spirit. They would then start to argue about whether it's the spirit of a tiger, the spirit of a wolf, or the spirit of their ancestors pushing the car.

In order to make the bushman attain right-view and understand that there is no spirit inside the car pushing it forward and that it's also not an animal, how would you proceed? Would you ask them to simply watch the car like a cat watches a calendar and expect wisdom to arise somehow? You would proceed by showing them each engine part, explaining how they work, etc. Only after you do that will the bushman finally understand that there is no spirit pushing the car, that is simply works like that due to the way it is assembled. That's exactly how Buddha proceeded too in order to show a person that there is no self inside them, that it's only the 5 aggregates working together, arranged in a specific manner, and that the being simply works like that, with no self inside.

This is done by looking at the parts that a being is made of through the angle of conditionality and impermanence. Therefore, what should be done is read or better, listen to suttas (you can do that on youtube here). Suttas dealing with "higher dhamma" should be listened to, not suttas that deal with practical problems or normal dhamma.

PS: If someone would try to convince you that there is some spirit inside cars pushing them forward or some spirit in your computer making your antivirus block threats, would you believe them? Nope, because, due to seeing for yourself how they actually work, you have supreme unshakable confidence that there is no such thing. Similarly, after seeing for yourself how a being made out of 5 aggregates actually works, you will have the same supreme unshakable confidence that no such thing as a self exists inside it and no one in the world will be able to convince you otherwise. Once seen, it can not be unseen.
Beginer
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Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:21 am

Re: Anapanasati

Post by Beginer »

Dxm10 wrote: Sat Apr 01, 2023 9:02 pm
Beginer wrote: Fri Mar 31, 2023 6:02 am Dear all :heart:
Is practicing anapanasati alone will lead me to Nirvana? Kindly give a detailed reply for a beginer
Thank you all
Nope and this is a common misunderstanding these days. You probably can't even practice anapanasati properly without first being a stream-enterer. Mindfulness is the 7th factor of the path, right view is the first. Trying to practice anapanasati in order to attain stream entry is like trying to build a house but first starting with the roof.

There are countless cases in the suttas where people attain stream entry. It always happens while listening to a discourse, not while practicing mindfulness.

How does it work: Imagine there were some bushmen that saw a car for the first time. They would think the car is an animal or that it's pushed forward by some invisible spirit. They would then start to argue about whether it's the spirit of a tiger, the spirit of a wolf, or the spirit of their ancestors pushing the car.

In order to make the bushman attain right-view and understand that there is no spirit inside the car pushing it forward and that it's also not an animal, how would you proceed? Would you ask them to simply watch the car like a cat watches a calendar and expect wisdom to arise somehow? You would proceed by showing them each engine part, explaining how they work, etc. Only after you do that will the bushman finally understand that there is no spirit pushing the car, that is simply works like that due to the way it is assembled. That's exactly how Buddha proceeded too in order to show a person that there is no self inside them, that it's only the 5 aggregates working together, arranged in a specific manner, and that the being simply works like that, with no self inside.

This is done by looking at the parts that a being is made of through the angle of conditionality and impermanence. Therefore, what should be done is read or better, listen to suttas (you can do that on youtube here). Suttas dealing with "higher dhamma" should be listened to, not suttas that deal with practical problems or normal dhamma.

PS: If someone would try to convince you that there is some spirit inside cars pushing them forward or some spirit in your computer making your antivirus block threats, would you believe them? Nope, because, due to seeing for yourself how they actually work, you have supreme unshakable confidence that there is no such thing. Similarly, after seeing for yourself how a being made out of 5 aggregates actually works, you will have the same supreme unshakable confidence that no such thing as a self exists inside it and no one in the world will be able to convince you otherwise. Once seen, it can not be unseen.
Thank you all :anjali:
Beginer
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Joined: Thu Mar 09, 2023 11:21 am

Re: Anapanasati

Post by Beginer »

Thank you all
:anjali:
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