Hi Asahi,
Sutta quotation for this? Because Anapasati in SN54.12 is said to be used for the distruction of the taints (not an easy or introductory goal) or for noble dwelling for Arahants and the Buddha, so the Buddha chosen meditation in retreat, not an ancillary practice to get ready.
The same sutta asks to do anapanasati after the giving up of the five hindrances. Again, not something that you can do without extensive work into Satipatthana, the understanding and establishment of the teachings into memory that allows the give up of the five hindrances. This is clearly an after-jhanic practice.‘Mendicants, if wanderers who follow another path were to ask you: “Reverends, what was the ascetic Gotama’s usual meditation during the rainy season residence?” You should answer them like this: “Reverends, the ascetic Gotama’s usual meditation during the rainy season residence was immersion due to mindfulness of breathing.”
In this regard: mindful, I breathe in. Mindful, I breathe out.
When breathing in heavily I know: ‘I’m breathing in heavily.’ When breathing out heavily I know: ‘I’m breathing out heavily.’ …
I know: “I’ll breathe in observing letting go.” I know: “I’ll breathe out observing letting go.”
For if anything should be rightly called “the meditation of a noble one”, or else “the meditation of a Brahmā”, or else “the meditation of a realized one”, it’s immersion due to mindfulness of breathing.
Those who are trainee mendicants … meditate after giving up the five hindrances.
https://suttacentral.net/sn54.12/en/suj ... ript=latinFor those mendicants who are trainees—who haven’t achieved their heart’s desire, but live aspiring for the supreme sanctuary—the development and cultivation of immersion due to mindfulness of breathing leads to the ending of defilements.
For those mendicants who are perfected—who have ended the defilements, completed the spiritual journey, done what had to be done, laid down the burden, achieved their own goal, utterly ended the fetters of rebirth, and are rightly freed through enlightenment—the development and cultivation of immersion due to mindfulness of breathing leads to blissful meditation in the present life, and to mindfulness and awareness.
For if anything should be rightly called “the meditation of a noble one”, or else “the meditation of a Brahmā”, or else “the meditation of a realized one”, it’s immersion due to mindfulness of breathing.’
Actually, I was not aware of the full depth of 54.12, it is very very clear and have an important role that convinces me even more of the fact that Anapanasati is advanced practice, to be done when the pleasure of renunciation is there. I must really thank you very much.