Buddhist scholar and teacher Bhikkhu Analayo explores the practice of mindfulness of breathing in the sixteen steps of the Anapanasati Sutta. This is an authoritative, practice-orientated elucidation of a foundational Buddhist text, useful to meditators whatever their tradition or background.
In the first six chapters Analayo presents practical instructions comparable to his Satipatthana Meditation: A Practice Guide.
The remaining chapters contain his translations of extracts from the early Chinese canon. With his accompanying commentary, these help the practitioner appreciate the early Buddhist perspective on the breath and the practice of mindfulness of breathing.
Analayo presents his understanding of these early teachings, arising from his own meditation practice and teaching experience. His aim is to inspire all practitioners to use what he has found helpful to build their own practice and become self-reliant.
Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide and Translations, Bhikkhu Analayo, Windhorse Publications, 2019, Paperback, 278 pages, $28.95
Bhikkhu Analayo completed a PhD on the Satipatthanasutta at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in 2000, published in 2003 by Windhorse Publications under the title Satipatthana: The Direct Path to Realization. He has also written Perspectives on Satipatthana (Windhorse Publications, 2014), a comparative study of parallel versions of the Satipatthana Sutta, and Compassion and Emptiness in Early Buddhist Meditation (Windhorse Publications, 2015). His other works include a habilitation research through a comparative study of the Majjhimanikaya in the light of its Chinese, Sanskrit and Tibetan parallels at the University of Marburg in 2007, published 2011.
CONTENTS: Mindfulness of Breathing
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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viii
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
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ix
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PUBLISHER'S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
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x
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FOREWORD BY JON KABAT-ZINN
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xi
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INTRODUCTION
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1
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Chapter I
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MINDFULNESS AND THE BREATH
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5
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Seclusion
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6
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The Posture
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13
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Mindfulness Established
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16
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Summary
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25
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Chapter II
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CONTEMPLATION OF THE BODY
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29
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Long and Short Breaths
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31
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The Whole Body
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37
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Calming Bodily Activity
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45
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Summary
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52
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Chapter III
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CONTEMPLATION OF FEELING TONES
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55
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Joy and Happiness
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56
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Mental Activity
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64
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Calming Mental Activity
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68
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Summary
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73
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Chapter IV
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CONTEMPLATION OF THE MIND
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75
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The Mind
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76
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Gladness and Concentration
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81
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Liberating the Mind
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86
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Summary
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95
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Chapter V
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CONTEMPLATION OF DHARMAS
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99
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Impermanence
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100
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Dispassion and Cessation
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105
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Letting Go
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109
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Summary
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118
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Chapter VI
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AWAKENING
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121
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The Awakening Factors and the Four
Satipatthanas
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122
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Arousing the Awakening Factors
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125
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Balancing the Awakening Factors
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142
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Inclining towards Awakening
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146
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Summary
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162
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Chapter VII
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TRANSLATIONS FROM THE DIRGHA-AGAMA
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155
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Dying and the Wind Element
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156
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The Buddha's Last Breath
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157
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Death and Breath
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159
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The Fourth Absorption
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160
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Summary
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171
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Chapter VIII
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TRANSLATIONS FROM THE MADHYAMA-AGAMA
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163
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The Wind Element
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163
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Distracting Thoughts
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164
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Mindfulness of the Body
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165
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Satipatthana
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167
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Concentration
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170
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Summary
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171
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Chapter IX
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TRANSLATIONS FROM THE SAMYUKTA-AGAMA
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173
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Bodily Activity
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173
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Central Purpose
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175
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Foundations
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177
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Tranquility and Insight
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179
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The Sixteen Steps
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180
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Benefits
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185
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A Different Approach
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187
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Imperturbability
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189
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The Dwelling of a Tathagata
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191
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The Dwelling of a Trainee
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196
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Stilling Unwholesome States
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197
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The Factors of Awakening
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202
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The Chariot Simile
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211
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Attainments
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215
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Accomplished Practitioners
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220
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Summary
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225
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Chapter X
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TRANSLATIONS FROM THE EKOTTARIKA-AGAMA
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227
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One Thing to Cultivate
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227
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Three Steps Only
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228
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Instructions to Rahula
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233
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Breath Control
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239
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Recollection of Death
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242
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Summary
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CONCLUSION
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245
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QUOTATIONS
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249
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INSTRUCTIONS ON MINDFULNESS OF BREATHING
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253
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The Sixteen Steps
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253
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The Awakening Factors
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254
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The Awakening Themes
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255
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Chart
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ABBREVIATIONS
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258
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REFERENCES
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259
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INDEX OF SUBJECTS
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265
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INDEX LOCORUM
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279
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