1.1 Ānāpāna Pabbaṁ: Section on Breathing

Kathañca bhikkhave bhikkhu kāye kāyānupassī viharati?/

“How, monks, does a monk dwell contemplating the body in body?

Idha bhikkhave bhikkhu/ araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā/ nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā,/ ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya/ parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā./ So sato’va assasati,/ sato’va passasati./ Dīghaṁ vā assasanto, dighaṁ assasāmīti pajānāti./ Dīghaṁ vā passasanto, dīghaṁ passasāmīti pajānāti./ Rassaṁ vā assasanto, rassaṁ assasāmīti pajānāti./ Rassaṁ vā passasanto, rassaṁ passasāmīti pajānāti./

Here monks, a monk, gone to the forest or to the foot of a tree • or to a secluded place, • sits down folding his legs crosswise, • holding his body straight, • and setting mindfulness on the meditation object. “Mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out.“When breathing in a long breath, he knows, • ‘I am breathing in a long breath.’ When breathing out a long breath, he knows, • ‘I am breathing out a long breath.’“When breathing in a short breath, he knows: • ‘I am breathing in a short breath.’ When breathing out a short breath, he knows: • ‘I am breathing out a short breath.’

Sabbakāya paṭisaṁvedī assasissāmīti sikkhati,/ sabbakāya paṭisaṁvedī passasissāmīti sikkhati./ Passambhayaṁ kāya saṅkhāraṁ assasissāmīti sikkhati,/ passambhayaṁ kāya saṅkhāraṁ passasissāmīti sikkhati./

“‘Conscious of the entire breathing process, I shall breathe in,’ • thus he trains himself. Conscious of the entire breathing process, I shall breathe out,’ • thus he trains himself. “‘Calming the entire breathing process, I shall breathe in,’ • thus he trains himself. ‘Calming the entire breathing process, I shall breathe out,’ • thus he trains himself.

Seyyathāpi, bhikkhave, dakkho bhamakāro vā bhamakārantevāsī vā/ dīghaṁ vā añchanto, dīghaṁ añchāmīti pajānāti./ Rassaṁ vā añchanto, rassaṁ añchāmīti pajānāti./

“Just as monks, a skilled turner or his apprentice, • when making a long turn, understands, • ‘I am making a long turn,’ • or when making a short turn understands, • ‘I am making a short turn.’

Evameva kho bhikkhave, bhikkhu/ dīghaṁ vā assasanto, dīghaṁ assasāmīti pajānāti./ Dīghaṁ vā passasanto dīghaṁ passasāmīti pajānāti./ Rassaṁ vā assasanto rassaṁ assasāmīti pajānāti./ Rassaṁ vā passasanto rassaṁ passasāmīti pajānāti./

In the same way monks, • when breathing in a long breath, the monk knows, • ‘I am breathing in a long breath.’ When breathing out a long breath, he knows, • ‘I am breathing out a long breath.’ When breathing in a short breath, he knows, • ‘I am breathing in a short breath.’ When breathing out a short breath, he knows, • ‘I am breathing out a short breath.’

Sabbakāya paṭisaṁvedī assasissāmīti sikkhati./ Sabbakāya paṭisaṁvedī passasissāmīti sikkhati./ Passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmīti sikkhati,/ passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmīti sikkhati./

‘Conscious of the entire breathing process, I shall breathe in,’ • thus he trains himself. ‘Conscious of the entire breathing process, I shall breathe out,’ • thus he trains himself. ‘Calming the entire breathing process, I shall breathe in,’ • thus he trains himself. ‘Calming the entire breathing process, I shall breathe out,’ • thus he trains himself.

Iti ajjhattaṁ vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./ Ajjhatta bahiddhā vā kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

“In this way he dwells contemplating his own body, • he dwells contemplating others’ bodies, • and he dwells contemplating both his and others’ bodies.

Samudaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./ Samudaya vaya dhammānupassī vā kāyasmiṁ viharati./

“He dwells contemplating the arising of the body, • he dwells contemplating the passing away of the body, • and he dwells contemplating the arising and passing away of the body.

Atthi kāyo’ti vā panassa sati paccupaṭṭhitā hoti./ Yāvadeva ñāṇa mattāya, patissati mattāya,/ anissito ca viharati./ Na ca kiñci loke upādiyati./

“Mindfulness, that there is a body • is simply established in him • to the extent necessary for higher knowledge and mindfulness. He dwells independent, and not clinging to anything in the world.

Evampi kho bhikkhave bhikkhu / kāye kāyānupassī viharati./

That is how monks, a monk dwells contemplating the body in body.

The complete translation of the Maha Satipatthana Sutta can be found in in this book. The special feature of this book is that the many beautiful repetitions that help us understand each section have been carefully included so it is the perfect text for chanting. As well, the Pali and English has been marked with pauses so groups can easily chant in harmony.

Learn how to purchase on the main book page.