What Is Anapanasati Meditation? Vipassana Part 1 - Day 4 — 3

Anapanasati translates to mindfulness of breathing or awareness of breath.

It's all about consciously observing your breath.

This practice is crucial within Buddhist meditation methods.

The core idea of Anapanasati isn't just about analyzing how you breathe.

It's about creating a connection between your body and mind where breathing serves as the bridge.

In the Anapanasati Sutta,

The technique is illustrated through the story of a monk who retreats into the forest,

Finds a spot under a tree,

Or chooses a quiet place.

He sits still,

Keeping his back straight and legs crossed,

Focusing on his nostrils to develop mindfulness of his breath.

He breathes in and out mindfully.

Whether he takes long or short breaths,

He remains aware of it.

Over time,

The practitioner gradually achieves complete awareness in contemplating the body,

Feelings,

Mind,

And the concept of impermanence.

Anapanasati is not about listening to calming music or visualization.

It's a practice that truly helps calm the mind by developing the ability to control your attention.

Through this,

A person stops being influenced by negative thoughts which cause stress,

Anxiety,

And,

As a result,

Various illnesses.

Anapanasati places the breath at the center of practice.

Mindfulness of breathing aims to deepen contemplation,

Leading to a state known as absorption,

Jhana,

To gain insight.

It's important to note that without the practice of mindfulness of breathing,

Achieving samadhi or vipassana isn't possible.

Thank you for your attention.

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Feel free to move on to the next audio recording.