Anapana meditation is simple, pure, and pristine.
“Prana” means breath. “Ana(prana)” is the breath that
comes in and “apana(prana)” is the breath that goes out. Both put together and
shortened for convenient usage make “anapana”. Anapanasati is concentration on breath coming in and going out.
It is believed that mindfulness of breathing, cultivated
and regularly practiced, is of great fruit and great benefit. Two thousand and
five hundred years ago, Buddha outlined the method in Anapanasati Sutta – the discourse on mindfulness of breathing.
He begins elucidating the method, “A monk, gone to the
forest or to the root of a tree or to an empty place, sits down, having folded
his legs crosswise, set his body erect, established mindfulness in front of
him, ever mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out.”
The focus is on breath alone. The meditator observes his
breath dispassionately. There is no attempt to modulate breathing. Just
observation.
While breathing in a long breath, he knows, “I breathe in
a long breath”; breathing out a long breath, he knows, “I breathe out a long
breath.” Breathing in a short breath, he knows, “I breathe in a short breath”;
while breathing out a short breath, he knows, “I breathe out a short breath.” Experiencing
the body, he breathes in and out. Calming the bodily function of breathing, he
breathes in and out.
The meditation takes him on an inner journey encompassing
contemplations of the body, feelings, the mind, and mind-objects. During each
step, he continues to observe his breath.
Experiencing rapture, or happiness, or the mental
functions; he breathes in and out. Calming the mental functions, he breathes in
and out. Experiencing, or gladdening, or concentrating, or liberating the mind;
he breathes in and out. Contemplating impermanence, or dispassion, or
cessation, or relinquishment; he breathes in and out.
The Blessed One recommends, “This concentration through
mindfulness of breathing, when developed and practiced much, is both peaceful
and sublime, it is an unadulterated blissful abiding, and it banishes at once
and stills evil unprofitable thoughts as soon as they arise.”
Jagat Singh Bisht
Happiness Coach & Laughter Yoga Master Trainer
Email: coolbisht@hotmail.com
Phone: +91 73899 38255
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