Anapanasati meditation

Anapanasati meditation Oct 18, 2020 18:49:45 GMT -5

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Post by Neo on Oct 18, 2020 18:49:45 GMT -5

Further comments on the
Sutta on Antecedentness by Breath
by Zenmar

I can't recall if I shared this passage with you, but it proves, in clearest words, that being antecedent to the breath is the whole enchilada!

(I am reminded of Hui-neng's "Original Face" and the Hua-Tou aspect of Kung-an.)

Here is the passage:

"Anapanasati (before-breath-remembering) . By anapane sati is meant 'recollection is turned towards (pavatta) the beginning (rabbha),' the goal (attho) of recollection (sati) being to thoroughly (pari) eclipse (ggāhikā) in-breathing and out-breathing. " ~ Itivuttaka-Atthakatha 2.87

This, of course, is from the commentaries to the Pali Nikayas which are quite old. This is a definition of anapanasati. For me it is unambiguous as to its meaning. When we put this beside an utterance made by the Buddha in the Majjhima-Nikaya, we can get a clearer picture of maybe what was going on in his mind.

"In-and-out breaths are bodily; these are things tied up with the body. That's why in-and-out breaths are bodily fabrications." — MN 1.301

Bearing this in mind, what then is to be gained by following the breath which is "tied up with the body?" It seems to me that it would be more profitable to recollect (sati) thoroughly before (parimukha) the breath. Needless to say, I have done this—and one taps into to an unmistakable sense of energy, or the same "spiritual light." To go with this, recently I found this passage.

"He by whom recollection (sati) of in breathing (initiation) has been perfected, well empowered (bhāva), practiced as the Buddha taught, he emanates a light upon the world as the moon freed from a cloud." — Theragāthā 548

As for the light—well—it is there. There is no doubt. I suspect this was Grandmaster Lin-chi's light when he said:

"The pure light in a moment of awareness in your mind is the Buddha's essence within you. The nondiscriminating light in a moment of awareness in your mind is the Buddha's wisdom within you. The undifferentiated light in a moment of awareness in your mind is the Buddha's manifestation within you."

Source:
zbohy.zatma.org/Dharma/zbohy/Literature/commentaries/antecedent_breath.html

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Post by Neo on Oct 18, 2020 18:49:45 GMT -5

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