A Study of Tranquility of The Mind In Ānāpānasati Sutta According to Theravada Buddhist Scripture

Abstract

The objectives of this article were 1) to study the essence and teaching in Ānāpāṇasati Sutta and 2) to study the Tranquility practice in Ānāpāṇasati Sutta. This was documentary research taken from Theravada texts and other relevant documents, summarized, compiled, and written in descriptive type. The findings were that Ānāpānasati practice with 16 gradual stages is called Samathayānika or tranquility type, which focuses on serenity of mind as a main vehicle or having Samatha as a guide. In the first Catukka, the 1-4 stage is the determination of internal knowledge called Kāyānupassanāsatipaṭṭhāna, i.e., noting an exhaling-in-long, an exhale-in short, while exhale-in observing, knowing the whole wind that touches the whole body with exhale in-out, seeing all the winds while being calm. In the second Catukka, 5-8 stages are involved with clear mindfulness of subtle feelings called Vedanānupassanā. The practitioners distinguish the form-noun while breathing in-out, realizing all mental states while breathing in-out, suppressing all mental states and realizing the profound and beneficial experiences as mentioned in Vedanānupassanā. In the third Catukka, the 9-12 stage refers to the state of clear mindfulness contemplating on consciousness called Cittānupassana, realizing the factors of the noun-form clearly while breathing in and out, the strength of the mind while breathing in-out, abandoning mental conditions as they appear in Cittānupassanā. In the fourth Catukka, 13–16 stages deal with mindfulness on breathing out-in, observing the impermanence, suffering, and non-self in the five aggregates, and knowing the profound and beneficial Dhamma mentioned in Dhammānupassanā. This breath mindfulness with complete and well-done will surely lead to Mahasatipatthana, complete Mahasatipatthana cultivation will lead to complete seven Bojjhanga which later will enter to the final realization and liberation in final.