The Buddha instructs Rāhula on how to regard the five aggregates as not-self which he immediately applies to practice. The Buddha then teaches Rāhula on how to meditate on the elements, the divine abodes, unattractiveness, impermanence, and mindfulness of breathing to abandon unwholesome mental qualities and cultivate wholesome mental qualities.

PTS 1.420–1.425

MN 62 Mahārāhulovāda sutta - The Greater Discourse on Advise to Rāhula

Evaṁ me sutaṁ—ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

Thus have I heard—At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling at Sāvatthi in the Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya sāvatthiṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Āyasmāpi kho rāhulo pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya bhagavantaṁ piṭṭhito piṭṭhito anubandhi.

Then, the Blessed One, having dressed early in the morning, took his alms bowl and outer robe and entered Sāvatthi for alms. Venerable Rāhula also, having dressed early in the morning and taken his alms bowl and robe, followed right behind the Blessed One.

Atha kho bhagavā apaloketvā āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ āmantesi: “yaṁ kiñci, rāhula, rūpaṁ—atītānāgatapaccuppannaṁ ajjhattaṁ vā bahiddhā vā oḷārikaṁ vā sukhumaṁ vā hīnaṁ vā paṇītaṁ vā yaṁ dūre santike vā—sabbaṁ rūpaṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabban”ti.

Then the Blessed One, having looked back, addressed venerable Rāhula: “Whatever form there is, Rāhula—whether past, future, or present; internal or external; gross or subtle; inferior or superior; whether far or near—all form should be seen with right wisdom as it truly is: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’

“Rūpameva nu kho, bhagavā, rūpameva nu kho, sugatā”ti?

“Only form, Blessed One? Only form, Accomplished One?”

“Rūpampi, rāhula, vedanāpi, rāhula, saññāpi, rāhula, saṅkhārāpi, rāhula, viññāṇampi, rāhulā”ti.

“Form too, Rāhula, feeling too, Rāhula, perception too, Rāhula, intentional constructs too, Rāhula, and consciousness too, Rāhula.”

Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo “ko najja bhagavatā sammukhā ovādena ovadito gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pavisissatī”ti tato paṭinivattitvā aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisīdi pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā.

Then Venerable Rāhula thought, “Who today, having been personally instructed by the Blessed One, would go into the village for alms?” So turning back, he sat down at the foot of a certain tree, folding his legs crosswise, aligning his body upright, establishing mindfulness as his primary focal point.

Addasā kho āyasmā sāriputto āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ aññatarasmiṁ rukkhamūle nisinnaṁ pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. Disvāna āyasmantaṁ rāhulaṁ āmantesi: “ānāpānassatiṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Ānāpānassati, rāhula, bhāvanā bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti.

Venerable Sāriputta saw him sitting there in that posture and said, “Rāhula, cultivate the meditation on mindfulness while breathing in and out. When mindfulness of breathing is cultivated and frequently practiced, it is of great fruit and great benefit.”

Atha kho āyasmā rāhulo sāyanhasamayaṁ paṭisallānā vuṭṭhito yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā rāhulo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

Then, when it was late afternoon, the venerable Rāhula emerged from seclusion and approached the Blessed One. Having drawn near, he paid homage to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, he said to the Blessed One:

“kathaṁ bhāvitā nu kho, bhante, ānāpānassati, kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā”ti?

“Venerable sir, how is mindfulness while breathing in and out to be cultivated? How, when frequently practiced, does it bring great fruit and great benefit?”

Five Elements

“Yaṁ kiñci, rāhula, ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ kakkhaḷaṁ kharigataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—kesā lomā nakhā dantā taco maṁsaṁ nhāru aṭṭhi aṭṭhimiñjaṁ vakkaṁ hadayaṁ yakanaṁ kilomakaṁ pihakaṁ papphāsaṁ antaṁ antaguṇaṁ udariyaṁ karīsaṁ, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ kakkhaḷaṁ kharigataṁ upādinnaṁ—ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu. Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā pathavīdhātu yā ca bāhirā pathavīdhātu, pathavīdhāturevesā. Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā pathavīdhātuyā nibbindati, pathavīdhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

“Rāhula, whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is solid, solidified, and clung to, that is, hair of the head, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews, bones, bone marrow, kidneys, heart, liver, inner membrane, spleen, lungs, intestines, mesentery, stomach contents, feces, or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is solid, solidified, and clung to — this is called the internal earth element. Both the internal earth element and the external earth element are simply the earth element. It should be seen with proper wisdom as it truly is: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’ Having seen it thus with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the earth element, and the mind becomes dispassionate towards the earth element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, āpodhātu? Āpodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā. Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu? Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ āpo āpogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—pittaṁ semhaṁ pubbo lohitaṁ sedo medo assu vasā kheḷo siṅghāṇikā lasikā muttaṁ, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ āpo āpogataṁ upādinnaṁ—ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā āpodhātu. Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā āpodhātu yā ca bāhirā āpodhātu āpodhāturevesā. Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā āpodhātuyā nibbindati, āpodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Rāhula, whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is liquid, fluid, and clung to, that is, bile, phlegm, pus, blood, sweat, fat, tears, grease, saliva, nasal mucus, synovial fluid, urine, or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is liquid, fluid, and clung to — this is called the internal water element. Both the internal water element and the external water element are simply the water element. It should be seen with proper wisdom as it truly is: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’ Having seen it thus with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the water element, and the mind becomes dispassionate towards the water element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, tejodhātu? Tejodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā. Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu? Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ tejo tejogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—yena ca santappati yena ca jīrīyati yena ca pariḍayhati yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ sammā pariṇāmaṁ gacchati, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ tejo tejogataṁ upādinnaṁ—ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā tejodhātu. Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā tejodhātu yā ca bāhirā tejodhātu tejodhāturevesā. Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā tejodhātuyā nibbindati, tejodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Rāhula, whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is heat, hot, and clung to, that is, that by which one is warmed, ages, and is consumed, and that by which what is eaten, drunk, chewed, and tasted gets properly digested; or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is heat, hot, and clung to — this is called the internal fire element. Both the internal fire element and the external fire element are simply the fire element. It should be seen with proper wisdom as it truly is: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’ Having seen it thus with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the fire element, and the mind becomes dispassionate towards the fire element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, vāyodhātu? Vāyodhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā. Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu? Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ vāyo vāyogataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—uddhaṅgamā vātā, adhogamā vātā, kucchisayā vātā, koṭṭhāsayā vātā, aṅgamaṅgānusārino vātā, assāso passāso iti, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ vāyo vāyogataṁ upādinnaṁ—ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā vāyodhātu. Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā vāyodhātu yā ca bāhirā vāyodhātu vāyodhāturevesā. Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā vāyodhātuyā nibbindati, vāyodhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Rāhula, whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is wind, windy, and clung to, that is, upward-moving winds, downward-moving winds, winds in the belly, winds in the bowels, winds that course through the limbs, in-breath and out-breath; or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is wind, windy, and clung to — this is called the internal wind element. Both the internal wind element and the external wind element are simply the wind element. It should be seen with proper wisdom as it truly is: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’ Having seen it thus with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the wind element, and the mind becomes dispassionate towards the wind element.

Katamā ca, rāhula, ākāsadhātu? Ākāsadhātu siyā ajjhattikā, siyā bāhirā. Katamā ca, rāhula, ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu? Yaṁ ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ ākāsaṁ ākāsagataṁ upādinnaṁ, seyyathidaṁ—kaṇṇacchiddaṁ nāsacchiddaṁ mukhadvāraṁ, yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ ajjhoharati, yattha ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ santiṭṭhati, yena ca asitapītakhāyitasāyitaṁ adhobhāgaṁ nikkhamati, yaṁ vā panaññampi kiñci ajjhattaṁ paccattaṁ ākāsaṁ ākāsagataṁ, aghaṁ aghagataṁ, vivaraṁ vivaragataṁ, asamphuṭṭhaṁ, maṁsalohitehi upādinnaṁ—ayaṁ vuccati, rāhula, ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu. Yā ceva kho pana ajjhattikā ākāsadhātu yā ca bāhirā ākāsadhātu ākāsadhāturevesā. Taṁ ‘netaṁ mama, nesohamasmi, na meso attā’ti—evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya daṭṭhabbaṁ. Evametaṁ yathābhūtaṁ sammappaññāya disvā ākāsadhātuyā cittaṁ nibbindati, ākāsadhātuyā cittaṁ virājeti.

Rāhula, whatever internally, belonging to oneself, is space, vacuous, and clung to, that is, the openings of the ears, the openings of the nostrils, the mouth cavity; that by which what is eaten, drunk, chewed, and tasted is swallowed; where what is eaten, drunk, chewed, and tasted remains; and that by which it passes downward — or whatever else internally, belonging to oneself, is space, vacuous, open, not filled, and clung to among flesh and blood — this is called the internal space element. Both the internal space element and the external space element are simply the space element. It should be seen with proper wisdom as it truly is: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self.’ Having seen it thus with proper wisdom, one becomes disenchanted with the space element, and the mind becomes dispassionate towards the space element.

Meditation on the Elements

Pathavīsamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Pathavīsamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti. Seyyathāpi, rāhula, pathaviyā sucimpi nikkhipanti, asucimpi nikkhipanti, gūthagatampi nikkhipanti, muttagatampi nikkhipanti, kheḷagatampi nikkhipanti, pubbagatampi nikkhipanti, lohitagatampi nikkhipanti, na ca tena pathavī aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā; evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, pathavīsamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Pathavīsamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like the earth. For when you cultivate meditation that is like the earth, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain. Just as people throw clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spit, pus, and blood on the earth, and the earth is not troubled, humiliated, or disgusted by it, so too, Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like the earth. For when you cultivate meditation that is like the earth, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain.

Āposamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Āposamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti. Seyyathāpi, rāhula, āpasmiṁ sucimpi dhovanti, asucimpi dhovanti, gūthagatampi dhovanti, muttagatampi dhovanti, kheḷagatampi dhovanti, pubbagatampi dhovanti, lohitagatampi dhovanti, na ca tena āpo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā; evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, āposamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Āposamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like water. For when you cultivate meditation that is like water, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain. Just as people wash clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spit, pus, and blood in water, and the water is not troubled, humiliated, or disgusted by it, so too, Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like water. For when you cultivate meditation that is like water, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain.

Tejosamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Tejosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti. Seyyathāpi, rāhula, tejo sucimpi dahati, asucimpi dahati, gūthagatampi dahati, muttagatampi dahati, kheḷagatampi dahati, pubbagatampi dahati, lohitagatampi dahati, na ca tena tejo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā; evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, tejosamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Tejosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like fire. For when you cultivate meditation that is like fire, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain. Just as people burn clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spit, pus, and blood in fire, and the fire is not troubled, humiliated, or disgusted by it, so too, Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like fire. For when you cultivate meditation that is like fire, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain.

Vāyosamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Vāyosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti. Seyyathāpi, rāhula, vāyo sucimpi upavāyati, asucimpi upavāyati, gūthagatampi upavāyati, muttagatampi upavāyati, kheḷagatampi upavāyati, pubbagatampi upavāyati, lohitagatampi upavāyati, na ca tena vāyo aṭṭīyati vā harāyati vā jigucchati vā; evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, vāyosamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Vāyosamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like wind. For when you cultivate meditation that is like wind, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain. Just as the wind blows over clean things and dirty things, excrement, urine, spit, pus, and blood, and the wind is not troubled, humiliated, or disgusted by it, so too, Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like wind. For when you cultivate meditation that is like wind, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain.

Ākāsasamaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Ākāsasamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti. Seyyathāpi, rāhula, ākāso na katthaci patiṭṭhito; evameva kho tvaṁ, rāhula, ākāsasamaṁ bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Ākāsasamañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato uppannā manāpāmanāpā phassā cittaṁ na pariyādāya ṭhassanti.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like space. For when you cultivate meditation that is like space, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain. Just as space is not established anywhere, so too, Rāhula, cultivate meditation that is like space. For when you cultivate meditation that is like space, arisen agreeable and disagreeable contacts will not occupy your mind and remain.

Mettaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Mettañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo byāpādo so pahīyissati.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation on loving-kindness. For when you cultivate meditation on loving-kindness, any ill will will be abandoned.

Karuṇaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Karuṇañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yā vihesā sā pahīyissati.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation on compassion. For when you cultivate meditation on compassion, any cruelty will be abandoned.

Muditaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Muditañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yā arati sā pahīyissati.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation on appreciative joy. For when you cultivate meditation on appreciative joy, any dissatisfaction will be abandoned.

Upekkhaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Upekkhañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo paṭigho so pahīyissati.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation on equanimity. For when you cultivate meditation on equanimity, any aversion will be abandoned.

Asubhaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Asubhañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo rāgo so pahīyissati.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation on unattractiveness. For when you cultivate meditation on unattractiveness, any passion will be abandoned.

Aniccasaññaṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Aniccasaññañhi te, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvayato yo asmimāno so pahīyissati.

Rāhula, cultivate meditation on recognition of impermanence. For when you cultivate meditation on recognition of impermanence, the conceit ‘I am.’ will be abandoned.

Meditation on Mindfulness while Breathing In and Out

Ānāpānassatiṁ, rāhula, bhāvanaṁ bhāvehi. Ānāpānassati hi te, rāhula, bhāvitā bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā. Kathaṁ bhāvitā ca, rāhula, ānāpānassati, kathaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā?

Rāhula, cultivate meditation on mindfulness while breathing in and out. For when you cultivate mindfulness while breathing in and out and frequently practice it, it is of great fruit and great benefit. And how is mindfulness while breathing in and out cultivated and frequently practiced so that it is of great fruit and great benefit?

Idha, rāhula, bhikkhu araññagato vā rukkhamūlagato vā suññāgāragato vā nisīdati pallaṅkaṁ ābhujitvā ujuṁ kāyaṁ paṇidhāya parimukhaṁ satiṁ upaṭṭhapetvā. So satova assasati satova passasati.

Here, Rāhula, a bhikkhu, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or to an empty dwelling, sits down, folding his legs crosswise, setting his body upright, establishing mindfulness as his primary focal point. Just mindful, he breathes in; just mindful, he breathes out.

Mindfulness of Body

1.) Dīghaṁ vā assasanto ‘dīghaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, dīghaṁ vā passasanto ‘dīghaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti;
2.) rassaṁ vā assasanto ‘rassaṁ assasāmī’ti pajānāti, rassaṁ vā passasanto ‘rassaṁ passasāmī’ti pajānāti;
3.) ‘sabbakāyapaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘sabbakāyapaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
4.) ‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘passambhayaṁ kāyasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.

1.) Breathing in long, he discerns the long in-breath; breathing out long, he discerns the long out-breath.
2.) Breathing in short, he discerns the short in-breath; breathing out short, he discerns the short out-breath.
3.) He trains to experience the whole body while breathing in; he trains to experience the whole body while breathing out.
4.) He trains to settle the bodily constructs while breathing in; he trains to settle the bodily constructs while breathing out.

Mindfulness of Felt Experience

1.) ‘Pītipaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘pītipaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
2.) ‘sukhapaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘sukhapaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
3.) ‘cittasaṅkhārapaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘cittasaṅkhārapaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
4.) ‘passambhayaṁ cittasaṅkhāraṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘passambhayaṁ cittasaṅkhāraṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.

1.) He trains to experience uplifting joy while breathing in; he trains to experience uplifting joy while breathing out.
2.) He trains to experience ease while breathing in; he trains to experience ease while breathing out.
3.) He trains to experience mental constructs while breathing in; he trains to experience mental constructs while breathing out.
4.) He trains to settle the mental constructs while breathing in; he trains to settle the mental constructs while breathing out.

Mindfulness of Mind

1.) ‘Cittapaṭisaṁvedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘cittapaṭisaṁvedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
2.) ‘abhippamodayaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘abhippamodayaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
3.) ‘samādahaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘samādahaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
4.) ‘vimocayaṁ cittaṁ assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘vimocayaṁ cittaṁ passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.

1.) He trains to experience the mind while breathing in; he trains to experience the mind while breathing out.
2.) He trains to gladden the mind while breathing in; he trains to gladden the mind while breathing out.
3.) He trains to collect the mind while breathing in; he trains to collect the mind while breathing out.
4.) He trains to disengage the mind while breathing in; he trains to disengage the mind while breathing out.

Mindfulness of Mental Qualities

1.) ‘Aniccānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘aniccānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
2.) ‘virāgānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘virāgānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
3.) ‘nirodhānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘nirodhānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati;
4.) ‘paṭinissaggānupassī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, ‘paṭinissaggānupassī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati.

1.) He trains to observe impermanence while breathing in; he trains to observe impermanence while breathing out.
2.) He trains to observe fading of desire while breathing in; he trains to observe fading of desire while breathing out.
3.) He trains to observe cessation while breathing in; he trains to observe cessation while breathing out.
4.) He trains to observe relinquishment while breathing in; he trains to observe relinquishment while breathing out.

Evaṁ bhāvitā kho, rāhula, ānāpānassati, evaṁ bahulīkatā mahapphalā hoti mahānisaṁsā. Evaṁ bhāvitāya, rāhula, ānāpānassatiyā, evaṁ bahulīkatāya yepi te carimakā assāsā tepi viditāva nirujjhanti no aviditā”ti.

Rāhula, when mindfulness while breathing in and out is cultivated and frequently practiced in this way, it is of great fruit and great benefit. When mindfulness of breathing is cultivated and frequently practiced in this way, even the final in-breaths and out-breaths are known clearly as they cease, not unknown.”

Idamavoca bhagavā. Attamano āyasmā rāhulo bhagavato bhāsitaṁ abhinandīti.

The Blessed One said this. Satisfied, the venerable Rāhula rejoiced in the Blessed One’s words.

Topics & Qualities:

Appreciative joy

Appreciative joy

A mental quality of rejoicing in the success and happiness of others, which counters envy and leads to the abandoning of discontentment from the mind.

Also known as: mudita, appreciation, rejoicing in the happiness of others, delight in the success of others
Pāli: muditā
View all discourses →
Aversion

Aversion

A rejecting mental quality rooted in perception, where one instinctively turns away from or resists unpleasant experiences or objects; it manifests as a tendency to push away discomfort, obstructing patience and acceptance.

Also known as: animosity, hate, hostility, fault-finding mindset, upset
Pāli: dosa, paṭighasaññā, vera
View all discourses →
Compassion

Compassion

A mental quality of wise empathy in response to suffering, which counters qualities of harm or cruelty.

Also known as: benevolence, concern, sympathy, kindness towards those who are suffering
Pāli: karuṇā, anukampa
View all discourses →
Conceit

Conceit

Self-view expressed as comparison—seeing oneself as superior, inferior, or equal; the persistent “I am” conceit (asmimāna) that underlies identification and fuels rebirth

Also known as: arrogance, egotism, pride, self-importance, tendency of self-comparison
Pāli: māna, atimāna, unnaḷa
View all discourses →
Cruelty

Cruelty

The wish to cause pain or the enjoyment of another’s suffering. Rooted in aversion and moral blindness, cruelty hardens the heart and erases compassion.

Also known as: abuse, hurting, fierceness, inhumanity, injuring, viciousness
Pāli: vihiṁsā
View all discourses →
Discontentment

Discontentment

A state of dissatisfaction with one's requisites or conditions. It fuels the search for more, disturbing peace and preventing the mind from settling into collectedness.

Also known as: dissatisfaction, unsatisfactoriness, boredom
Pāli: asantuṭṭhitā, aratī, atitta
View all discourses →
Equanimity

Equanimity

A state of mental poise and balance, characterized by non-reactivity and composure in the face of agreeable or disagreeable experiences.

Also known as: mental poise, mental balance, equipose, non-reactivity, composure
Pāli: upekkha
View all discourses →
Form

Form

Materiality—the four great elements and the form derived from them—encompassing both one’s body and external objects, whether near or far, gross or subtle. It is that which is affected: by cold and heat, hunger and thirst, and contact with the world.

Also known as: material form, materiality, material existence
Pāli: rūpa
View all discourses →
Impartiality

Impartiality

Represents the nature of an awakened being - steady, incorruptible, not favoring or rejecting based on personal bias.

Also known as: suchness, equipose, unaffectedness
Pāli: tādibhāva
View all discourses →
Loving Kindness

Loving Kindness

The practice of developing boundless love and goodwill toward all beings, starting with oneself and extending outward.

Also known as: loving-kindness meditation, metta practice, unconditional love, goodwill meditation, goodwill, benevolence, kindness, friendliness
Pāli: mettā, metta, abyāpāda, abyāpajja
View all discourses →
Mindfulness

Mindfulness

Active presence of mind and lucid retention; the faculty that remembers the Dhamma, anchors attention to the chosen object or present experience, and guards the mind against unwholesome states.

Also known as: recollecting, remembering, keeping in mind, presence, awareness
Pāli: sati, anussati
View all discourses →
Mindfulness of Breath

Mindfulness of Breath

Mindfulness while breathing in and out is a practical application of right mindfulness, the seventh factor of the Noble Eightfold Path. This topic encompasses both the step-by-step training process and the resulting state of collectedness, where awareness becomes gathered and steady. It illustrates how this practice fosters deep tranquility, clarity, and the release of the mind from unwholesome qualities.

Also known as: mindfulness of breathing, mindfulness while breathing in and out
Pāli: ānāpāna, ānāpānassati, ānāpānassatisamādhi
View all discourses →
Passion

Passion

Intense desire or lust that dyes the mind. It fixates on the features of objects, coloring perception with infatuation and making it difficult to see things as they truly are.

Also known as: burning fever, intense desire, strong emotion, infatuation, obsession, lust
Pāli: rāga
View all discourses →
Recognition of impermanence

Recognition of impermanence

Perceiving all conditioned things as unstable and transient. This recognition weakens attachment by revealing the continual arising and ceasing of phenomena, turning the mind toward wisdom and release.

Also known as: perception of impermanence, perception of instability, realization of transience
Pāli: aniccasaññā
View all discourses →
Recognition of not-self

Recognition of not-self

Seeing that no phenomenon can rightly be taken as “I” or “mine.” It reveals the impersonal, dependently arisen nature of all experience, undermining conceit and attachment to identity.

Also known as: recognition of non-self or no-self, perception of not being suitable to identify with, realization of being subject to change, recognition of alteration and changing nature
Pāli: anattasaññā
View all discourses →

Last updated on November 2, 2026

Contents