The Buddha teaches how mindfulness of breathing is developed through sixteen steps—from knowing long and short breaths through experiencing the whole body, stilling bodily and mental processes, gladdening and liberating the mind, to contemplating impermanence, fading away, cessation, and letting go—regarding the ending of defilements.

SN 54.20 The Ending of Defilements

“… Āsavānaṁ khayāya saṁvattati. Kathaṁ bhāvito ca, bhikkhave, ānāpānassatisamādhi kathaṁ bahulīkato saṁyojanappahānāya saṁvattatianusayasamugghātāya saṁvattatiaddhānapariññāya saṁvattatiāsavānaṁ khayāya saṁvattati?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato rukkhamūlagato …pe…

paṭinissaggānupassī assasissāmīti sikkhati, paṭinissaggānupassī passasissāmīti sikkhati.

Evaṁ bhāvito kho, bhikkhave, ānāpānassatisamādhi evaṁ bahulīkato saṁyojanappahānāya saṁvattati …pe… anusayasamugghātāya saṁvattati …pe… addhānapariññāya saṁvattati …pe… āsavānaṁ khayāya saṁvattatī”ti.

Dasamaṁ.

Dutiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Icchānaṅgalaṁ kaṅkheyyaṁ,
ānandā apare duve;
Bhikkhū saṁyojanānusayā,
addhānaṁ āsavakkhayanti.

Ānāpānasaṁyuttaṁ dasamaṁ.

Reference Translation by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0).

“… Āsavānaṁ khayāya saṁvattati.

“Mendicants, when immersion due to mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated it leads to the ending of defilements.” …

Kathaṁ bhāvito ca, bhikkhave, ānāpānassatisamādhi kathaṁ bahulīkato saṁyojanappahānāya saṁvattati

“And how is immersion due to mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the fetters,

anusayasamugghātāya saṁvattati

uprooting the underlying tendencies,

addhānapariññāya saṁvattati

completely understanding the course of time,

āsavānaṁ khayāya saṁvattati?

and ending the defilements?

Idha, bhikkhave, bhikkhu araññagato rukkhamūlagato …pe…

It’s when a mendicant—gone to a wilderness, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut—sits down cross-legged, sets their body straight, and establishes mindfulness in front of them. …

paṭinissaggānupassī assasissāmīti sikkhati, paṭinissaggānupassī passasissāmīti sikkhati.

They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe in observing letting go.’ They practice like this: ‘I’ll breathe out observing letting go.’

Evaṁ bhāvito kho, bhikkhave, ānāpānassatisamādhi evaṁ bahulīkato saṁyojanappahānāya saṁvattati …pe…

That’s how immersion due to mindfulness of breathing is developed and cultivated so as to lead to giving up the fetters,

anusayasamugghātāya saṁvattati …pe…

uprooting the underlying tendencies,

addhānapariññāya saṁvattati …pe…

completely understanding the course of time,

āsavānaṁ khayāya saṁvattatī”ti.

and ending the defilements.”

Dasamaṁ.

Dutiyo vaggo.

Tassuddānaṁ

Icchānaṅgalaṁ kaṅkheyyaṁ,

ānandā apare duve;

Bhikkhū saṁyojanānusayā,

addhānaṁ āsavakkhayanti.

Ānāpānasaṁyuttaṁ dasamaṁ.

The Linked Discourses on Mindfulness of Breathing, the tenth section.

Topics & Qualities:

Collectedness

Collectedness

A mental quality of composure where awareness is gathered, steady, rather than scattered or tense. In such collectedness, supported by mindfulness and right view, experience is clearly known and can be wisely contemplated.

Also known as: mental composure, stability of mind, stillness of mind, concentration, undistracted awareness
Pāli: samādhi, samāhita, susamāhita, sammāsamādhi
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Ending

Ending

The complete exhaustion and ending of craving, aversion, and delusion—the three roots of suffering. It refers to both the gradual wearing away of defilements through practice and the final cessation that constitutes Nibbāna.

Also known as: cessation, exhaustion, gradual ending, wearing away
Pāli: khaya, khīṇa, nirodha
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Giving

Giving

The act of generosity, sharing, or offering to others without expecting anything in return. Giving is considered a foundational virtue in Buddhist practice, fostering selflessness and compassion.

Also known as: generosity, charity, donation, almsgiving, donating, philanthropy, providing with, gift with
Pāli: dāna
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Giving up

Giving up

The mental quality of renunciation and release from attachment. It delights in simplicity and freedom rather than in sensual pleasure. Giving up is not loss but the joyful abandoning of burden, opening the way to peace and insight.

Also known as: renunciation, relinquishment, letting go, abandonment
Pāli: nekkhamma
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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 →

Last updated on July 27, 2026