"Satipatthana - Meditation course, Independent Study. Body

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Satipatthana Sutta Study
Summary of Sutta
Introduction
Body
Mind or Mind States
Dhammas or Phenomena
Conclusion

Satipatthana Sutta Study

Body and Breathing

Dharma Contemplation

Sit silently before doing your Satipatthana practice.
Settle into the body, just breathe for a while, easing into the moment

Read the passage slowly and mindfully, letting the words seep into your mind and body as you start your sitting.

Then read again, listening to this audio file as you read. - breathing.mp3
(In this recording the masculine pronoun is used. Some passages are recorded with feminine pronouns. The original text was masculine only)

[Breathing]

"And how, monks, does s/he in regard to the body abide contemplating the body?

Here, gone to the forest, or to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, s/he sits down; having folded his/her legs crosswise, set his/her body erect, and established mindfulness in front of him/her, mindful s/he breathes in, mindful s/he breathes out.

"Breathing in long, s/he knows 'I breathe in long,' breathing out long, s/he knows 'I breathe out long.' Breathing in short, s/he knows 'I breathe in short,' breathing out short, s/he knows 'I breathe out short.'

S/He trains thus: 'I shall breathe in experiencing the whole body,' s/he trains thus: 'I shall breathe out experiencing the whole body.' S/He trains thus: 'I shall breathe in calming the bodily formation,' s/he trains thus: 'I shall breathe out calming the bodily formation.'

"Just as a skilled turner or his apprentice, when making a long turn, knows 'I make a long turn,' or when making a short turn knows 'I make a short turn' so too, breathing in long, s/he knows 'I breathe in long,' breathing out long, s/he knows 'I breathe out long.' Breathing in short, s/he knows 'I breathe in short,' breathing out short, s/he knows 'I breathe out short.'

During the day stay with the words that resonate for you.

Satipatthana Sutta Study - © 2005 Mary Rees
Sutta text modified from translation by Analayo*
Dharma Contemplation inspired by Greg Kramer Contemplative Practice and Lectio Divino

*Modifications of translation in small segments with permission by Analayo for practice purposes. Please see his original translation and excellent commentary: Satipatthana : The Direct Path to Realization. Birmingham, UK: Windhorse Publications, 2003.