Notes from the book entitled "Knowing and Seeing": Talks and Q&As at a meditation retreat in Taiwan by Venerable Pa-Auk Sayadaw

1. The four stages of breathing
   • In,out,one - In, out, two - In, out, three
   • "I am breathing in a long breath"; "I am breathing out a long breath"; "I am breathing in a short breath"; "I am breathing out a short breath"
   • "Experiencing the whole breath body I will breathe in"; "Experiencing the whole breath body I will breathe out"
   • "Calming the breath body I will breathe in"; "Calming the breath body I will breathe out"

2. Five Controlling Faculties (Indriya)
   • Faith (Saddha)
   • Effort (Viriya)
   • Mindfulness (Sati)
   • Concentration (Samadhi)
   • Wisdom (Panna)

3. Five hindrances
   • Sensual desires
   • Ill-will
   • Sloth and torpor
   • Restlessness and remorse
   • Skeptical doubt

4. Nimitta (Object of Concentration)
   • Parikamma-nimitta (preparatory concentration)
     - nostril sign
     - upper lip sign
     - grey or smoky colour

   • Uggaha-nimitta (preparatory concentration still)
     - cotton wool
     - drawn out cotton
     - moving air or draught

   • Patibhaga-nimitta (preparatory concentration > access concentration > absorption concentration)
     - bright light
     - bright gem
     - bright pearl
     - objects, e.g. lotus, chariot wheel, moon, sun, mist, smoke, flowers, string

5. Concentration
   • Preparatory Concentration
   • Access Concentration
     - Five jhana factors not fully developed
     - Bhavanga mind state can occur (Beware!)
   • Absorption Concentration
     - Five jhana factors fully developed

6. The Four Jhanas
   1. The First Jhana
      - has all the five factors of Jhana
      • applied thoughts (vitakka)
      • sustained thoughts (vicara)
      • joy (piti)
      • bliss (sukha)
      • one-pointedness (ekaggata)

   2. The Second Jhana
      - has three factors
      • joy (piti)
      • bliss (sukha)
      • one-pointedness (ekaggata)

   3. The Third Jhana
      - has two factors
      • bliss (sukha)
      • one-pointedness (ekaggata)

   4. The Fourth Jhana
      - has only one factor
      • one-pointedness (ekaggata)

7. Five Aggregates
   • Materiality
   • Feelings
   • Preceptions
   • Mental Formations
   • Consciousness

8. Five masteries of the Jhana
   • adverting
   • attaining/entering
   • resolving/staying
   • emerging
   • reviewing

The Anapanasati Sutta:
A Practical Guide to Midfulness of Breathing and Tranquil Wisdom Meditation
by Ven. U Vimalaramsi

MINDFULNESS WITH BREATHING
GETTING STARTED
by Buddhadasa Bhikkhu

Anapanasati (PDF File)

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