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Lessons from Mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati)

Question: In Satipattana Sutta, we find references to the phrase nayassa adhigamaya..


which has a relationship to the activity of in and out breathing. As we do not have a
clear understanding with regard to this relationship, could you kindly elaborate on this?
Answer: Satapattana sutta describes the practical aspects of a life. I mentioned earlier
that dukkha (physical suffering) and domanassa (mental suffering) are the outcome of
soka (sorrow) and parideva (lamentation). We constantly suffer as a result of dukkha and
domanassa. If we are to weaken the existence of dukkha and domanassa (heat generated
in mind and subsequent spreading throughout the body), we need to surpass them;
overcome them.
At the beginning of meditation practice in terms of the teachings of the Satipattana Sutta,
we make an attempt to be aware of the breath. At this early stage we may not be able to
become aware of our breath clearly. When we make further attempts to be aware of our
breath, we manage to become aware of it momentarily when our defilements are
suppressed temporarily. As long as one is able to become aware of ones breath in this
manner, tranquility begins to arise in the mind within those spells. This is a mental state
which has surpassed the impact of dukkha and domanassa. This is a mental state in which
dukkha and domanassa have disappeared temporarily. A meditator should come to the
perfect realization of this specific phenomenon.(adhigamaya) . This does not mean that a
mediator has achieved specific knowledges to perform magical feats such as walking on
water, moving through air. This progress was identified as nayasaa adhigamaya by the
Supreme Buddha. naya means theory or methodology and adhigamaya means
improvement or progress. So, adhigamaya, in this context, refers to ones specific
understanding to manipulate ones mind in an effective way in which mind would not get
polluted by defilements. What is this specific understanding? The meditator becomes
aware that soka and parideva (heat in mind and subsequent spreading throughout the
body) would lead to dukkha and domanassa. This is a fresh, unprecedented understanding
gained as a result of first hand experience in meditation practice. This is a novel spiritual
improvement. This resultant outcome is referred to as adhigamaya.
For instance, when one hears a sound, one turns ones attention towards that direction.
What causes this? Mind being not calm causes this. As soon as one hears a sound, that
generates heat in ones mind, making ones mind uneasy, tense. That process makes
ones head turn towards the direction of the sound. The key characteristic of happiness is
tranquility. Every time one experiences mental uneasiness, one should realise that it is a
mental state devoid of happiness. This understanding manifests progress referred to as
adhigamaya. When the mother of Kumara Kassapa thero saw him after 12 years, she
was so excited and went running after him. Kumara kassaopa thero completely ignored
her and did not even bother to turn his head towards his mother. This was possible as he
had completely abandoned soka and parideva. Kumara kassapa thero acted this way
purposely to assist his mother to realise the futile attachment to the son (thero) and cut it
off completely. After realizing the futile affection to her son, the mother of kumara
kassappa thero was able attain arahantship finally.

What we have been doing throughout our lives is making choices as good / bad or
desirable / undesirable. Every time we make choices, our mind goes through a process of
grief, lamentation. As a result, we have been compelled to suffer throughout our lives.
The tendency to making choices would continue to exist up to the point of arupa raga
(craving for immaterial existence) on the Path. At this advanced stage, the meditator
chooses higher, intense bliss to be more desirable. This means that soka and parideva
even exist at higher spiritual stages to a certain degree. So, the meditator has to
extinguish the heat generated as a result of soka and parideva for higher attainments. It is
the knowledge, referred to as nayassa adhigamaya that would help extinguish the heat
generated in mind, as a result of soka and parideva. The specific understanding referred
to as nayassa adhigamaya would show an individual that the outcome underlying in
every act to be only suffering. He would realise that he has not been able to experience
real happiness so far. He has only got ready to seek happiness. Therefore, life has been
burdened with various types of misery. He has jumped from one sense object to another,
seeking happiness like tick on a dogs body. Every object has caused only suffering by
way of soka and parideva. This specific understanding (adhigamaya) gained with the
progress in meditation would be of great benefit to the meditator. This specific
understanding would serve you constantly, standing very close to you, like your own
shadow. I hope that you got a clear understanding on nayassa adhigamaya with this
explanation.

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