New Guide to Practising with the Anapanasati Sutta

The fundamental order of the Anapanasati and Satipatthana suttas is based on body- feelings- mind, with the third and fourth steps relating to mind, and feelings being the link between body and mind. It’s sensible to begin with the body as it’s easier to comprehend than the abstraction of mind, being able to be seen visually and known through tactile awareness. In the introduction to the Anapanasati sutta there is a progession of meditation subjects that students are studying, the breath constituting the first subject, that is the body should be given attention first.

The second level subjects of the course are the brahma-viharas, foulness of the body, and impermanence, related to social attitudes and again the body.

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