Explore the life-changing practice of mindfulness of the breath-one of the most popular and foundational meditation practices
Breathing mindfulness meditation, hailed by the Buddha as "sublime," is a cornerstone of Buddhist practice, believed to be key to his own enlightenment. This powerful technique fosters a harmonious blend of awareness and tranquility, guiding practitioners towards profound meditative states and deeper wisdom.
Sarah Shaw presents the evolution and significance of breathing mindfulness within the Pali Buddhist tradition. She examines:
• The Ānāpānasati Sutta, the essential Buddhist scripture on breathing mindfulness; • The systematization of the practice through the commentarial texts like Vimuttimagga (The Path to Freedom) and Visuddhimagga (The Path of Purification); • Intriguing, lesser-known systems of esoteric Theravada breath meditation nearly lost to history; • The integration of breath meditation into modern spiritual practices; • The importance of breath meditation to the insight meditation (vipassana) movement; • And the influence of breathing mindfulness across diverse spiritual paths.
Shaw's exploration reveals the enduring legacy of this practice, from its ancient origins to its contemporary resurgence. DR. SARAH SHAW is a lecturer for the Department of Continuing Education and a faculty member of the Oriental Institute at Oxford University. She is a specialist in early Buddhist meditative traditions and has extensive experience reading and translating Pali and Sanskrit Buddhist literature. She has authored numerous books on Buddhist meditation and regularly teaches on Buddhist mindfulness.
