The Five Hindrances are five (5) aspects of the mind that need to be eliminated to attain
Enlightenment as they are obstacles to the attainment of Enlightenment. Ignorance
(unknowing of true reality) is the primary hindrance or obstacle that all unEnlightened
beings experience, there are other obstacles that one needs to overcome as well. The
Five Hindrances are sensual desire, ill will, complacency, restlessness and worry, and
doubt.
You can investigate The Five Hindrances and how to eliminate them using this online
class.
(Youtube)
(Group Learning Program) - The Five Hindrances to Enlightenment & The Seven Factors
of Enlightenment
https://youtu.be/mY8xw5wPRiQ
(Podcast)
Ep. 290 - (Group Learning Program) - The Five Hindrances to Enlightenment & The Seven
Factors of Enlightenment
https://anchor.fm/buddhadailywisdom/episodes/Ep--290---Group-Learning-Program---
The-Five-Hindrances-to-Enlightenment--The-Seven-Factors-of-Enlightenment-e1gduid
Defilements of the mind are pollution of the mind such as craving, anger, and ignorance
(unknowing of true reality) referred to as The Three Poisons, The Three Unwholesome
Roots, or The Three Fires. These need to be eliminated from the mind because they
“weaken wisdom”.
Detailed explanation of The Three Poisons is available in this same book series found in
Chapter 8 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to
Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness will help you to develop awareness of mind of
arising wholesome and unwholesome qualities of mind. Then, a Practitioner will need to
apply Right Effort to eliminate the unwholesome qualities and arise the wholesome
qualities to produce Enlightenment.
Detailed explanation of The Four Foundations of Mindfulness is available in this same
book series found in Chapter 5 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That
Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
The Seven Factors of Enlightenment will help you train the mind to reside in “the
middle”.
Detailed explanation of The Seven Factors of Enlightenment is available in this same book
series found in Chapter 3 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to
Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
152


The Five Hindrances are Eliminated with The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
Monks, these five hindrances are makers of blindness, causing lack of vision, causing
lack of knowledge, detrimental to wisdom, leading to discontentedness, leading away
from Enlightenment.
What five?
The hindrance of sensual desire is a maker of blindness …
The hindrance of ill will …
The hindrance of complacency …
The hindrance of restlessness and worry …
The hindrance of doubt is a maker of blindness … leading away from Enlightenment.
These five hindrances are makers of blindness, causing lack of vision, causing lack of
knowledge, detrimental to wisdom, leading to discontentedness, leading away from
Enlightenment.
These Seven Factors of Enlightenment, Monks, are makers of vision, makers of
knowledge, promoting the growth of wisdom, free from discontentedness, leading
towards Enlightenment.
What seven?
The Enlightenment factor of mindfulness is a maker of vision …
The Enlightenment factor of investigation is a maker of vision …
The Enlightenment factor of energy is a maker of vision …
The Enlightenment factor of joy is a maker of vision …
The Enlightenment factor of tranquility is a maker of vision …
The Enlightenment factor of concentration is a maker of vision …
The Enlightenment factor of equanimity is a maker of vision … leading towards
Enlightenment.
These Seven Factors of Enlightenment are makers of vision, makers of knowledge,
promoting the growth of wisdom, free from discontentedness, leading towards
Enlightenment.
(Reference: SN 46.40)
153

Kamma As Explained by
Dependent Origination
(Discontentedness is Dependently Arisen)
154


Chapter 40
The Arising of Discontentedness
I have said, Ānanda, that discontentedness is dependently arisen.
Dependent on what?
Dependent on contact. If one were to speak thus one would be stating what
has been said by me and would not misrepresent me with what is contrary to
the truth; one would explain in accordance with The Teachings, and no
reasonable consequence of one’s assertion would give ground for criticism.
Therein, Ānanda, in the case of those Ascetics and Brāhmins, advocates of
Kamma, who maintain that discontentedness is created by oneself, that is
conditioned by contact.
Also in the case of those Ascetics and Brāhmins, advocates of Kamma, who
maintain that discontentedness is created by another, that too is conditioned
by contact.
Also, in the case of those Ascetics and Brāhmins, advocates of Kamma, who
maintain that discontentedness is created both by oneself and by another,
that too is conditioned by contact.
Also, in the case of those Ascetics and Brāhmins, advocates of Kamma, who
maintain that discontentedness has arisen randomly, being created neither
by oneself nor by another, that too is conditioned by contact.
(Reference: SN 12:25)
155


Chapter 41
The True Definition of ‘A Being’
Venerable Sir, it is said, ‘a being, a being’.
In what way, Venerable Sir, is one called a being?
One is stuck, Rādha, tightly stuck, in desire, lust, excitement, and craving for
form; therefore one is called a being.
One is stuck, tightly stuck, in desire, lust, excitement, and craving for feeling,
for perception, for volitional formations (choices/decisions), for
consciousness; therefore one is called ‘a being’.
(Reference: SN 23.2)


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the definition of a living being.
A living being will have The Five Aggregates of form, feelings, perceptions, volitional
formations (choices/decisions), and consciousness.
The Five Aggregates are what makes “a being, a being”. A living being will have all five
aggregates, also known as “elements” or “collections”.
The Five Aggregates
Form: the physical body.
Feelings: results of experiences in the mind through The Six Sense Bases.
Perceptions: a belief or opinion based on how things seem.
Volitional Formations: choices or decisions that are made.
Consciousness: the mind.
For example, a tree is unable to make a choice or decision to uproot itself, move to a new
location, and replant itself. Therefore, while we may consider a plant alive in some
respects, it is not a living being based on The Five Aggregates.
But, a human and animal has form, feelings, perceptions, volitional formations (choices/
decisions), and consciousness.
A being is “tightly stuck, in desire, lust, excitement, and craving for form, feelings,
perceptions, volitional formations (choices/decisions), consciousness; therefore one is
called a being”. It is when a Practitioner is able to no longer cling, crave, or hold on to The
Five Aggregates that it can eliminate discontentedness and escape The Cycle of Rebirth
no longer taking pleasure in existence or in non-existence.
157


Chapter 42
The Nutriment Consciousness
…the Venerable Moliyaphagguna said to The Perfectly Enlightened One:
‘Venerable Sir, who consumes the nutriment consciousness?’
Not a valid question, The Perfectly Enlightened One replied. I do not say,
‘One consumes’. If I should say, ‘One consumes’, in that case this would be
a valid question: ‘Venerable Sir, who consumes?’ But I do not speak thus.
Since I do not speak thus, if one should ask me, ‘Venerable Sir, for what is
the nutriment consciousness [a condition]?’ this would be a valid question.
To this the valid answer is: The nutriment consciousness is a condition for
the production of future renewed existence. When that which has come into
being exists, the six sense bases [come to be]; with the six sense bases as
condition, contact.
‘Venerable Sir, who makes contact?’
Not a valid question, The Perfectly Enlightened One replied. I do not say,
‘One makes contact’. If I should say, ‘One makes contact’: in that case this
would be a valid question: Venerable Sir, who makes contact? But I do not
speak thus.
Since I do not speak thus, if one should ask me, ‘Venerable Sir, with what as
condition does contact [come to be]?’ this would be a valid question. To this
the valid answer is: With the six sense bases as condition, contact [comes to
be]; with contact as condition, feeling.
'Venerable Sir, who feels?’
Not a valid question, The Perfectly Enlightened One replied. I do not say,
‘One feels’. If I should say, One feels: in that case this would be a valid
question: Venerable Sir, who feels? But I do not speak thus.
Since I do not speak thus, if one should ask me, ‘Venerable Sir, with what as
condition does feeling [come to be]?’ this would be a valid question. To this
the valid answer feeling [comes to be] is:
158


With contact as condition feeling [comes to be], with feeling as condition,
craving.
‘Venerable Sir, who craves?’
Not a valid question, The Perfectly Enlightened One replied. I do not say,
‘One craves’. If I should say, ‘One craves’: in that case this would be a valid
question: Venerable Sir, who craves? But I do not speak thus.
Since I do not speak thus, if one should ask me, ‘Venerable Sir, with what as
condition does craving [come to be]?’ this would be a valid question. To this
the valid answer is: With feeling as condition, craving [comes to be]; with
craving as condition, clinging; with clinging as condition, existence; with
existence as condition, birth: with birth as condition, aging-and-death,
sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure, and despair come to be.
Such is the origin of this whole mass of discontentedness.
But, Phagguna, with the remainderless fading away and elimination of the six
sense bases for contact comes elimination of contact; with the elimination of
contact, elimination of feeling; with the elimination of feeling, elimination of
craving; with the elimination of craving, elimination of clinging; with the
elimination of clinging, elimination of existence; with the elimination of
existence, elimination of birth; with the elimination of birth, aging-and-death,
sorrow, grief, pain, displeasure and despair is eliminated.
Such is the elimination of this whole mass of discontentedness.
(Reference: SN 12.12)
159


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he replies to questions related to Dependent
Origination.
The Student Venerable Moliyaphagguna ask The Buddha questions related to
understanding Dependent Origination. But, the Venerable Moliyaphagguna is not asking
the question in the way in which Dependent Origination is taught and understood.
Venerable Moliyaphagguna is asking the question as if there is a “self” rather than
understanding that there is no self and that the conditions that are described in
Dependent Origination are not based on a self or “personal existence view” instead, these
are conditions that exist arising the next condition.
The Venerable Moliyaphagguna asks The Buddha, “Venerable Sir, who makes contact?”.
The “who” of this question assumes there is a self or personal existence view and
because of The Universal Truth of Non-self, The Buddha replies that this is not a valid
question because The Buddha understands there is no self.
The Buddha replies to multiple questions this way: “I do not say, ‘One makes contact’. If I
should say, ‘One makes contact’: in that case this would be a valid question: Venerable
Sir, who makes contact? But I do not speak thus”.
Because The Buddha did not say “one makes contact”, as if there is an actual self that
makes contact, he shares this is “not a valid question”.
“Since I do not speak thus, if one should ask me, ‘Venerable Sir, with what as condition
does contact [come to be]?’ this would be a valid question. To this the valid answer is:
With the six sense bases as condition, contact [comes to be]; with contact as condition,
feeling”. It is The Six Sense Bases making contact and with contact as condition feelings
arise in the mind.
The individual conditions that come to be that arise the next condition are not a being
itself or a self. Instead, they are just conditions that exist that cause the effect of the next
condition coming to be.
With an understanding of Dependent Origination and The Universal Truth of Non-self, a
Practitioner can understand why The Buddha is sharing that the Venerable
Moliyaphagguna is not asking a valid question and will understand what is a valid
question is based on what The Buddha has taught.
Detailed explanation of Dependent Origination is available in this same book series found
in Chapter 14 of the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5).
Detailed explanation of Personal Existence View is available in this same book series
found in Chapter 4 and 16 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads
to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
160


Chapter 43
The Observation of Existence
Venerable Sir, it is said: ‘existence, existence’. In what way, Venerable Sir, is
there existence?
(1) If, Ānanda, there were no Kamma ripening in the sensory realm, would
sense-sphere existence be observed?
‘No, Venerable Sir.’
Thus, Ānanda, for beings hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality)
and fettered by craving, Kamma is the field, consciousness the seed, and
craving the moisture for their consciousness to be established in an inferior
realm (Hell, Animal, or Afflicted Spirits realms).
In this way there is the production of renewed existence in the future.
(2) If, Ānanda, there were no Kamma ripening in the form realm, would form-
sphere existence be observed?
‘No, Venerable Sir.’
Thus, Ānanda, for beings hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality)
and fettered by craving, Kamma is the field, consciousness the seed, and
craving the moisture for their consciousness to be established in a middling
realm (Human realm). In this way there is the production of renewed
existence in the future.
(3) If, Ānanda, there were no Kamma ripening in the formless realm, would
formless-sphere existence be observed?
‘No, Venerable Sir.’
Thus, Ānanda, for beings hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality)
and fettered by craving, Kamma is the field, consciousness the seed, and
craving the moisture for their consciousness to be established in the upper
realm (Heavenly realm). In this way there is the production of renewed
existence in the future.
It is in this way, Ānanda, that there is existence.
161

(Reference: AN 3.77)


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares conditions that exist that will lead to a
future rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth described as “renewed existence”.
The Buddha described three categories of existences within five (5) different realms in The
Cycle of Rebirth. There are sense-sphere, form, and formless existences within the realms
of hell, animal, afflicted spirits, human, and heavenly realms.
The inferior realms are hell, animal, and afflicted spirits realms. In these realms, a being is
unable to attain Enlightenment.
The middling realm is the human realm. In the human realm, a being is able to attain
Enlightenment.
The upper realm is the heavenly realm. In the heavenly realm, a being is able to attain
Enlightenment.
The animal and human realms have form existences (i.e. there is a physical body). Hell,
afflicted spirits, and heavenly realms have formless existences (i.e. there is no physical
body).
There are five (5) realms of existence.
1.) Heavenly realm
2.) Human realm
3.) Afflicted Spirits realm
4.) Animal realm
5.) Hell realm
The afflicted spirits, animal, and hell realms are the “lower realms of existence”. The realm
of hell and the animal realm are similar to a prison. Once you are reborn into either of
these two realms, it is like being trapped and it is extremely difficult for you to be reborn
into another realm of existence.
A being who is an afflicted spirit has much ill-will, anger, and hate, thus, does not spend
time to cultivate the mind.
A being in the animal realm does three things: eats, sleeps, and reproduces. There are
some animals that also play, fight, and kill. In the animal realm there is no ability to
cultivate the mind to develop a higher level of consciousness. Animals are incapable of
eliminating fear and other unwholesome mental states or fully cultivate wholesome mental
states like we can in the human realm to attain Enlightenment.
A being trapped in hell is in such pain and agony that hence, they are unable to cultivate
their consciousness.
A being in the heavenly realm has so much pleasure from being reborn into this realm that
they are not always interested or motivated to cultivate the mind. They do not experience
suffering or pain so there is little interest to meditate or cultivate a content mind that
162


resides in the middle. Beings in the heavenly realm are often reborn back into one of the
other realms but one can also attain Enlightenment from the heavenly realm.
During The Buddha’s lifetime, he used analogies that the average person would
understand. In this Teaching, he uses an analogy related to farming involving the planting
and growing of crops. This is a subject that the ordinary person would understand during
the lifetime of The Buddha as many people were involved in planting and growing crops.
There needs to be soil (i.e. field), a seed, and moisture to grow a plant. Similarly, there
needs to be these same conditions to create a new existence. These are all the conditions
that need to exist in order to create a plant or create a renewed existence.
A Field = Kamma
A Seed = Consciousness (the mind)
Moisture = Craving
If a being has unwholesome Kamma to eliminate, this is the field that provides the
foundation for consciousness which is the seed. Craving (i.e. mental longing with a strong
eagerness) provides the moisture. With unwholesome Kamma, consciousness, and
craving, a being will experience renewed existence in The Cycle of Rebirth within one of
the five (5) realms.
Beings are “hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality)”. They continue to wander
and roam throughout The Cycle of Rebirth being unaware that craving/desire/attachment
is causing the mind to be discontent. UnEnlightened beings do not understand what they
do not understand (i.e. hindered by ignorance). Beings continue creating unwholesome
Kamma due to ignorance (unknowing of true reality) providing the foundation for
continued existence.
It is The Eight Fold Path that will extinguish unwholesome Kamma eliminating one of the
conditions that allow rebirth to continue. To practice The Eight Fold Path, one would need
to develop wisdom of these Teachings, thus, eliminating ignorance (unknowing of true
reality).
The primary challenge all unEnlightened beings are experiencing is that the mind is
hindered by ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as explained in Dependent Origination.
Through addressing the condition of ignorance (unknowing of true reality) by acquiring
wisdom of these Teachings, a being can unravel all the other conditions that lead to
discontentedness of mind and continued existence in The Cycle of Rebirth. All craving will
be eliminated and there will no longer be consciousness to arise in a new existence.
You have this rare human existence to cultivate the mind while in the human state,
develop a pure mind, and escape The Cycle of Rebirth. The human realm is a perfect
place for the mind to experience a pleasant feeling, a painful feeling, and feelings that are
neither painful-nor-pleasant. In the human realm, we experience all types of
discontentedness of mind and, thus, have an interest to overcome it by cultivating the
mind and escaping The Cycle of Rebirth. To accomplish this goal, one will need to acquire
wisdom to eradicate ignorance (unknowing of true reality).
Detailed explanation of Dependent Origination is available in this same book series found
in Chapter 14 of the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5).
163


Chapter 44
The Conduit to Existence
‘Venerable Sir, it is said, ‘the conduit to existence, the conduit to existence.’
What, Venerable Sir, is the conduit to existence, and what is the elimination of
the conduit to existence?’
Rādha, the craving, desire, excitement, lust, engagement and clinging,
mental standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies regarding form;
this is called the conduit to existence. Their elimination is the elimination of
the conduit to existence.
The craving, desire, excitement, lust, engagement and clinging, mental
standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies regarding feeling; this
is called the conduit to existence. Their elimination is the elimination of the
conduit to existence.
The craving, desire, excitement, lust, engagement and clinging, mental
standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies regarding perception;
this is called the conduit to existence. Their elimination is the elimination of
the conduit to existence.
The craving, desire, excitement, lust, engagement and clinging, mental
standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies regarding volitional
formations (choices/decisions); this is called the conduit to existence. Their
elimination is the elimination of the conduit to existence.
The craving, desire, excitement, lust, engagement and clinging, mental
standpoints, adherences, and underlying tendencies regarding
consciousness; this is called the conduit to existence. Their elimination is
the elimination of the conduit to existence.
(Reference: SN 23.3)


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares “the conduit to existence”.
The Buddha is explaining that the mind clinging to The Five Aggregates is “the conduit to
existence”. “The conduit to existence” is a means for it to continue. As long as the mind
is clinging to The Five Aggregates, there will be continued rebirth. Training the mind to let
go of The Five Aggregates, the mind is liberated from discontentedness and existence in
The Cycle of Rebirth.
164


The Buddha shares clinging to The Five Aggregates as discontentedness in The Four
Noble Truths as The First Noble Truth.
————-
And what, Monks, is the noble truth of discontentedness?
It should be said: The Five Aggregates subject to clinging; that is, the form aggregate
subject to clinging, the feeling aggregate subject to clinging, the perception aggregate
subject to clinging, the volitional formation aggregate subject to clinging, the
consciousness aggregate subject to clinging. This is called the noble truth of
discontentedness.
————-
The First Noble Truth titled, “the noble truth of discontentedness”, establishes “the
problem” with the unEnlightened mind through an understanding of The Five Aggregates.
The Five Aggregates are what makes “a being, a being”. A living being will have all five
aggregates, also known as “elements” or “collections”.
The Five Aggregates
Form: the physical body.
Feelings: results of experiences in the mind through The Six Sense Bases.
Perceptions: a belief or opinion based on how things seem.
Volitional Formations: choices or decisions that are made.
Consciousness: the mind.
It is when the mind “clings” or “holds on” to The Five Aggregates that the mind
experiences continued discontentedness. Observing the impermanent nature of The Five
Aggregates, a human being can “let go” no longer experiencing discontentedness due to
“holding on” to The Five Aggregates experiencing constant rebirth in The Cycle of
Rebirth.
Due to clinging to The Five Aggregates and a being coming into existence, the mind will
experience discontentedness.
All unEnlightened beings will experience discontentedness.
Discontentedness: Gotama Buddha describes three feelings as discontent. The goal of
these Teachings is to eliminate discontentedness of mind providing the mind a permanent
place to reside in Enlightenment.
- A pleasant feeling (happiness, excitement, elation, thrill, exhilaration, euphoria, etc.)
- A painful feeling (sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fear,
stress, etc.)
- A feeling that is neither painful-nor-pleasant (boredom, loneliness, shyness, displeased,
uncomfortable, unsatisfied, etc.)
165


Chapter 45
Dependent Origination As the
Highest Law of Nature
...Monks, I will teach you Dependent Origination and dependently arisen
phenomena (things).
Listen and attend closely, I will speak.
...And what, Monks, is Dependent Origination?
(1) With birth as condition, aging-and-death [comes to be]: whether there is
an arising of Tathāgatas or no arising of Tathāgatas, that element still
persists, the stableness of The Teachings, the fixed course of The Teachings,
specific conditionality.
A Tathāgata awakens to this and breaks through to it. Having done so, he
explains it, teaches it, proclaims it, establishes it, discloses it, analyzes it,
illuminates it.
And he says: See! With birth as condition, Monks, aging-and-death.
(2) With existence as condition, birth…
(3) With clinging as condition, existence...
(4) With craving as condition, clinging...
(5) With feeling as condition, craving…
(6) With contact as condition, feeling…
(7) With the six sense bases as condition, contact…
(8) With name-and-form as condition, the six sense bases...
(9) With consciousness as condition, name-and-form...
(10) With volitional formations (choices/decisions) as condition,
consciousness…
166

(11) With ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as condition, volitional
formations (choices/decisions): whether there is an arising of Tathāgatas or
no arising of Tathāgatas, that element still persists, the stableness of The
Teachings, the fixed course of The Teachings, specific conditionality.
A Tathāgata awakens to this and breaks through to it. Having done so, he
explains it, teaches it, proclaims it, establishes it, discloses it, analyzes it,
illuminates it.
And he says: See! With ignorance (unknowing of true reality) as condition,
Monks, volitional formations (choices/decisions).
Thus, Monks, the reality in this, the lack of error, the conciseness, specific
conditionality: this is called Dependent Origination.
(Reference: SN 12.20)


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how Dependent Origination exists and
continues whether a Buddha (i.e. a Tathāgata) arises in the world or not. A Buddha
awakens to the wisdom of Dependent Origination and having acquired this wisdom they
will “explain it, teach it, proclaim it, establish it, disclose it, analyze it, illuminate it” so that
others can learn, reflect, and practice awakening to Enlightenment.
A Buddha’s Teachings will guide countless beings to the attainment of Enlightenment
during their life and after their death. Those Teachings will include, among other things,
Dependent Origination because without this wisdom, the mind will be unable to fully
understand the arising of discontentedness and continued rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.
Any Practitioner interested to awaken to Enlightenment will need to understand
Dependent Origination. Dependent Origination is the ultimate or highest law of nature as it
explains the “cause and effect” relationship that leads to discontentedness and continued
rebirth in The Cycle of Rebirth.
A Buddha (i.e. a Tathāgata) will understand and explain Dependent Origination as part of
their Teachings and ensure their Students understand this important Teaching as part of
The Natural Laws of Existence. With the wisdom and a practice of The Natural Laws of
Existence, a being can awaken to Enlightenment.
Detailed explanation of Dependent Origination is available in this same book series found
in Chapter 14 of the book “The First Stage of Enlightenment (Stream-Enterer)” (Volume 5).
167


Now that you have completed reading (Volume 6) of this book series and may decide to
read this book multiple times, I would like to take a moment to personally “thank you” for
your determination, dedication, and diligence to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings
of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment.
The time, effort, energy, and resources that you devote to this path are serving to help you
and countless other beings. As you choose to learn and practice these Teachings, you will
significantly reduce then eliminate any harm that you are putting into the world through
your unknowing of true reality. The unEnlightened mind does not understand what it does
not understand.
You are now applying time, effort, energy, and resources to improving the condition of the
mind, the condition of your life, and, thus, the condition of the world through investigating
The Teachings to acquire wisdom. The world becomes a better place when we each
individually choose to improve our own life practice taking responsibility for our own
intentions, speech, actions, and livelihood while improving our wisdom and mental
discipline.
I admire individuals who choose to walk towards harmlessness. I admire individuals who
choose to realize there is a better way of life and create that better way of life for
themselves through seeking guidance. And, I admire individuals who do not shrink back
from the struggle to move the mind towards Enlightenment when the natural tendency
might be to remain complacent.
Why have I chosen to share these Teachings with you?
“That it may be for the benefit and peacefulness of the multitude (many people), out of
compassion for the world, for the benefit and peacefulness of heavenly beings and
humans”. (Gotama Buddha)
“Because if they understand even a single sentence, that will lead to their welfare and
peacefulness for a long time”. (Gotama Buddha)
May you discover the freedom associated with a mind that is peaceful, calm,
serene, and content with joy permanently - the Enlightened mind.
As you need help to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings, you are welcome to
seek guidance which is available openly and freely to “all beings”.
169


Author
David Roylance is a dedicated Practitioner and Teacher of Gotama Buddha’s
Teachings who has been part of the Thai community since 2001. He visited
Thailand for the first time in 2002 and brought the Traditional Thai Healing
Arts back to the United States of America to share with people in the
Western World.
His Traditional Thai Healing Arts centers, located in the Washington DC area,
provided traditional Thai healing arts to clients and educational opportunities
to Students to explore the Thai healing arts, Thai culture, and The Teachings
of Gotama Buddha. David is a published author with books on the topics of
Traditional Thai Healing Arts and The Path That Leads to Enlightenment.
David has taught Gotama Buddha’s Teachings since 2005 in the United
States of America. In 2015, he closed his businesses and relocated to
Chiang Mai, Thailand to be closer to the Thai culture and the Thai
Community of Buddhist Practitioners.
David shares Gotama Buddha’s Teachings with Household Practitioners and
Ordained Practitioners in Chiang Mai, Thailand and around the world through
courses, retreats, and special events providing guidance to help people
attain Enlightenment - a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy.
For more information on participating in courses, retreats, special events or
to invite these Teachings to your learning venue, use the contact information
below:
Teacher - David Roylance
hello@buddhadailywisdom.com
www.BuddhaDailyWisdom.com
170


Restoration of The Buddha’s Teachings
The Path to Enlightenment
The Buddha taught over 2,500 years ago. He taught The Path to
Enlightenment guiding countless beings to a mental state that is peaceful,
calm, serene, and content with joy that is permanent, where the mind has
eliminated 100% of all discontent feelings such as sadness, anger,
frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness,
shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc.
Immediately following the death of The Buddha (i.e. Gotama Buddha), The
Teachings were shining in the world continuing to guide countless people to
Enlightenment. But, over the course of many generations, just as Gotama
Buddha predicted, people’s understanding of his Teachings gradually
diminished due to modifications and adjustments made by people after him.
The modifications made to his Teachings, handed down through oral
transmission, have made it increasingly difficult for human beings to attain
Enlightenment.
The goal of David’s Teachings is to root the learning and practice he
shares in “The Words of The Buddha” based on The Teachings that
existed during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha, so that countless beings
can now attain Enlightenment based on the original Path to
Enlightenment discovered and declared by Gotama Buddha.
David does this through connecting what he teaches to the largest most
complete source of Teachings from Gotama Buddha - The Pāli Canon. The
Pāli Canon is the original source text of The Teachings from Gotama Buddha
as spoken by him during his lifetime.
David has spent countless hours dedicated to restoring The Words of The
Buddha by updating a significant portion of the translations of Gotama
Buddha’s Teachings from The Pāli Canon. He now offers several resources
for Students to learn, reflect, and practice The Path to Enlightenment to
experience the results of an Enlightened mind.
David offers books, audiobooks, videos, podcasts, online learning programs,
personal guidance, and retreats without any requirement for financial
support. All the work that is being done is offered openly and freely for all
beings without any requirement to provide any financial support. David
accepts donations but Students are not required to provide donations for
any work that he does in supporting them on The Path to Enlightenment.
171


David does not request donations and instead, just accepts whatever is
offered to him, if anything at all.
His dedication to sharing these Teachings is not motivated by finances. He
shares openly and freely with everyone who has a sincere interest in learning
and practicing The Path to Enlightenment.
Ultimately, David plans to preserve The Teachings of The Buddha in a format
that is easily, readily, and openly accessible to anyone in the world while
offering support to learn, reflect, and practice to experience the results of the
Enlightened mind.
His plan is to guide countless people to Enlightenment during his lifetime
and leave a Community of Enlightened beings who can continue to share
The Teachings long after his death. Through developing a Community of
Enlightened beings and preserving The Path to Enlightenment in resources
that are easily, readily, and openly accessible to anyone in the world, David is
revealing the hidden Teachings of Gotama Buddha and doing the best he
can to remove any obstacles one might have to learn, reflect, and practice
these Teachings, allowing countless people to experience the results of an
Enlightened mind.
Upon his death, David predicts that his closest Student, his son and a
continued lineage of Teachers, will share these same Teachings continuing to
support and grow The Community of Enlightened beings long into the future
- for the next 1,000 years.
These efforts will culminate into restoring The Path to Enlightenment back
into the world so that all of humanity can experience Enlightenment evolving
the human species to one where every being has the opportunity to attain
Enlightenment creating “heaven on earth”.
172


The Goal
An Entire Species of Enlightened Beings
Having experienced Enlightenment and knowing the peace, calm, serenity,
and contentedness with joy that comes with having attained Enlightenment,
a Buddha’s goal is to share his Teachings worldwide so that “all beings” can
experience Enlightenment.
The Enlightened mind no longer experiences any discontent feelings such as
sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears,
boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, anxiety, stress, etc.
All discontent feelings have been eliminated 100% from the Enlightened
mind (i.e. all suffering is eliminated).
An Enlightened mind will have loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic
joy, equanimity, and generosity among many other wholesome qualities.
Can you imagine an entire world where all human beings have liberated
their mind to no longer experience these discontent feelings and are
practicing wholesome qualities of mind at all times?
With “The Buddha” (Gotama Buddha) having attained this permanent mental
state of Enlightenment on his own as The Perfectly Enlightened Buddha, he
would have known that through his dedicated and persistent pursuit to
Enlightenment, he had acquired the wisdom needed to guide “all beings” to
this same mental state.
However, his teaching career of 45 years would not be enough time to share
his Teachings worldwide. He knew, that it would require many centuries for
his Teachings to reach all parts of the world. During his lifetime, travel of
people and information was limited based on several constraints.
Today, we are in a unique time in history where these same constraints have
been eliminated. A time when people and information are able to travel
around the world in an instant.
Not only can information travel quickly but all of humanity is slowly coming
to the point where there is a common language spoken around the world -
the English language.
Criteria exist today that did not exist during Gotama Buddha’s lifetime that
make now the perfect time for all of humanity to gradually attain
Enlightenment realizing a better existence.
173


- People can travel worldwide.
- Information can be shared worldwide in an instant.
- Commonly spoken language among a large percentage of the worldwide
population and this is only growing.
These criteria did not exist during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha and it is
only now that the world has come into an age where his original goal is
realistically possible.
But, during Gotama Buddha’s lifetime it seems they had something that we
may not have….
The people during Gotama Buddha’s lifetime had perseverance and
dedication to learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings to realize the
results of experiencing the Enlightened mind. They were not afraid of hard
work.
With our modern day conveniences, I am unsure how many people are
willing to apply their determination, dedication, and diligence with time,
effort, energy, and resources towards The Path to Enlightenment with the
goal to experience the Enlightened mind.
When a being decides they are finished with the sadness, anger, frustration,
irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fear, boredom, loneliness, shyness,
jealousy, resentment, etc., that is the time when one can turn towards The
Teachings and goal of experiencing Enlightenment.
Through each individual deciding to learn and practice The Teachings of
Gotama Buddha, as a collective world, our species will gradually evolve. We
evolve to a higher consciousness where we train the mind to not harm others
through our intentions, speech, nor actions.
Through each individual deciding to learn, reflect, and practice The
Teachings of Gotama Buddha, each person benefits and we all benefit as
there will be less and less harm in the world.
Through individuals deciding to focus on developing a comprehensive
approach to learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha with
guidance from a Teacher, your life drastically improves and the entire world
improves essentially creating “heaven on earth”.
We do not need to “fix” the world. That is not the problem. The problem is
the unEnlightened mind does not understand The Natural Laws of Existence
and it is quite a struggle to live in a world that one does not understand.
174


Through learning and practicing The Teachings of Gotama Buddha, a
Practitioner comes to deeply understand The Natural Laws of Existence to
acquire wisdom that will end the struggles and misery one may face on a
regular basis.
Are you ready to apply determination, dedication, and diligence with time,
effort, energy, and resources towards The Path to Enlightenment with the
goal to experience Enlightenment?
If one enjoys anger, sadness, boredom, loneliness, resentment, etc., there is
nothing to do.
But, if you are interested to eliminate these unwelcomed feelings from the
mind, then I suggest you turn towards The Path to Enlightenment and apply
your dedication and diligence to learning, reflecting, and practicing The
Teachings of Gotama Buddha.
And then, as all of humanity gradually experiences Enlightenment we will
have accomplished “the goal”.
“An entire species of Enlightened beings”.
175


Why Have I Decided to Teach The Path to
Enlightenment as Taught by Gotama Buddha?
I have chosen to share these Teachings out of compassion for the world.
Compassion (Pāli: karuṇā) is concern for the misfortunes of others.
And due to this compassion, it is important to share Teachings that are
based in wisdom, not belief.
There are countless traditions and ways of sharing those traditions
throughout the world. All of these, in one form or another, are essentially
sharing to cultivate and practice 1.) Universal Love for All Beings 2.) Do No
Harm and 3.) Be a Good Moral Person.
However, the way each tradition is shared and the clarity of those teachings
is unique to each tradition.
The Path to Enlightenment as taught by Gotama Buddha (“The Buddha”)
over 2,500 years ago as documented in The Pāli Canon, is the most clear,
concise, and precise Teachings I have ever encountered that leads exactly
where he said they do, to Enlightenment.
The Enlightened mind is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy -
permanently. The Enlightened mind will no longer experience any discontent
feelings such as sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt,
shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress,
anxiety, etc.
This is accomplished through not believing The Teachings of The Buddha but
instead, through learning, reflecting, and practicing to discover the truth. The
mind can be trained to eliminate all the conditions that are causing it to be
stuck in the unEnlightened state. Through eliminating the pollution of mind
by training the mind, one can experience liberation of mind, freedom from
strong feelings, peace, Enlightenment.
The Buddha’s Teachings are the only Teachings that I have encountered that
do not rely on belief. With belief, one does not know what is true or false
because they are just believing. Instead, Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are
shared in such a way that, a Practitioner can investigate and examine them
to determine the truth which leads to wisdom and thus, Enlightenment. If one
was to only believe The Teachings of The Buddha, they could not acquire
wisdom nor attain Enlightenment.
176


These Teachings are perfectly suited for today’s society where there is a
proliferation of misinformation and untruths. These Teachings, with guidance
from a Teacher, guide a Practitioner to independently discover the truth
through deeply investigating The Natural Laws of Existence (i.e. The
Teachings of The Buddha). Through doing this inner work on The Path to
Enlightenment, one can discover that these Teachings are the solution to the
challenges we experience in the world and the solutions of how to heal from
what hurt us so that we never need to hurt again. The mind can completely
and entirely eliminate 100% of all discontent feelings once it is Enlightened.
This cannot be accomplished through belief.
Instead, a Practitioner needs to be determined, dedicated, and diligent to
doing the inner work to develop the mind and progress towards the
Enlightened mental state by acquiring wisdom.
As far as I have discovered, there are no other teachings on the planet that
can guide an individual to the complete elimination of discontent feelings
through independently verifying the teachings to acquire wisdom. The
Buddha did something very unique during his lifetime that no other person or
Teacher has accomplished.
He independently attained Enlightenment, dedicated the rest of his life to
sharing his independently discovered Teachings guiding countless people to
Enlightenment, and he left his Teachings in such a condition that countless
more people have attained Enlightenment after his death. He meets all the
criteria of a true Buddha. Gotama Buddha was a true Buddha.
My work during this life has been to rediscover these Teachings, in such a
way, that they can now be shared worldwide in the international language of
English so that countless people all throughout the world can attain
Enlightenment during this lifetime and after my death.
The only way to accomplish this goal is to share Teachings that are not
based in belief but instead, are based in independently verifiable truth so that
a Practitioner can acquire wisdom.
These Teachings are clear, concise, and precise. They invite investigation
and examination. Through doing this work, one can gradually train the mind
to gradually practice these Teachings and gradually progress to
Enlightenment. As discontentedness is gradually diminished and then
eliminated from the mind, one can see the truth for themselves that these
Teachings work to guide one to Enlightenment.
177


These Teachings lead exactly where Gotama Buddha said they do, to
Enlightenment, and through each individual choosing to attain
Enlightenment, humanity will evolve the human species and at the same time
create “heaven on earth”.
178

Why Have I Decided to Reside and Teach in
Thailand in Order to Restore The Teachings of The
Buddha Back into Humanity and Create “Heaven
on Earth”?
1.) Largest Population of Theravada Buddhist Practitioners Anywhere in
the World: Thailand is the largest population of Theravada Buddhist
Practitioners and Teachers anywhere in the world. Theravada Buddhism
considers The Pāli Canon to be the original source Teachings of The Buddha
in The Words of The Buddha. Theravada Buddhism teaches the importance
of not changing The Teachings of The Buddha and practicing The Path to
Enlightenment as a Buddha has taught, without any modifications.
The Pāli Canon is an important text that should not be believed to be the true
Teachings of The Buddha but instead, one can learn, reflect, and practice to
independently verify The Teachings to acquire wisdom observing the truth in
The Teachings as the mind awakens and discontent feelings are gradually
diminished and ultimately eliminated.
Once I dedicate the remaining time of this life sharing these Teachings to
restore them back into the world, the Thai people and all other diligent
Students who choose to learn with me will not ever allow these Teachings to
be changed, modified, degraded, or lost over time. The Thai people and
diligent Students are well aware that since the lifetime of Gotama Buddha,
that is what has occurred and, through having these Teachings restored
during the remaining time of this life, the Thai people and diligent Students
will not allow this to occur again.
The Thai people will support these Teachings and ensure they continue to be
offered in the world for the benefit of “all beings” while being hosted in
Thailand and supported by dedicated Students from many international
locations.
These Teachings have existed in Thailand for 800-1200 years and they have
received significant support from countless people over many generations.
The Thai people understand just how impactful The Teachings of The
Buddha are to their society and for all of humanity. The Thai people can
observe my dedication and commitment to sharing these Teachings, and
where possible, they will support me in sharing these Teachings throughout
Thailand and throughout the world.
179


Due to these Teachings existing in Thailand for approximately 800-1200
years, there is a significant amount of infrastructure already created through
over 30,000-40,000 Temples where local Thai people and visitors to Thailand
can actively learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings to acquire wisdom
and then integrate them into their lives. The Temple and Ordained
Practitioner infrastructure is not isolated to only Thailand but extends
throughout the world and is readily accessible to the benefit of “all beings”.
The Thai people have laid the groundwork for these Teachings to now be
shared worldwide through the Temple and Ordained Practitioner foundation
and infrastructure that has been created over multiple generations.
Thailand is a favorite destination for international travelers with many people
visiting Thailand to gain exposure and understanding of these Teachings
allowing them to be learned and then practiced “worldwide”. There is an
international audience that regularly visits Thailand who can learn these
Teachings to then return back to their home country where these Teachings
will be able to take root within all international societies. As these Teachings
flourish around the world, Thailand has the knowledge and resources to
support all of humanity to develop a Temple and Ordained Practitioner
infrastructure that can be created within each individual country based on
the interest of each country to more deeply integrate these Teachings into
their local communities.
2.) Students Have the Ability to Learn and Practice Among Millions of
Practitioners: One aspect of learning and practicing The Teachings of The
Buddha that will aid one’s development and progress towards the attainment
of Enlightenment is, to be part of a Community of Practitioners and Teachers
that can provide guidance for gradual training and gradual practice to
experience gradual progress on The Path to Enlightenment.
Through me residing and teaching in Thailand, Students have the
opportunity to live in a Community of Practitioners and Teachers who are
deeply committed to these Teachings and can serve as a role model for
Students to gain deeper understanding of how to practice these Teachings in
everyday life - even if on a semi-temporary basis during short visits to learn.
Through Students traveling to Thailand to learn while being surrounded by
millions of Practitioners, they can more readily absorb how one might
choose to integrate these Teachings into their daily life through observing
how the people of Thailand live with countless nationalities residing
peacefully and harmoniously with each other throughout the Kingdom of
Thailand. Students will not only be able to learn these Teachings in a
classroom setting at a Temple but, they will also experience day-to-day
interactions with people who are choosing to deeply practice these
Teachings creating “real life lessons” in a “classroom without walls”.
180


The entire Kingdom of Thailand can serve as a real life classroom
environment where these Teachings are readily practiced and observable by
those who choose to visit this Kingdom. I often refer to Thailand as “heaven
on earth”.
3.) Can Live With Minimal Expenses: To be able to offer these Teachings at
“no cost” I needed to find a location where I could reside with minimal
expenses. This allows me to live based on donations rather than charging
Students a price for the time, effort, energy, and resources that I expend to
share these Teachings worldwide. This allows me to serve the widest
audience possible without a need to require payment for my services and
The Teachings that are shared.
The basic necessities to live life are readily available and are offered at a
minimal cost in Thailand. This provides me the ability to live a basic lifestyle
from donations shared by Students. I am able to purchase food, water,
clothing, shelter, and medical care at a relatively nominal cost. And, services
that I might need to support the development of learning resources are also
readily available at a nominal cost.
Whether it be an audio studio to record an audiobook, printing services,
technology, classroom supplies, or a full range of other needs to support the
continued sharing of these Teachings, Thailand offers these at a nominal
price so that there is the best utilization of any and all donations received.
As a result, I am able to help any and all beings regardless of their financial
situation through creating a lifestyle where I only need basic necessities to
survive and those are provided at a nominal cost while being supported by
donations that are fully utilized by purchasing goods and services that are
made available at a reasonable price.
4.) Healthy Environment to Live Life and Work: A wise choice for a place
to live and teach would need to include a healthy food supply, weather,
environment, and lifestyle. All of these are readily available in Thailand which
is able to support me in leading as healthy of a lifestyle as possible.
The food in Thailand is healthy and readily available. There are many fresh
fruits, vegetables, herbs, nuts, seeds, and other foods that are a regular part
of the Thai food offerings and readily accessible among countless fresh food
markets. This allows me to ingest quality food that is supportive to a long
and healthy life, thus, being able to support the learning of many Students
for as long as possible due to an elongated duration of life.
181


Thailand’s weather and environment provides the least impact to the
physical body without significant weather changes or weather events that
can be taxing to one’s physical health.
The Thai economy is conducive to living a balanced lifestyle that supports a
significant amount of time with family and friends. A work-life balance is
highly understood, appreciated, supported, and straight forward to create
while living in Thailand. I am able to remain dedicated and determined in my
work life while also being dedicated to quality time within our immediate
family. This creates the very best environment to ensure consistent health
and longevity of life while enjoying a fulfilling life.
5.) Can Share Teachings Within Thailand Throughout the Day and Can
Share Teachings with the Rest of The World in the Mornings and
Evenings: Through living and sharing these Teachings from Thailand and
needing minimal sleep, I am able to help countless people throughout the
day based on the Thai timezone, while helping countless people in other
timezones during the early morning hours and evenings. This allows me to
be effective at sharing these Teachings around the clock and throughout the
world without any limitations based on restrictive timezones.
The timezone in Thailand is favorable to allowing me to share these
Teachings worldwide without limitations based on the time of day. I can be
helpful from morning, afternoon, and evening where there are Students who
are readily interested to learn - whether in-person or online.
6.) Students Have Easy Access to Visas to Gain Access to Classes,
Courses, and Retreats: To be successful at sharing these Teachings
worldwide, in-person learning is ideal. While there is much that can be
learned online and that is one way to be able to share these Teachings, there
is no better way to develop your life practice than to learn through in-person
access to a Teacher.
Through residing and teaching in Thailand, Students from all over the world
have easy access to classes, courses, and retreats from within Thailand due
to easy access to visas and as a result, me as their Teacher. Thailand does
not have restrictive visa requirements that would bar people from certain
countries which would inhibit “all beings” from gaining access to these
Teachings.
Instead, Thailand is open and accessible to a wide majority of the world and
where needed, I am able to travel.
182


I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand which is an international destination for
countless people around the world. I live within a 4000 km distance to fifty
percent (50%) of the world’s population. This means that half of the world’s
population is a short drive or plane ride away. This creates the ability for a
large majority of humanity to more easily gain access to these Teachings.
And, where needed, I am able to easily travel to all other parts of the world
and teach online.
People often travel to Thailand for the sole purpose of learning The
Teachings of The Buddha on The Path to Enlightenment. So, by sharing
these Teachings from within Thailand, there are countless people who are
coming here specifically to learn and practice in the exact location where I
reside and teach.
In conclusion, through residing and teaching in Thailand as a “home-base”, I
am able to readily share these Teachings worldwide and work towards the
restoration of The Teachings of The Buddha back into humanity so that
countless people can attain Enlightenment during this lifetime and after my
death.
Thailand is the perfect location for these Teachings to be shared and to serve
as a “home-base” or “headquarters” for the international community to be
invited and welcomed with “open arms”. There is no other location on earth
that could provide for a better location to share these important Teachings
and to then be preserved for future generations.
The Kingdom is here in Thailand and ready to support you in the
development of your life practice towards the attainment of Enlightenment so
that we can all create “heaven on earth”.
The Teachings are hosted in the east and visible in the west.
They are readily available to you and there will be a period of 1,000 years
that they will “shine in the world” for all those who choose to learn, reflect,
and practice to experience the peace and joy of the Enlightened mind. Then,
with all of us doing the work towards developing our own individual practice
of these Teachings, they will never again diminish, be degraded, or lost.
Once restored, these Teachings can continue to support humanity for the
rest of time.
May you discover the peace and joy of the Enlightened mind in this lifetime.
May you be peaceful, may you be safe, may you be well, and may you be
free of all discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
183


Invitation to Learn
I would like to invite you to a kind, compassionate and loving community of
Practitioners to learn and grow with these Teachings.
I would like to invite you to join this online group.
You will find it to be an online learning center for these Teachings and there
is a Teacher there to help provide guidance as you have questions.
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DailyWisdom999/
Additional Learning
Visit BuddhaDailyWisdom.com where you will discover a full range of
courses, retreats, and online learning resources to assist you on
The Path to Enlightenment.
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A more peaceful and loving world where all beings have care and compassion for each
other.
By supporting this learning opportunity, you will learn how to progress along
The Path to Enlightenment and help offer these Teachings to others through online and
in-person learning. Through these Teachings, the world will become a kinder, more
peaceful, and loving society.
Consider contributing $5, $10, $15 or any amount you wish to help us continue to offer
these Teachings to you and others around the world.
You can make a donation for the development and creation of these Teachings to help
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184

Created by:
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
BuddhaDailyWisdom.com
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I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for the community of
Ordained and Household Practitioners benefiting from the leadership of
Venerable Bhikkhu Kukrit Sotthibalo at Wat Na Pah Pong in Krung Thep,
Thailand for their dedication and diligence in sharing The Teachings of
Gotama Buddha. Their work was the inspiration for
“The Words of The Buddha” book series.
Wat Na Pah Pong
http://watnapp.com
185


THE WORDS OF THE BUDDHA
The Path to Enlightenment
Revealing The Hidden
Volume 1
Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment
Volume 2
Walking The Path with The Buddha
Volume 3
Foundation in The Teachings
Volume 4
Exploring The Path to Enlightenment
Volume 5
The First Stage of Enlightenment
(Stream-Enterer)
Volume 6
The Natural Law of Kamma
Volume 7
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Volume 8
The Foremost Householders
Volume 9
The Six Sense Bases
Volume 10
The Buddha’s Way
Volume 11
The Realms of Existence
Volume 12
Lowly Arts
Volume 13
Generosity
FREE Download, Print, or Kindle
https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/freebuddhabooks
186


THE WORDS OF THE BUDDHA
The Path to Enlightenment
Revealing The Hidden
Breathing Mindfulness
Meditation
Volume 7
1

Note from Author 8
Preface 14
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation 14
Chapter 1 18
Great Fruit and Benefit of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Anāpānasati) 18
Chapter 2 26
Seven Predicted Fruits and Benefits of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation 26
Chapter 3 29
Cultivating Mindfulness of Breathing 29
Chapter 4 37
Cultivating Mindfulness of Breathing 37
Chapter 5 46
Reflecting on the Body as a Body 46
Chapter 6 49
Mindfulness of the Body 49
Chapter 7 51
Mindfulness of Breathing Leads Exclusively to Nibbāna (Enlightenment) 51
Chapter 8 53
Concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing Leads to the Abandoning of the
Fetters 53
Chapter 9 55
Concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing Leads to the Uprooting of
Underlying Tendencies 55
Chapter 10 57
Concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing Leads to the Full Understanding
of The Path 57
Chapter 11 61
Concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing Leads to the Destruction of the
Taints 61
Chapter 12 63
Great Fruit and Benefit of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Anāpānasati) 63
Chapter 13 65
2

Concentration by Mindfulness of Breathing is of Great Fruit and Benefit 65
Chapter 14 74
The Enlightenment Factors Accompanied by Breathing Mindfulness
Meditation 74
Chapter 15 77
Great Fruit and Benefit of Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Anāpānasati) 77
(Another Discourse) 77
Chapter 16 82
A Monk Who Is Not Lacking of Jhāna 82
Chapter 17 83
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation An Excellent and Peaceful Dwelling 83
Chapter 18 85
Cultivating Breathing Mindfulness Meditation a Monk Flattens Evil
Unwholesome States 85
(The Four Foundations of Mindfulness) 85
Chapter 19 93
Protecting One’s Own Mind You Protect Others 93
Chapter 20 96
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation for Abandoning Mental Distraction 96
Chapter 21 100
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation Well Established, Annoying Thoughts and
Impulses Don’t Exist 100
Chapter 22 103
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation The Tathāgata’s Dwelling 103
Chapter 23 107
Through Breathing Mindfulness Meditation No Shaking or Trembling Occurs
in the Body and No Shaking or Trembling Occurs in the Mind 107
Chapter 24 109
The Final In-Breaths and Out-Breaths Are Known 109
Chapter 25 110
One Who Perceives Non-Self Eradicates the Conceit ‘I Am’ 110
Chapter 26 114
3

Things That Lead to the Liberation of Mind 114
Chapter 27 116
Ten Perceptions for Curing of an Affliction 116
Chapter 28 124
Five Things to Penetrate to the Unshakable 124
Chapter 29 130
The Five Hindrances That Weaken Wisdom 130
Chapter 30 135
These Five Hindrances Are Called Obstacles, Hindrances, Coverings-up,
Envelopings 135
Chapter 31 137
Then The Tathāgata Guides Him Further… 137
Chapter 32 139
The Cause and Reason for the True Teachings to Endure Long After a
Tathāgata Has Attained Final Nibbāna 139
Chapter 33 145
Great Good of Mindfulness Directed to the Body 145
Chapter 34 150
Do Concentration in the Morning, in the Middle of the Day, and in the
Evening 150
Author 153
Restoration of The Buddha’s Teachings 154
The Path to Enlightenment 154
The Goal 156
An Entire Species of Enlightened Beings 156
Why Have I Decided to Teach The Path to Enlightenment as Taught by
Gotama Buddha? 159
Why Have I Decided to Reside and Teach in Thailand in Order to Restore The
Teachings of The Buddha Back into Humanity and Create “Heaven on
Earth”? 162
4

The author is donating 100% of all his proceeds from
this book to charitable work to share The Teachings
of Gotama Buddha.
You are welcome to freely distribute this book.
Please consider providing a donation to support the
continued sharing of these Teachings.
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5

THE WORDS OF THE BUDDHA
The Path to Enlightenment
Revealing The Hidden
Volume 1
Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment
Volume 2
Walking The Path with The Buddha
Volume 3
Foundation in The Teachings
Volume 4
Exploring The Path to Enlightenment
Volume 5
The First Stage of Enlightenment
(Stream-Enterer)
Volume 6
The Natural Law of Kamma
Volume 7
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
Volume 8
The Foremost Householders
Volume 9
The Six Sense Bases
Volume 10
The Buddha’s Way
Volume 11
The Realms of Existence
Volume 12
Lowly Arts
Volume 13
Generosity
FREE Download, Print, or Kindle
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6

Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Volume 7)
Journey through The Words of The Buddha from the beginning of his first
Teaching until his “last words” prior to death.
The book, “Breathing Mindfulness Meditation” is select Teachings from The
Buddha organized from the largest and most complete collection of The
Buddha’s Teachings on The Path to Enlightenment - The Pāli Canon.
The Pāli Canon, or The Pāli Text, comprises forty-five (45) large volumes of
books where Students from the lifetime of The Buddha captured his
Teachings. The discourses of The Buddha in The Pāli Canon represent the
largest and most complete collection we have of The Buddha’s Teachings in
his own words. The Buddha’s Teachings are scattered over multiple volumes
of books in The Pāli Canon making it challenging for the average Practitioner
to glean the benefit of his Teachings.
The Words of The Buddha book series, has consolidated and organized his
Teachings into a series of books, based on specific topics, with explanations
of The Teachings from a dedicated Practitioner and Teacher.
You will find books such as Breathing Mindfulness Meditation (Volume 7) that
are the consolidated Teachings in The Words of The Buddha related to
meditation. The Natural Law of Kamma (Volume 6) provides Teachings
directly from The Buddha related to the important topic of Kamma. The
Foremost Householders (Volume 8) shares Teachings specifically for
Household Practitioners who are pursuing The Path to Enlightenment where
the mind is peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently.
The Words of The Buddha book series will provide a beginning, middle, and
end with detailed Teachings to develop your life practice and the ability to
seek guidance with the author of the book series. Learn, reflect, and practice
The Teachings of The Buddha, in his own words, with guidance from a
Teacher - offered openly and freely to “all beings”.
BuddhaDailyWisdom.com
7

Note from Author
This book shares Teachings from Gotama Buddha to guide Practitioners on
The Path to Enlightenment.
In various settings, Gotama Buddha is sharing Teachings with either a male
or a female - a husband or a wife.
As you learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings from Gotama Buddha,
you should consider The Teachings shared as multi-gendered. So while
Gotama Buddha may be using a specific gender of he/she, male/female, or a
specific title of husband/wife, son/daughter you can apply these same
Teachings to all genders and roles of the opposite of which he was
addressing his Teachings to in the setting in which The Teachings were
originally shared, or use a gender-neutral pronoun.
If Gotama Buddha is sharing Teachings with a man of how to be a
wholesome husband, you can relate this same Teaching for a female of how
to be a wholesome wife. If he is sharing a Teaching with a male of how to be
a wholesome son, you can relate this same Teaching for a female of how to
be a wholesome daughter. You have the freedom to apply these Teachings
using all genders and titles in use today.
Additionally, Gotama Buddha never used rebirth in the heavenly realm nor
rebirth in the lower realms of hell, animal, or afflicted spirits as a way to guilt,
shame, fear, or otherwise motivate people to learn and practice his
Teachings.
When you come to understand Teachings shared by Gotama Buddha related
to these potential future destinations upon rebirth, he is sharing the truth of
what will or will not occur based on specific Teachings based on The Natural
Laws of Existence. The truth he discovered, observed, and experienced as
The Perfectly Enlightened One.
One should in no way consider these Teachings he shared as a way to guilt,
shame, or fear one into learning and practicing his Teachings but instead,
consider that he is sharing the truth of what will or will not occur ensuring
that Practitioners understand the truth related to The Natural Laws of
Existence. Gotama Buddha’s Teachings on The Path to Enlightenment
involve, among other things, the elimination of guilt, shame, and fear. He
would not use guilt, shame, or fear to motivate someone to learn and
practice his Teachings because his most core and central Teaching of The
Four Noble Truths, and everything else he taught, makes it clear that the
objective is to eliminate discontent feelings such as guilt, shame, and fear.
8

Gotama Buddha shared The Teachings as guidance for anyone who chooses
to learn and practice without forceful influence. Through learning, reflecting,
and practicing his Teachings, one comes to understand the truth as the
condition of the mind and the condition of one’s life gradually improve.
It is not possible to forcefully influence one to attain Enlightenment and that
approach was never employed by The Perfectly Enlightened One, and
should never be employed by anyone else. Learning and practicing these
Teachings is through personal free will choice.
A Buddha only points the way, everyone else must strive.
While this book series contains “The Words of The Buddha” as the
foundation and focus of study, the author has provided you content in which
to understand and reflect on his thoughts related to The Teachings shared by
The Buddha.
A reader and, thus, Practitioner should not rely solely on the author’s content
in their reflection on The Teachings from Gotama Buddha. The author’s
content is to provide you guidance towards understanding but it is you, the
Practitioner, who needs to deeply investigate “The Words of The Buddha” to
determine the truth for yourself. You should not be limited to only what the
author has provided by way of meaning and understanding of “The Words of
The Buddha”. Instead, learn, reflect, practice, and seek guidance from a
Teacher to support you in gaining wisdom. The mind is liberated through
wisdom.
To gain the most benefit from “The Words of The Buddha” book series,
it is suggested that you start with (Volume 1), “Developing a Life
Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment”. That book will provide
a framework to understand all of Gotama Buddha’s Teachings in the
entire book series. Without reading that book first, a Practitioner will
find it very challenging to start with learning from “The Words of The
Buddha”.
FREE Download, Print, or Kindle
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9

The Problem - The Wisdom of Enlightenment Has Been Lost
Gotama Buddha lived over 2,500 years ago sharing The Teachings that lead
to Enlightenment.
During his lifetime, it was well known to people who were learning, reflecting,
and practicing with him as their Teacher, exactly what Enlightenment is and
how to attain it.
This wisdom remained for 500 years after the death of The Buddha. But
thereafter, this wisdom has gradually declined and diminished to the point
where we are today, 2,500 years later. Gotama Buddha predicted this would
occur.
The vast majority of the world does not understand what Enlightenment is
and how to attain it. The Path to Enlightenment, while once was strong and
vibrant during the lifetime of The Buddha, has now practically disappeared.
There are very few beings in existence today who understand what
Enlightenment is and how to attain it.
The Universal Truth of Impermanence has drastically affected humanity’s
understanding of The Path to Enlightenment.
This occurred through the lack of focus and diligence to maintain The
Teachings of The Buddha as vibrantly as existed during his lifetime. People
gradually and slowly mixed and blended various traditions and thoughts into
The Buddha’s Teachings which, while perhaps well intended, have only
served to dilute humanity’s understanding of The Path to Enlightenment and,
thus, have made it extremely difficult for countless beings to experience
Enlightenment.
Enlightenment is a peaceful, calm, serene, and content mind with joy that is
permanent. The Enlightened mind no longer experiences any discontent
feelings. All discontentedness such as sadness, anger, frustration, irritation,
annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness, shyness, jealousy,
resentment, stress, anxiety, etc., has been completely eliminated from the
Enlightened mind.
Gotama Buddha’s objective is for his Teachings to be shared worldwide so
that all beings can experience the Enlightened mental state. However, during
his lifetime, it was impossible to share his Teachings worldwide. It has now
come to us to be able to actively learn, reflect, and practice his Teachings, in
such a way, that they are restored and shining in the world so that countless
10

individuals can attain Enlightenment today and in multiple generations to
come.
But, in order to accomplish this goal, we will need to stay determined,
dedicated, and diligent to learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings
of The Buddha that he shared over 2,500 years ago. We will need to be
diligent to ensure that we are not diluting his Teachings through mixing
various traditions and practices that are not part of The Path to
Enlightenment.
Every Practitioner will need to decide, are they interested in being part of the
problem or part of the solution.
The solution takes time, effort, energy, and resources to be committed
enough to restoring The Buddha’s Teachings back into humanity, in such a
way, that is highly beneficial to countless individuals today and long into the
future.
Remaining part of the problem requires no time, effort, energy, or resources.
It just requires continued complacency and lack of attention to the active
learning, reflecting, and practicing of “The Words of The Buddha”. I suggest
it would be unwise to remain part of the problem as one will continue to
experience discontentedness and the suffering it causes.
The Solution - Restoring The Buddha’s Teachings Back into Humanity
If you would like to be part of the solution, I would like to encourage you to
actively learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings of The Buddha, in such a
way, that does not include the diluting or mixing of his Teachings with other
traditions. It is The Teachings of The Buddha that lead to Enlightenment, not
those that are blended and mixed that only serve to dilute The Path to
Enlightenment for all those who aspire to experience Enlightenment.
The primary obstacle or obstruction that hinders Practitioners from the
attainment of Enlightenment is ignorance (unknowing of true reality). This is a
taint/pollution of mind where the Practitioner lacks wisdom to understand the
true Path to Enlightenment. This unknowing of true reality creates an
obstacle or obstruction that keeps the mind trapped in the unEnlightened
state continuing to experience continued discontentedness and the suffering
it causes. The only way to remove this hindrance is to seek guidance with a
Teacher in the true Teachings of The Buddha using The Words of The
Buddha. It is The Teachings of The Buddha that will awaken the mind to
Enlightenment through independent verification of his Teachings to acquire
wisdom, thus, removing this obstruction to Enlightenment.
11

Through dedication to restoring The Teachings of The Buddha within your
own life practice by acquiring wisdom using The Words of The Buddha, you
are doing your part to contribute to restoring his Teachings back into
humanity for the benefit of countless beings that exist now and long into the
future. All of humanity can evolve so that everyone can attain Enlightenment
creating the most peaceful world we have ever imagined. It will be like
“heaven on earth”.
You are invited to join this Community to only learn and practice “The Words
of The Buddha”, in such a way, that leads to your Enlightenment and the
restoration of The Buddha’s Teachings so that you and countless beings can
experience the peacefulness, liberation of mind, and complete elimination of
discontentedness and the suffering it causes, known as Enlightenment.
The Words of The Buddha Book Series
https://www.buddhadailywisdom.com/freebuddhabooks
“Thank you” for choosing to learn and
practice Gotama Buddha’s Teachings.
You are making the world a better place
through developing your life practice based
on “The Words of The Buddha”.
12

Continue to read and understand “The Words of The Buddha - The Path to
Enlightenment - Revealing The Hidden” book series that has been laid out
for all of us to achieve a better way of life.
You can connect to a group of people in a supportive environment for
discussion, sharing, and learning through the Facebook group.
Daily Wisdom - Walking The Path with The Buddha
https://www.facebook.com/groups/DailyWisdom999/
All members are accepted without judgment. It is a healthy place to talk,
discuss, learn, and grow. There are resources to help you further on this
Path to Enlightenment accessible online through a Group Learning
Program.
Group Learning Program: LIVE Interactive Online Classes, Books,
Audiobooks, Videos, Podcast and Personal Guidance are available for you.
13

Preface
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
This book is dedicated to “you” and the complete elimination, destruction,
and cessation of suffering or “discontentedness” of the mind. Thus, this
book is dedicated to the elimination of discontentedness and the suffering
that it causes in the entire world.
The Teachings in this book series, with some effort on your part, will lead you
to everlasting peace - a peaceful mind and a peaceful life. It’s your personal
choices, with these Teachings serving as a guide, that will bring you these
results.
We are all walking towards the darkness or towards the light. Which
direction you walk is completely your choice.
This book and Teachings are meant to guide you in learning, reflecting, and
practicing The Teachings of The Perfectly Enlightened Buddha who lived
over 2,500 years ago.
The Teachings of The Buddha are timeless, meaning they are just as
applicable today as they were 2,500 years ago.
Gotama Buddha’s Teachings are not a religion but instead, a “better way of
life”. Through learning, reflecting, and practicing these Teachings to
independently verify the truth, the mind will acquire wisdom awakening to
Enlightenment.
It is suggested that you first read “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That
Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1) of this same book series while seeking
guidance from a Teacher. It is that book that provides a Practitioner with a
solid foundation in developing a life practice that will lead to the Enlightened
mind.
In order to progress on The Path to Enlightenment, a Practitioner will need a
Teacher to receive guidance. One would not be able to only read a book and
attain the results of an Enlightened mind.
Nothing in Gotama Buddha’s Teachings is based on belief. A Buddha has
already done the hard work of figuring out how to attain Enlightenment. You
just need to learn and practice his Teachings to improve the condition of the
mind and your life.
14

All his Teachings can be learned and practiced to independently observe the
truth as the mind “gradually” acquires wisdom through independent
verification of his Teachings and through practice of his Teachings.
This new found wisdom “gradually” improves the way the mind functions in
the world through eliminating discontentedness of mind. The mind can
completely eliminate all discontent feelings such as sadness, anger,
frustration, irritation, annoyance, guilt, shame, fears, boredom, loneliness,
shyness, jealousy, resentment, stress, anxiety, etc. on The Path to
Enlightenment.
Through learning and practicing Gotama Buddha’s Teachings with guidance,
the mind becomes Enlightened in that you can observe the improvement in
the condition of the mind as you eliminate all discontent feelings where the
mind can reside peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy - permanently.
You are not believing The Teachings wishing for a positive outcome at some
point in the future or after death. Instead, you are observing the
improvements to the condition of the mind right now - in the present
moment.
Only a Buddha would be able to attain Enlightenment on their own without
Teachers. These are some of the criteria that make a Buddha a Buddha is
that they discover The Teachings on their own attaining Enlightenment
without help from a Teacher, shares their independently discovered
Teachings to guide countless others to Enlightenment during the remaining
time of their life, and they leave their Teachings in a condition that they guide
countless others to Enlightenment after their death.
The last Buddha currently known to the world existed over 2,500 years ago.
That means you and everyone else will need Teachers on this Path to
Enlightenment.
Your journey to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings is significantly
improved through making the choice to learn directly with “The Words of The
Buddha”.
Today, there are many resources for Teachings described as Buddhist or
originating with The Buddha. But, it is only when a Practitioner chooses to
investigate “The Words of The Buddha” being sourced directly from the
original source, The Pāli Canon, that a Practitioner will come to understand
the truth of what The Buddha actually taught and be able to implement these
Teachings into your daily life to experience the results of Enlightenment.
15

Through learning and practicing Gotama Buddha’s Teachings, in his own
words, The Perfectly Enlightened One’s wisdom can penetrate the mind and
you can experience the breakthrough to realizing the Enlightened mind.
I have significant gratitude, appreciation, admiration, and respect for Master
Teacher Gotama Buddha as his Teachings lead exactly where he said they
would. To a steady, calm, stable, and unshakable mind, known as
Enlightenment.
There are countless unknown and unnamed individuals who are responsible
for these Teachings reaching you in this book series. These Teachings have
been preserved throughout history over the last 2,500 years through the
tireless efforts of Ordained and Household Practitioners. These Teachings
have been preserved and shared from one generation to the next because
they work.
It is now up to us to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings to
experience the Enlightened mind, so that we may benefit from an improved
existence while also preserving these Teachings for future generations in our
hearts and minds.
While books are an outstanding tool to capture The Teachings and share
them worldwide, there is nothing more significant than having massive
numbers of Enlightened beings in the world who can directly share these
Teachings with those who choose to seek guidance in developing their life
practice on The Path to Enlightenment. Each of us individually and
collectively, are just one link in a long chain of Practitioners and Teachers
spanning over 2,500 years.
What we choose to do in this time and place will determine how vibrant and
sustaining these Teachings are for future generations. It is our work and
effort to seek our own Enlightenment that we will experience results for our
own mind and lay the groundwork for countless more beings after us to
experience the same freedom of mind that you are now choosing to pursue.
Many people are interested in improving the world, but do not know how. It
is only when we are dedicated to improving our own wisdom, moral conduct,
and mental discipline that we will improve the world. Through improving our
own life practice through learning “The Words of The Buddha” then, we will
have collectively improved the world.
The problem that the unEnlightened mind is experiencing is not the outside
world, but the inner world. Training the mind, the inner world, is what
produces a peaceful existence. You can’t control other people and what they
16

do. You can only decide to train your own mind to be unaffected by what
others do.
It is a real struggle to exist in a world that the mind does not understand. It is
“The Words of The Buddha” that explains The Natural Laws of Existence
guiding the mind to acquire deep wisdom to make better free will decisions
through a purified mind.
Master Teacher Gotama Buddha
(The Tathāgata)
17


Chapter 1
Great Fruit and Benefit of
Breathing Mindfulness Meditation
(Anāpānasati)
Monks, Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation), when
developed and cultivated, is of great fruit and benefit. And how, Monks, is
Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation) developed and
cultivated so that it is of great fruit and benefit?
Here, Monks, a Monk, having gone to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or an
empty hut, sits down. Having folded his legs crosswise, straightened his
body, and set up mindfulness in front of him, just mindful he breathes in,
mindful he breathes out.
Breathing in long, he knows: I breathe in long;
or breathing out long, he knows: I breathe out long.
Breathing in short, he knows: I breathe in short;
or breathing out short, he knows: I breathe out short.
He trains thus: Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Experiencing joy, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Experiencing joy, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Calming the mental activity, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Calming the mental activity, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Experiencing the mind, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Experiencing the mind, I will breathe out.
18


He trains thus: Gladdening the mind, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Gladdening the mind, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Concentrating the mind, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Concentrating the mind, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Liberating the mind, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Liberating the mind, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Reflecting on impermanence, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Reflecting on impermanence, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Reflecting on fading away, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Reflecting on fading away, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Reflecting on elimination, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Reflecting on elimination, I will breathe out.
He trains thus: Reflecting on letting go, I will breathe in;
he trains thus: Reflecting on letting go, I will breathe out.
It is, Monks, when Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness
Meditation) is developed and cultivated in this way that it is of great fruit and
benefit.
When, Monks, Mindfulness of Breathing (Breathing Mindfulness Meditation)
has been developed and cultivated in this way, one of two fruits may be
predicted: either final knowledge (wisdom) in this very life or, if there is a
residue of clinging, the state of Non-Returner.
(Reference: SN 54.4)


In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how important Breathing Mindfulness
Meditation is to the development of the mind to attain Enlightenment.
The Buddha guides his Students to go “to the forest, to the foot of a tree, or an empty
hut, sits down”. Then, fold the “legs crosswise, straightened his body, and set up
mindfulness in front of him”. While this was the guidance from The Buddha during his
lifetime as a place to meditate, this may or may not be practical today. There are many
different places one might choose to meditate, and “in the forest at the foot of a tree” is
one of those places you might find to meditate.
19


The legs should be lightly crossed allowing circulation to flow through the lower body but
the upper body (i.e. torso) should be erect or straight. Maintaining the erectness of the
upper body keeps the mind attentive and alert during meditation. The mind will need to
be actively involved in the meditation session.
A Practitioner will need to “setup mindfulness in front of” them prior to entering
meditation. Mindfulness is generally described as “awareness of mind” but truly relates to
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness. So, a Practitioner will need to develop “awareness
of mind” or become mindful prior to and as one enters meditation. This awareness of
mind allows a Practitioner to train the mind through an active, dedicated, independent,
purposeful training session.
Meditation is a technique to actively train the mind during dedicated, independent,
purposeful training sessions to eliminate unwholesome qualities of the mind and/or
cultivate wholesome qualities of the mind in the positions of seated, lying, standing,
or walking.
While The Buddha provides guidance in this Teaching for seated meditation, there are
other options available that he taught. Seated, lying, standing, and walking are all
positions The Buddha taught during his lifetime. You might even choose to meditate in a
chair.
Detailed explanation of developing a meditation practice is available in this same book
series found in Chapter 11 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads
to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
There is detailed guidance located in that book to help you get well established in your
meditation practice. The guidance shared here is to help a Practitioner who has already
learned with the book and other resources at that location to further develop their
meditation practice. I do not suggest a Practitioner use this book to start their meditation
practice but instead, use this book to enhance an existing meditation practice that is
based on The Teachings found in Chapter 11 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The
Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).
Just mindful he breathes in, mindful he breathes out: Once the body is in position, the
Practitioner needs to start becoming aware of the mind, they then need to bring their
awareness of mind to the breath focusing on the sound of the breath or the sensation of
air moving over the skin into the nose. The breath is the present moment. The mind can
be peaceful and calm when it is in the present moment. One aspect of this meditation is
to train the mind to reside in the present moment, and fixating the mind on the breath
during meditation will help accomplish that goal.
The Buddha provides guidance for meditation using the remaining following statements.
These are not statements one should recite during meditation but instead, this is
guidance of what one is working to accomplish during meditation. Through training the
mind in this way, a Practitioner develops the necessary training to be applied in daily life
towards the elimination of discontentedness. Without training the mind in Breathing
Mindfulness Meditation on a consistent ongoing basis, a Practitioner would be unable to
attain Enlightenment. But also, attaining Enlightenment is much more than only
meditation. There is an entire path to Enlightenment that a Practitioner will need to learn
and practice to train the mind in and out of meditation.
20


Breathing in long, he knows: I breathe in long; or breathing out long, he knows: I
breathe out long: A Practitioner should have awareness of the breath to know that they
are breathing in either long or short. It is best to have a gradual breath that is not
controlled or forced, just a natural full breath in through the nose and out through the
nose. The mind should be fixated on the breath to gradually experience the full inhale and
exhale. The mind can be fixated on the sound of the breath or the sensation of air moving
over the skin and into the nose.
Breathing in short, he knows: I breathe in short; or breathing out short, he knows: I
breathe out short: A Practitioner should have awareness of the breath to know that they
are breathing in either long or short. It is best to have a gradual breath that is not
controlled or forced, just a natural full breath in through the nose and out through the
nose. The mind should be fixated on the breath to gradually experience the full inhale and
exhale. The mind can be fixated on the sound of the breath or the sensation of air moving
over the skin and into the nose.
He trains thus: Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe in; he trains thus:
Experiencing the whole body, I will breathe out: A Practitioner will need to develop
Right Mindfulness using The Four Foundations of Mindfulness so that the mind is aware
of any bodily sensations that arise during meditation but does not allow those to affect
the mind.
He trains thus: Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe in; he trains thus:
Calming the bodily sensations, I will breathe out: The mind needs to be unaffected by
any arising bodily sensations during meditation “cutting them off and letting them go”
observing the impermanent nature of all bodily sensations. This will calm the bodily
sensations training the mind to be unaffected.
In daily life, as the mind becomes aware of the arising bodily sensations generated by
arising discontentedness (i.e. pleasant feelings, painful feelings, or feelings that are
neither painful-nor-pleasant) a Practitioner will need to “cut them off and let them go”.
Once aware of these bodily sensations, the Practitioner should apply Right Effort to “cut
them off and let them go” so that the arising discontentedness does not come into the
mind creating discontent feelings. Allowing arising discontentedness to enter the mind
will make it more difficult to eliminate the discontentedness. So if a Practitioner is able to
catch the arising bodily sensations, then the discontentedness never enters the mind
allowing you to reside peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy.
He trains thus: Experiencing joy, I will breathe in; he trains thus: Experiencing joy, I
will breathe out: As a Practitioner trains the mind in meditation, one might experience
joy. As the mind is trained to let go fixating on the breath through consistent ongoing
meditation sessions, there may be occasional experiences of bliss or joy. The mind needs
to reside unaffected by the arisen joy training the mind to reside in “the middle”.
A Practitioner should not expect the joy to occur, as if they do, it will not occur. The
guidance is that as one experiences joy, just continue to breathe in and out residing
unaffected by the joy experienced.
21


He trains thus: Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe in; he trains thus:
Experiencing peacefulness, I will breathe out: As a Practitioner trains the mind in
meditation, one might experience peacefulness. As the mind is trained to let go fixating
on the breath through consistent ongoing meditation sessions, there may be experiences
of peacefulness. The mind needs to reside unaffected by the arisen peacefulness training
the mind to reside in “the middle”.
A Practitioner should not expect the peacefulness to occur, as if they do, it will not occur.
The guidance is that as one experiences peacefulness, just continue to breathe in and out
residing unaffected by the peacefulness experienced.
He trains thus: Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe in; he trains thus:
Experiencing the mental activity, I will breathe out: As the mind experiences mental
activity during meditation, reside continuing to focus on the breath.
He trains thus: Calming the mental activity, I will breathe in; he trains thus: Calming
the mental activity, I will breathe out: To calm the mental activity, when the mind is not
on the breath, “cut that off and let it go”. Do not attempt to figure out why the mind is
having thoughts during meditation, where they are coming from, judge the thoughts, or
label the thoughts in any way. You have not done anything wrong, this is just the
unEnlightened mind having craving/desire/attachment being uncomfortable to reside in
the present moment.
Once the mind is aware of the mental activity with the mind no longer focused on the
breath, just “cut off and let go” of those feelings, perceptions, or volitional formations
(choices/decisions), no longer allowing the mind to drift or wander. Instead, “cut those off
and let them go” bringing the mind back to the breath, the present moment.
This is training that one employs during meditation. During daily life, a Practitioner should
cut off and let go of any arising unwholesome feelings, unwholesome perceptions, or
unwholesome volitional formations (choices/decisions) but, wholesome feelings,
wholesome perceptions, or wholesome volitional formations (choices/decisions) will be
needed to conduct life. This is normal and you should not approach daily life in the exact
same way as you do in meditation.
In meditation, all feelings, perceptions, or volitional formations (choices/decisions) are
being “cut off and they should be let go”. The mind is developing Right Mindfulness
(awareness of mind) through The Four Foundations of Mindfulness, applying Right Effort
to “cut off and let go” of feelings, perceptions, or volitional formations (choices/decisions),
eliminating craving/desire/attachment so that the mind will reside in the present moment,
and as a result, the mind develops Right Concentration or “singleness of mind”.
A Practitioner should train the mind to focus on only one thing at a time during daily
activities in daily life. With Breathing Mindfulness Meditation and practicing “singleness of
mind” during daily life as part of Right Concentration, the mind can develop focus,
concentration, deep memory and clarity of thought bringing the mind closer to
Enlightenment.
In daily life, a Practitioner will need to have awareness to know what is wholesome and
unwholesome applying these same skills and abilities developed during meditation in
daily life to eliminate unwholesome feelings, perceptions, or volitional formations
(choices/decisions). As you train the mind in meditation and in daily life, eventually, there
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