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on what the Buddha taught

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Saṃyutta Nikāya
Mahāvaggo
Ānāpānasaṃyuttaṃ
Ekadhammavaggo
Ekadhammasuttaṃ
SN54.1

Situated at Sāvatthi.

Now there ... pe ... said this:

'One principle, almsmen, when developed, when made much of, is great of fruit, great of benefit. Which one principle?

Recollection on the in and out breathe.

And from developed how, almsmen, from made much of how, is the recollection on the in and out breathe great of fruit, great of benefit?

Here, almsmen, an almsman gone to a forest or gone to the root of a tree, or gone to an empty home, having folded a seat he sits down, directing the body straight, peripherally attending the recollection.

He either recollected breathes in, or recollected breathes out.

Either while breathing in long he knows: 'long I breathe in',
or while breathing out long he knows: 'long I breathe out'.
Either while breathing in short he knows: 'short I breathe in',
or while breathing out short he knows: 'short I breathe out'.

'While experiencing the whole body I shall breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while experiencing the whole body I shall breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While relaxing the inclinations[1] for the body I shall breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while relaxing the inclinations for the body I shall breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While experiencing pleasantness I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while experiencing pleasantness I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While experiencing happiness I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while experiencing happiness I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While experiencing the inclinations for the mind I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while experiencing the inclinations for the mind I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While relaxing the inclinations for the mind I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while relaxing the inclinations for the mind I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While experiencing the mind I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while experiencing the mind I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While settling the mind [2] I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while settling the mind I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While emancipating the mind I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while emancipating the mind I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While considering impermanence I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while considering impermanence I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While considering fading I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while considering fading I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While considering cessation I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while considering cessation I breathe out' — he trains himself.

'While considering relinquishment I breathe in' — he trains himself,
'while considering relinquishment I breathe out' — he trains himself.

Thus from developed now, almsmen, recollection on the in and out breathe, thus from made much of, it is great of fruit, great of benefit.'

N o t e s

1. Perhaps you might have heard people advise someone to relax and a reply follows as 'but how can I relax?' which gets answered by 'just relax'. Thus relax to relax? And here it is made more clear, relax the inclinations which then will lead to a relaxed body and mind; Relax the breathe and the body will become relaxed, relax feelings and perceptions and mind will get relaxed.
2. After relaxing, the mind nestles or sinks in, which is the settling of the mind.