According to the Anapanasati Sutta it is this practise that leads to liberation but how does the destruction of (a) fetter(s) exactly happen? Let's take the stage from once-returner to non-returner. The latter one has removed sensual desire and anger. How did this exactly happen during Anapanasati?
2 Answers
I think the progression described in the Anapanasati Sutta can only lead to stream-entry and once-returner but not to non-returner or Arahant because the Anapanasati Sutta includes knowing of in & out breathing at every stage therefore does not yet include the jhana (that has no knowing of breathing) required for non-returner or Arahant.
This said, both the stream-enterer and particularly the once-returner have significantly reduced sensual desire and anger.
How this exactly happens during Anapanasati is insight (vipassana) into not-self (anatta) reduces the self-centredness that is the root of sensual desire and anger and particularly the calming (samatha) stages (4, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 & 15) provide the non-sensual happiness that allows the mind to naturally lose interest in sensual pleasures. Once sensual desire reduces, the impulse to worldly anger reduces (although some tendency to anger due to moral righteousness may remain).
Stages 5, 6 & 7 are also important (vipassana) because they allow the mind to transcend or decouple from enslavement to pleasant feelings; when it is discerned the peace of non-attachment & samatha is more pleasant than the strong vibrations of pleasant feelings; particularly the agitating quality of rapture (piti). Naturally losing interest in rapture by intimitately experiencing rapture's true nature is a very significant step to losing interest in sensuality.
Stage 9 is also important, where the ugly polluting nature of defilements are discerned directly; like coming face to face with the devil.
In summary, an important result of Anapansati is calm (samatha). When calm is experienced, it feels better than sensual desire or anger; thus breaking/reducing these fetters. Feeling this calm starts at stage 3, which is actually called: "experiencing all bodies (kaya)". The word 'kaya' refers to the physical body, breath-body and mental-body (nama-kaya). Stage 3 is experiencing how a mind of non-desire, non-anger & non-attachment results in the breathing calming and the physical body calming. Stage 3 is about experiencing the 'inter-relatedness' between the mind, breath & body. At stage 3 alone (when properly practised), it is experienced how a mind without sensual desire & without anger causes the breathing, body & mind to calm & feel satisfying peace.
answered Aug 4, 2018 at 8:56
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1If I can ask, in the first paragraph, when you say "the jhana (that has no knowing of breathing)" do you mean a formless jhana (i.e. beyond the first four)? And why say this is "required for a non-returner"? And are you sure it's a prerequisite (i.e. required before attainment), or is it perhaps subsequent (easier to enter without the fetter) or consequent?– ChrisW ♦Commented Aug 4, 2018 at 12:07
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Breathing is not a factor mentioned in suttas in rupa jhana. Ajahn Brahm says there is no awareness of breathing in rupa jhana. Generally it is said non-returner has developed 4 rupa jhana (example commentary to MN 140). Sutta definitely says (somewhere) non-returners can enter the 9th jhana but don't reach arahantship. You could start a new question about this. Commented Aug 4, 2018 at 23:05
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Dhammadhatu, monks like Ajahn Jayasaro and many others say that one should curiously observe the breath with interest and not try to strive for concentration. Would you share this? How long would it take to get to the level of vedana and citta and then dhammic phenomena?– ValCommented Aug 5, 2018 at 18:09
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My view is even more passive than Ajahn Jayasaro; that is; don't even try to observe the breath at all; only observe the mind to ensure the mind is silent & without any ambition. The mind is naturally conscious and the silent mind naturally knows the breathing. Intent to observe is not required. If there are no hindrances; it takes around 75 minutes of constant observing & calming of breathing to reach rapture. Spine must be natural and erect in posture. Commented Aug 5, 2018 at 20:59
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In this case, the means by which we bring the mind to silence is not that important, is it? Is your approach not way too hard? Since by observing the mind (thought processes), one might get caught up in them.– ValCommented Aug 6, 2018 at 4:13
Anapanasati MN118 is a progression of meditating with breath. This progression is very methodical and it is a guide to relinquishing what we hold on to, a guide to letting go. The progression starts with the breath itself and invites an awareness of the quality of the breath, not a controlling awareness to make the breath anything, but an abiding awareness to observe what the breath is doing. Retaining and extending that awareness as the sutta progresses, one finds this:
Whenever a mendicant practices breathing while experiencing the mind...at that time they meditate observing an aspect of the mind—keen, aware, and mindful, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
As noted by @Dhammadhattu, the phrase rid of desire and aversion for the world occurs in each of the four tetrads, so the release to these happens progressively via each tetrad. Skipping tetrads to achieve a particular result is ineffective. Instead, simply follow the progression. The progression works. Sometimes even the first few steps are enough to deal with daily issues. Relinquishing the fetters is a gradual process. One thread at a time. One day at a time. Fetters are intricate and constant practice attending to breath is most effective. Be thorough. Be diligent.
You may also find MN10 similar and helpful--it provides rousing encouragement, but do perhaps expect much more than a fortnight to succeed.
🙏
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1"Rid of desire and aversion for the world" is found in each tetrad. Commented Aug 4, 2018 at 8:47
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