Commentary on the Mahaaraahulovaadasutta

Part XIII : Section A

Relevant sutta passage: "Aanaapaanassati.m, Raahula, bhaavana.m bhaavehi. Aanaapaanassati hi te, Raahula, bhaavitaa bahuliikataa mahapphalaa hoti mahaanisa.msaa. Katha.m bhaavitaa ca, Raahula, aanaapaanassati, katha.m bahuliikataa mahapphalaa hoti mahaanisa.msaa? Idha, Raahula, bhikkhu araññagato vaa rukkhamuulagato vaa suññaagaaragato vaa nisiidati palla'nka.m aabhujitvaa uju.m kaaya.m pa.nidhaaya parimukha.m sati.m upa.t.thapetvaa. So satova assasati satova passasati.

"Rahula, cultivate the development of mindfulness on in and out breathing. Indeed, for you, Rahula, the mindfulness on in and out breathing, (when) cultivated and practised frequently, is of great fruit and profit. And how is the mindfulness of breathing developed, Rahula? How is there great fruits and profit (when) practised frequently? Here, Rahula, a monk, gone to a forest or the foot of a tree or an empty place, sits cross-legged and body upright with mindfulness established before him. Mindfully, he breathes in and out.

---

1. Words:

• pucchati: to ask.
• pa~nho: question.
• vitthaareti: explain in detail.
• aanisa.msa (m): benefit.
• aakaara: condition, quality, appearance, way.
• neyyapuggala: person who needs guidance.
• parini.t.thaapeti: to bring to an end, accomplish.

Commentary:
idaani therena pucchita.m pa~nha.m vitthaarento aanaapaanassatintiaadimaaha.
Now the Buddha, when he explained in detail the question asked by the venerable Rahula, said, "Mindfulness of breathing..." and so on.

tattha ida.m kamma.t.thaana~nca kamma.t.thaanabhaavanaa ca paa.liattho ca saddhi.m aanisa.msakathaaya sabbo sabbaakaarena
This meditation subject, its development and the meaning of the text, has been explained in all aspects together with the exposition of its benefit,

visuddhimagge anussatiniddese vitthaaritoyeva.
in the section on Recollections in the Visuddhimagga.

ima.m desana.m bhagavaa neyyapuggalavaseneva parini.t.thaapesiiti.
The Buddha finished this discourse (spoken) for a person who needed guidance*.

English:
Now the Buddha, when he explained in detail the question asked by the venerable Rahula, said, "Mindfulness of breathing..." and so on. This meditation subject, its development and the meaning of the text, has been explained in all aspects together with the exposition of its benefit, in the section on Recollections in the Visuddhimagga. The Buddha finished this discourse (spoken) for a person who needed guidance*.

* In the Puggala Pa~n~natti, it is explained that there are four types of persons: One who attains enlightenment quickly at the beginning of a discourse (vipacita~n~nuu). One who attains after a more detailed explanation (uggha.tita~n~nuu). One who needs more guidance (neyyapuggala). One who understands the Dhamma but does not attain enlightenment (padaparama).