References – MN 118: Mindfulness of Breathing 
Event: Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing – January 2005
Reflecting on the third and fourth steps of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno describes entering into the bodily sensations of the breath (kāyasaṅkhārā) as a foundation of training that prepares the mind to receive Dhamma. [Mindfulness of breathing]
Reference: Keeping the Breath in Mind and Lessons in Samādhi by Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo, particularly “Method Two”.
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 2
Reflecting on the second tetrad of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno describes meditation as relaxing so that awareness comes to the fore and explains the importance of perception in relating to painful, pleasant, and neutral feeling. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of feeling]
Reference: Keeping the Breath in Mind and Lessons in Samādhi by Ajahn Lee Dhammadharo, particularly “Method Two”.
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 3
Continuing with the second tetrad of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno urges us to use awareness grounded in mindfulness of breathing to investigate feelings, perceptions, and hindrances. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Perception]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 9
Beginning the third tetrad of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno teaches that by attending to the mind itself with each breath, we can recognize that the direct experience of the defiled mind is suffering. Relinquishing the defilements brings peace. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of mind]
Sutta: MN 10.34: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, mindfulness of mind section.
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 10
AN 10.2 explains that samādhi and liberation follow naturally from gladdening the mind with a foundation of virtue. Elucidating the tenth step of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno describes various ways to allow the mind to delight in Dhamma and stillness. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Gladdening the mind]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 11
Practicing the eleventh step of ānāpānasati (MN 118) involves purifying the mind of obstructive states and firmly establishing the mind with the breath so that it becomes pliant, malleable, and bright. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Concentration]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 12
When practicing the twelfth step of ānāpānasati (MN 118), each breath is the occasion to release the clinging that binds us to suffering. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Clinging] [Liberation]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 13
Introducing the fourth tetrad of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno reflects on impermanence as the doorway into the relam of insight. Mindfulness of breathing can illuminate all three characteristics of impermanence, suffering, and not-self. [Impermanence] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Characteristics of existence]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 14
Passion is the deep belief in what feelings, objects of attention, and views represent. Expounding the fourteenth step of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno explains how to cultivate dispassion with each in and out breath. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Dispassion]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 15
Reflecting on the last step of the Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118), Ajahn Pasanno explains how relinquishment is key to entering and abiding in Dhamma. He encourages us to contemplate relinquishment with each in and out breath. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Relinquishment]
Ānāpānasati: Mindfulness of In-and-Out Breathing [2005], Session 18
“What is the Pali word for letting go or relinquishment? Is this the opposite of upādāna?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Pāli] [Relinquishment] [Clinging] // [Release] [Progress of insight ] [Ajahn Pasanno]
Sutta: MN 37: Sabbe dhammā nālaṁ abhinivesāya–All dhammas are not to be clung to. [Conditionality]
Sutta: SN 46.1: ...based upon seclusion, dispassion, and cessation, maturing in release.
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta [Mindfulness of breathing]
Metta Retreat [2008], Session 4, Excerpt 12
“What is the difference between mindfulness, bare attention, and clear comprehension? Can you flesh out the word understanding?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness] [Direct experience] [Clear comprehension] // [Right Effort] [Discernment] [Right Mindfulness] [Ardency] [Investigation of states] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Greed] [Aversion]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
Brightening the Mind [2012], Session 1, Excerpt 4
“How do you use mindfulness of breathing when are doing a recollection? Do you first use mindfulness of breathing to settle the mind / body and then turn your attention to the recollection? Is the awareness of breathing in the background?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing ] [Recollection ] // [Investigation of states]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 3, Excerpt 10
“Can you please explain releasing the mind (again) in the context of the 12th step of the ānāpānasati. Thank you for your teachings. Mettā!” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Liberation ] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of mind] // [Relinquishment] [Hindrances] [Self-identity view] [Perception]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
Quote: “Practice is very simple. There’s only two things to do: know and let go.” — Ajahn Chah. [Ajahn Chah] [Mindfulness]
2014 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 6, Excerpt 8
“How can one be mindful of the beginning of thought?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno, Ajahn Kaccāna and Ajahn Karuṇadhammo. [Directed thought and evaluation] [Mindfulness] [Right Mindfulness] // [Appropriate attention] [Perception] [Proliferation]
Comments about observing proliferating thoughts. [Conditionality] [Right Effort] [Restlessness and worry] [Mindfulness of mind]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Feeling]
Sutta: MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness [2015], Session 14, Excerpt 2
Reading: The Ānāpānasati Sutta (MN 118) describes how the sixteen steps of mindfulness of breathing fufill the four foundations of mindfulness, which in turn fufill the seven factors of enlightenment. Read by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing]
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness [2015], Session 22
“What does “know the mind as mind; know feeling as feeling” mean?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Relinquishment] // [Proliferation]
Comment: Self-view forms around the feeling from sense contact. [Sense bases] [Contact] [Feeling] [Self-identity view]
Sutta: MN 18: Madhupiṇḍika Sutta, The Honeyball.
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volitional formations] [Perception]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta. [Mindfulness of breathing]
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness [2015], Session 22, Excerpt 4
“Should the sixteen steps be practiced simultaneously?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Meditation/General advice] [Right Effort]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness [2015], Session 22, Excerpt 5
Comment: In mindfulness of breathing, you feel the breath throughout the body. This suffusion is similar in jhāna. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of body] [Jhāna]
Response by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness]
Suttas: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
Jhāna: A Practical Approach [2015], Session 4, Excerpt 11
“What are the general similarities and differences between the practice of ānāpānasatiand satipaṭṭhāna? Are they the same practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
2015 Thanksgiving Monastic Retreat, Session 2, Excerpt 1
“Did Ajahn Chah have a common statement about his own core practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Ajahn Chah] [Meditation/Techniques] // [Ajahn Pasanno] [Teaching Dhamma]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta.
Story: Ajahn Piak reports that Ajahn Chah reaches jhāna quickly. [Ajahn Piak] [Psychic powers] [Jhāna]
Western Disciples of the Thai Forest Tradition [2016], Session 40, Excerpt 2
“In the mindful breathing sutta, what is the difference between “mind” and “mental fabrication”? And what is meant by “satisfying the mind” in step 10?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Heart/mind] [Volitional formations] [Gladdening the mind] // [Pāli]
Sutta: MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta.
Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 2, Excerpt 8
“Thank you for this opportunity to practice and your guidance. Can you explain nirodha?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Cessation ] // [Nibbāna] [Suffering] [Language] [Dependent origination ] [Relinquishment] [Release] [Thai]
Sutta: MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta. [Mindfulness of breathing]
Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 3, Excerpt 3
“How do you apply mindfulness of the body in terms of jhana practice?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of body] [Jhāna ] // [Mindfulness of breathing] [Similes ] [Rapture] [Happiness]
Sutta: MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta.
Sutta: MN 119.18: Similes for jhāna.
Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 6, Excerpt 3
“In the anapanasati sutta, how should one approach the various steps listed in the sutta? All in one sitting? Over time?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing]
Sutta: MN 118 Ānāpānasati Sutta.
Thanksgiving Retreat 2016, Session 8, Excerpt 15
“You spoke of experiencing the breath and experiencing feelings and mind. Are you suggesting that we experience the mind knowing the breath or when it’s doing other things?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Mindfulness of feeling] [Mindfulness of mind] // [Right Mindfulness] [Volitional formations] [Conditionality]
Suttas: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta; MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta
The Path of Practice [2019], Session 1, Excerpt 3
“Is the fourth foundation of mindfulness as simple as, for example, with the third foundation I identify aversion, and then in the fourth foundation I identify aversion as a hindrance?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of dhammas] [Mindfulness of mind] // [Āgama] [Sutta] [Hindrances] [Four Noble Truths] [Mindfulness of breathing] [Progress of insight]
Suttas: MN 10: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta; MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta [Right Mindfulness]
Reference: Satipaṭṭhāna Perspectives by Bhante Analayo (commercial)
The Path of Practice [2019], Session 1, Excerpt 4
“I find it very difficult to stay with the breath. After 15-20 minutes, the mind will be very bored with the breath and cannot stay with it. Could you advise what is a good meditation for an easily restless mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Mindfulness of breathing] [Restlessness and worry] // [Attitude] [Desire] [Meditation/Techniques] [Investigation of states] [Gladdening the mind] [Happiness]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta
Suttas: AN 11.1, AN 11.12, and SN 55.40 illustrate the causal chain between happiness and samādhi.
Awaken to the New Year Retreat [2021], Session 1, Excerpt 1
“Can you speak more about the progression of mindfulness of breathing, how the Four Foundations of Mindfulness develop the Seven Factors of Awakening?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Right Mindfulness] [Factors of Awakening] [Mindfulness of breathing ] // [Emotion] [Conditionality] [Tranquility] [Mindfulness of body] [Mindfulness of feeling]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta. [Mindfulness] [Mindfulness of mind] [Bases of Success]
Quote: “We’re breathing in and out anyway, but taking an interest in it is a game-changer.” [Desire]
Ānāpānasati Daylong at Abhayagiri [2023], Session 2, Excerpt 2
“Is there a time and place for intentionally breathing or using the breath as a means of calming the mind?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Volition] [Calming meditation] [Mindfulness of breathing] // [Tranquility] [Energy]
Sutta: MN 118: Ānāpānasati Sutta.
Recollection: To deal with the restless mind, Ajahn Chah taught to breath in deeply and not breathe out. [Restlessness and worry] [Ajahn Chah]
Ānāpānasati Daylong at Abhayagiri [2023], Session 2, Excerpt 3
“The Seven Factors of Awakening to be developed (MN 2.21)—is that the same as in the Anāpānāsati Sutta (MN 118)?” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening] [Mindfulness of breathing]
Readings from The Island [2025], Session 34, Excerpt 2
Readings by Ajahn Pasanno:
The Island by Ajahn Pasanno and Ajahn Amaro, Chapter 13, pp. 235-239:
Suttas: AN 10.2; MN 118.15; SN 56.11; SN 51.20.
Readings from The Island [2025], Session 27
“Please explain the seven factors of awakening and how to practice them in this retreat.” Answered by Ajahn Pasanno. [Factors of Awakening ] // [Mindfulness] [Investigation of states] [Energy] [Rapture] [Tranquility] [Concentration] [Translation] [Thai] [Equanimity] [Sloth and torpor] [Restlessness and worry]
Sutta: MN 118.30: Linear progression of the Seven Factors of Awakening.
Sutta: SN 46.53: Energizing and settling qualities.