Vesālīsutta

Thus have I heard: At one time, the Blessed One was staying in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, at the Hall with the Peaked Roof.

Now at that time, the Blessed One was teaching the disciples in various ways about the unattractiveness of the body, speaking in praise of the unattractiveness, speaking in praise of the development of the perception of unattractiveness.

Then the Blessed One addressed the disciples, saying, I wish to remain in seclusion for half a month.

No one should approach me except for one who brings me alms food.

Very well, venerable sir, the disciples replied to the Blessed One. And no one approached the Blessed One except for one who brought him alms food.

Then the disciples, thinking, The Blessed One is teaching us in various ways about the unattractiveness of the body, speaking in praise of the unattractiveness, speaking in praise of the development of the perception of unattractiveness, engaged in the practice of developing the perception of unattractiveness in various ways.

They became distressed, ashamed, and disgusted with their own bodies, and sought a knife to end their lives.

Ten disciples brought a knife in one day, twenty disciples...

thirty disciples brought a knife in one day.

Then, at the end of that half month, the Blessed One emerged from seclusion and addressed the Venerable Ānanda, Why does the community of disciples appear diminished, Ānanda?

Venerable sir, the Blessed One has been teaching the disciples in various ways about the unattractiveness of the body, speaking in praise of the unattractiveness, speaking in praise of the development of the perception of unattractiveness.

They became distressed, ashamed, and disgusted with their own bodies, and sought a knife to end their lives.

Ten disciples brought a knife in one day, twenty disciples...

thirty disciples brought a knife in one day.

It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach another method so that this community of disciples might be established in another way.

Therefore, Ānanda, gather all the disciples who are staying in Vesālī in the assembly hall.

Very well, venerable sir, the Venerable Ānanda replied to the Blessed One, and he gathered all the disciples who were staying in Vesālī in the assembly hall. Then he approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he said to the Blessed One, The community of disciples has assembled, venerable sir.

Let the Blessed One do as he sees fit.

Then the Blessed One approached the assembly hall, and having approached, he sat down on the prepared seat.

Once, the Blessed One addressed the disciples: Disciples, this concentration through mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, is both peaceful and sublime, an unadulterated and pleasant dwelling, and it causes the arising of unwholesome states to disappear immediately.

Just as in the last month of the hot season, a great rain cloud causes the dust and dirt to disappear immediately;

In the same way this concentration through mindfulness of breathing, when developed and cultivated, is both peaceful and sublime, an unadulterated and pleasant dwelling, and it causes the arising of unwholesome states to disappear immediately.

And how is this concentration through mindfulness of breathing developed and cultivated so that it is both peaceful and sublime, an unadulterated and pleasant dwelling, and it causes the arising of unwholesome states to disappear immediately?

Here a disciple goes to the forest, to the root of a tree, or to an empty hut, sits down, crosses his legs, holds his body erect, and establishes mindfulness in the breath.

Ever mindful, he breathes in; ever mindful, he breathes out…

He trains himself, I will breathe in experiencing relinquishment; he trains himself, I will breathe out experiencing relinquishment.

Thus developed and cultivated this concentration through mindfulness of breathing is both peaceful and sublime, an unadulterated and pleasant dwelling, and it causes the arising of unwholesome states to disappear immediately.