When the full moon day arrived, the Buddha, seated under the open sky, looked over the assembly and said: "O followers of the Way, the method of being fully aware of breathing, if devel- oped and practiced continuously, will have great reward and bring great advantages. It will lead to success in the practice of the Seven Factors of Awakening. The Seven Factors of Awak- ening, if developed and practiced continuously, will give rise to Understanding and Liberation of the Mind. What is the way to develop and practice continuously the method of Full Aware- ness of Breathing so that the practice will be rewarding and

offer great benefit? It is like this, the practitioner goes into the forest or to the foot of a tree, or to any deserted place, and sits stably in the cross-legged position, holding one's body quite straight. Breathing in, one knows that one is breathing in; and breathing out, one knows that one is breathing out. Breathing in a long breath, one knows, 'I am breathing in a long breath.' Breathing out a long breath, one knows, 'I am breathing out a long breath.' Breathing in a short breath, one knows, 'I am breathing in a short breath.' Breathing out a short breath, one knows, 'I am breathing out a short breath. I am breathing in and am aware of my whole body. I am breathing out and am aware of my whole body.' This is how one practices. 'I am breathing in and making my whole body calm and at peace. I am breathing out and making my whole body calm and at peace.' This is how one practices. 'I am breathing in and feeling joyful. I am breathing out and feeling joyful.' This is how one practices. 'I am breathing in and feeling happy. I am breathing out and feeling happy.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and am aware of the activities of the mind in me. I am breathing out and am aware of the activities of the mind in me.' One prac- tices like this. 'I am breathing in and making the activities of the mind in me calm and at peace. I am breathing out and making the activities of the mind in me calm and at peace.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and am aware of my mind. I am breathing out and am aware of my mind.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and making my mind happy and at peace. I am breathing out and making my mind happy and at peace.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and concentrating my mind. I am breathing out and concentrating my mind.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and liberating my mind. I am breathing out and liberating my mind.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and observing the impermanent nature of all Dharmas. I am breathing out and observing the impermanent nature of all Dharmas.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and observ- ing the fading of all Dharmas. I am breathing out and observing the fading of all Dharmas.' One practices like this. 'I am breathing in and contemplating liberation. I am breathing out and contemplating liberation.' One prac- tices like this. 'I am breathing in and contemplating letting go. I am breathing out and contemplating letting go.' One practices like this. The Full Awareness of Breathing, if developed and practiced continuously according to these instructions, will be rewarding and of great benefit."