What Is Anapana? Vipassana Research Institute
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My Breath and I
Anapana is the first step in the practice of Vipassana meditation. Anapana means observation of natural, normal respiration, as it comes in and as it goes out. It is an easy to learn, objective and scientific technique that helps develop concentration of the mind.
Observation of the breath is the ideal object for meditation because it is always available and it is completely non-sectarian. Anapana is very different from techniques that are based on the artificial regulation of breath. There are no rites or rituals involved in the practice or presentation of Anapana.
Anapana provides a tool to deal with the fears, anxieties and pressures across all age groups. Besides helping to calm and concentrate the mind, Anapana help people to understand themselves better and gives them an insight into the workings of their own minds. Because of its simplicity, the technique is easy to understand and practice.
Why Natural Respiration?
The goal of Vipassana meditation is not the concentration of the mind but to purify the mind completely, by eradicating all mental impurities such as anger, hatred, passion, fear. Vipassana is the analytical study of the mind and body (matter). To achieve this, one must gain complete knowledge of the body, of the mind and of the mental impurities at the experiential level, which is done with the help of respiration. Respiration acts like a bridge between the conscious and the unconscious mind and between voluntary and involuntary processes of the body.
The first step of this technique is to develop awareness of the present reality. Life can really be lived only in the present. When one observes respiration, one begins to understand the nature of the mind. The mind is very fleeting, very fickle – this reality becomes very clear. It never stays in the present, constantly tries to escape into a past or future that is unattainable. The past moment is gone forever. Even in return for all the wealth in the world, one cannot bring back that moment. Similarly, one cannot live in the future. When the future becomes the present, only then can one live in it. One has not learned how to live – one has not learned the Art of living. By observing natural respiration, we slowly train our mind to live in present.
Another reason for adopting natural incoming and outgoing breath as the object of concentration is that the rhythm of our respiration has an intimate natural connection with the negativities of the mind. When the mind is polluted and overpowered by any harmful negativity such as anger, fear, lust, envy or any other, we see that the rhythm of our respiration naturally becomes rapid and gross. When these negativities stop polluting the mind, the rhythm of respiration becomes slow and subtle.
Observing the natural breath is a universal practice. Breath is breath, not a Hindu breath, a Muslim breath or a Christian breath. Thus, Anapana becomes universal.
Difference between Vipassana and Anapana
The goal of Vipassana is to purify the mind of all impurities whereas the goal of Anapana is concentration of mind.
Vipassana means “to see things as they really are”; it is a logical process of mental purification through self-observation. For self-observation, one penetrates one’s entire physical and mental structure with the clarity of insight. For this, we need a medium, a tool, which will lead us to the root level of the mind, from where the negativities and impurities arise – that medium is the breath. Observing the breath is called Anapana.
Anapana meditation is a way through which the restless fleeting mind can be drawn back to a particular object or base, thus bringing the mind under control. Just as an untamed calf must be tied to a stake to prevent it from wandering away, so also the mind must be tied down to the “stake” (the base of the nose) by the “rope” (the knowing of each incoming and outgoing breath) to make it calm and steady. Anapana meditation has its own immense benefits, but it is the means, not the end. It helps us to concentrate the mind, so that mind is calmer and more focused, thereby, better able to undertake the practice of Vipassana itself.
Anapana Courses
Initially, Anapana meditation was taught only as a part of the 10-day Vipassana course. However, Mr. S. N. Goenka, principal teacher of Vipassana meditation, decided to open the doors of Anapana to everybody, so that people can start taking initial steps on the path of Dhamma till the time they are ready to learn Vipassana, by attending a 10-day course. To practice Anapana Meditation, please see the two options below. You can try out the Introduction and Anapana practice sessions. You can also try the Introduction, Practice and Metta session where Mr Goenka expresses goodwill for all beings.
1) Introduction + Anapana practice session – Total 30 minThe audio is available in 22 languages, click here to play it directly from the website or download to your device
2) Introduction + Anapana Practice + Metta session (Expressing goodwill for all beings) – Total 40 min
The video below is the Introduction to Anapana by Mr. S. N. Goenka. Please see the same and scroll below to download the Practice & Metta session audios in various languages.
Please click on the links below to download audio files of mini-anapana meditation in various languages:
Instructions for playing Anapana sessions:
- This is to be played in a quiet hall or room suitable for meditation.
- Participants must agree to stay for the entire time of the session, observing noble silence and should maintain segregation of males and females with no physical contact.
- Participants can be anyone above the age of 10 years.
- The only instructions should be Goenkaji’s Mini Anapana recording. Neither the person hosting the session nor anyone else should give any other instructions, either live or recorded
- There should be no charge whatsoever for attending a Mini Anapana session.
Note: Please note that someone who has learnt Anapana from any of the above sources, will not be considered as an “Old Student” in this tradition. They cannot participate in any program designated “Only for old students of Vipassana”.
Course Charges
Please note that there should be no charge whatsoever, in any manner, for attending a Anapana session.
Daily Practice
After learning the Anapana meditation from anyone of the above ways, it is essential to practice Anapana for a short period of atleast 10-15 minutes each day, morning and evening to get the true benefits of the technique.
Some of the benefits reported by those practicing Anapana
- Effective tool to deal with fear, anxiety, stress, tension, nervousness
- Increased concentration of mind
- Improved awareness and alertness of the mind
- Memory becomes sharp
- Decision-making power improves
- Increased self-confidence
- Increased capacity to work
- Better ability to understand and express oneself
- Mastery over the mind
- Mind becomes healthy, wholesome and strong
- One becomes full of good wishes for others
