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Srāvakabhumi (d) Ānāpānasmṛti
In the Tripitakas the mindfulness or alertness with regard to the impermanent and momentary nature of samskāras, the aśubhata of the body, and anapānasmṛti (Paliānāpānasati) have been regarded as the preceding factor-leading to the acquisition of samadhi or the trance state (Jhana).1 In all such expressions, the word 'anapana' has been used in the sense of prāņa vayu, or more exactly in the sense of aśvāsa and praśvāsa (inhaling and exhaling).
In the Mahayana Sutras also, the expression ānāpānasmrti or anusmrti occurs in the sense of mindfulness of breathing. In these texts the meaning of aśvasa-praśvasa is obvious.
The Abhidharmika texts refer to the anapānasmrti as the main factor leading to the entrance of the citta. of the vitarkacarita pudgala in the stage of bhāvanā. It has also been regarded as the outer apakṣāla or hindrance in the acquisition of the third dhyana-stage. Vasubandhu elucidates the nature of the anapānasmṛti in its six fold analytic aspects of gaṇanā, anugama, sthāpanā, upalakṣaṇā, vivarta and parisuddhi and further concludes that the anapanasmṛti
1.
S. N., IV, 116; P. 265 sq. (ānāpāna samyutta); M. N., II. 305-6; (P. 236); D. N.,
Milinda P. (Ed.
III. 142-147; A. N. I. 31; Itivuttaka, sutta 36 II. 217-18; PSm., PP. 107, 189, 191, 195, 205; Trenchner), P. 332 and elsewhere; for detailed references, vide, PTSD, s. v. ānāpāna.
2. See, PTSD, P. 101, cp. G. W. Brown, JAOS, 39. 104 sq. (quoted by F. Edgerton, BHSD, p 96).
3.
4.
SSPP, p. 60, 1443; cp. Mvy. liii, 1-23.
Cp. Ada, VII. 7 dhyanam (nama) asucibhāvanā ānāpānādismṛtih sarvasāsrava kusalasamādhidharmāḥ (P. 71); cp. XII. 9. P. 9597; vide AKB, P. 339. 18-21.
5. Adv., pp. 115-116.
