This set of slides is from the Satipatthana Workshop conducted by Venerable Aggacitta at Sasanarakkha Buddhist Sanctuary between July 26-29, 2012. Permission is given to redistribute without any modifications, for non-commercial purposes only. These slides cover the concept of bodily formation.

1. What is
“Experiencing the
whole body”?
Definitions in the Suttas
and Commentaries
Ānāpānassati Sutta MN 118, Visuddhimagga, [ 阿毘達
磨 ] 大毘婆沙論 Abhidharma-mahāvibhāṣā-śāstra
1

2. What is “the whole body”?
1. kāyesu Among bodies, monks,
kāyaññatarāhaṃ, this is a body, I say,
bhikkhave, evaṃ namely, in-breath &
vadāmi yadidaṃ — out-breath.
assāsapassāsā.
Ānāpānassati Sutta MN 118
He trains: “I shall breathe in making known, making
clear, the beginning, middle and end of the entire
body of in-breath...”
Visuddhimagga (circa 430 CE)

3. What is “the whole body”?
When mindfulnesss of breathing is not yet
accomplished, one observes in-and-out-breath as
entering and getting out by the nose.
When mindfulnesss of breathing is accomplished,
one observes breath as entering and getting out
through all the pores of the body, which is like a
lotus root.
[ 阿毘達磨 ] 大毘婆沙論 Abhidharma-mahāvibhāṣā-śāstra
(circa 150 CE)

4. What is
“Calming the
bodily formation”?
Definitions in the Suttas
Cūḷavedalla Sutta MN 44, DutiyaKāmabhū
Sutta SN 41.6, Rahogata Sutta SN 36.11
4

5. What Is Bodily Formation?
1. Assāsapassāsā kho, In-breath & out-breath,
āvuso visākha, friend Visākha, is bodily
kāyasaṅkhāro... formation...
Cūḷavedalla Sutta MN 44
2. Assāsapassāsā kho, In-breath & out-breath,
gahapati, householder, is bodily
kāyasaṅkhāro... formation...
DutiyaKāmabhū Sutta SN 41.6

6. What is “the whole body”?
‘citta·saṅkhāra·paṭi·saṃ· “Experiencing the mental forma-
vedī assasissāmī’ti sikkhati, tion I shall breathe in,” he trains;
‘citta·saṅkhāra·paṭi·saṃ· “Experiencing the mental forma-
vedī passasissāmī’ti sikkhati; tion I shall breathe out,” he trains;
‘passambhayaṃ citta· “Calming the mental formation I
saṅkhāraṃ assasissāmī’ti shall breathe in,” he trains;
sikkhati,
‘passambhayaṃ citta· “Calming the mental formation I
saṅkhāraṃ passasissāmī’ti shall breathe out,” he trains.
sikkhati.
Ānāpānassati Sutta MN 118

7. How Is Bodily Formation Calmed?
1. catutthaṃ jhānaṃ For one who has attained
samāpannassa the fourth jhāna, in-breath
assāsapassāsā & out-breath have ceased...
niruddhā honti...
2. catutthaṃ jhānaṃ For one who has attained
samāpannassa the fourth jhāna, in-breath &
assāsapassāsā out-breath have calmed
paṭippassaddhā down...
honti...
Rahogata Sutta SN 36.11

8. Paṭippassaddhā & Passambhayaṃ
Paṭippassaddhā is
past participle of
paṭippassambhati Pati + pa + sambhati (from
√sambhū) = to calm down
Passambhayaṃ = pa + sambhati (from √sambhū)
passambhayanto is = to calm
present participle of
causative of pa + sambhayati (from
passambhati √sambhū + ṇe) = to make calm