What is the proper translation and interpretation of Ānā-pānā-s-sati?

Re: Ānāpānasati

Post by frank k » Sat Nov 21, 2020 10:49 am

Ceisiwr wrote: ↑Wed Nov 18, 2020 10:42 amIn your opinion, is Ānāpānasati best translated as “mindfulness with breath” or “mindfulness of breath”?

Regardless of how you translate it, the most important thing is to understand the meaning of the implicit words associated with sati.
sati is remembrance [of Dharma instructions].
sati is not a vague choiceless zombie awareness and "mindfulness" of the present moment.
So the exact definition the Buddha gives for sati, such as SN 47.2, is the 4sp satipatthana formula.
specifically: sati = remembrance [of the Dharma instructions having a default value of 4sp satipatthana formula].

Now in the case of ana pana sati,
now sati is being given a more specific context and we're overriding the default Dharma of 4sp, with the 16aps Dharma instructions.

so ana-pana-sati = inhale & exhale [Dharma instruction] - remembrance.

It most definitely is not a zombie doing a choiceless awareness mindfulness while he also happens to be breathing in and out.
Sati is a warrior meditator with strong memory faculties able to assiduously recall and apply the most relevant Dharma instruction to apply moment by moment.

sati is remembrance [of Dharma instructions].
ana-pana-sati = inhale & exhale [Dharma instruction] - remembrance.

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