The Sutra on the Full Awareness of Breathing is one of the main editation texts of early Buddhism. Along with the Sutra on the Four Foundatons of Mindfulness, it is still regarded as one of the two most important scriptures of Theravada Buddhism. This new translation and commentary are offered to make these teachings more widely available.

We would do well to become familiar with the literature fundamental to meditation which was studied and practiced at the time of the Buddha. If we understand the essence of these, we will have a deeper vision and more comprehensive grasp of the sutra as classified as Mahayana, just as after we see the roots and the trunk of a tree, we can appreciate its leaves and branches.

'I am breathing in and making my whole body calm and at peace.' It is like drinking a cool glass of lemonade on a hot day and feeling our body become cool inside. When you breathe in, the air enters your body and calms all the cells of our body. At the same time, each 'cell' of your breathing becomes more peaceful and each 'cell' of your mind also becomes more peaceful. The three are one, and each one is all three. This is the key to meditation. Breathing brings the sweet joy of meditation to you.-from the Commentary

Thich Nhat Hanh is a Zen master in the Vietnamese tradition, which draws on both Northern and Southern Buddhism. He is the founder of Van Hanh Buddhist University, and has taught at Columbia University and the Sorbonne. He is author of Being Peace, The Miracle of Miindfulness, The Sun My Heart, and many other books.

Contents

A note on the translation
The sutra
Commentary on the sutra
1 A brief history
2 Summary of the content
3 Analysis of the sutra's content
4 A point of view on the practice
5 Methods of practice
Notes

> L'auteur de La vision profonde, moine bouddhiste vietnamien dont l’enseignement touche de plus en plus le public français, commente ici deux sutras fondamentaux du Bouddha. | La respiration essentielle, Notre rendez-vous avec la vie, de Thich Nhat Hanh (Albin Michel).
—Nouvelles Clés, (9), Printemps 1996, (p. 86)

> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Hanh-La-Respiration-essentielle/82154
> Voir un extrait : https://books.google.fr/books?id=5D9_BAAAQBAJ&hl=fr&printsec=frontcover&...
> Bibliographie : https://www.librarything.fr/catalog.php?view=Joop-le-philosophe&author=hanht...

> Le moine bouddhiste vietnamien Thich Nhat Hanh commente ici deux sutras du Bouddha. Le premier traite des techniques de méditation qui permettent de métamorphoser notre rythme de vie. Le second explique l’importance de vivre pleinement le moment présent, puisque notre rendez-vous avec la vie commence dans l’« ici et maintenant » vécu en pleine conscience. | La respiration essentielle Notre rendez-vous avec la vie, de Thich Nhat Hanh (Albin Michel, 1996).
—(Spiritualités Vivantes) ( )

Interested in this because I often forget to take deep, meaningful breaths. Just the concept of employing meaning behind our breathing is healing. ( )

Good introduction to one of the few early Buddhist texts that gives detailed, explicit meditation instructions. Includes the whole of the sutra as well as commentary.