2.71. On Stopping Breathe (T1670B2.71)

The king asked Nāgasena again, “Your sramanas say, ‘I can stop my breathing’. How can they stop their breathing?”

“Then have you ever heard of ‘zhi’—life principle?”

“Yes, I have heard of it.”

“Is the life principle inside the body frame of a person?”

“Yes, I consider that the life principle is inside the body frame of a person.”

Then Nāgasena said, “Great king, the ignorant person cannot control his body and speech, cannot follow the Dharma and precepts. Such a person does not love his own body.”

Nāgasena continued, “People who learn the Dharma can control their body and speech, follow the Dharma and precepts, and can obtain one-pointedness of the mind. Thus they attain the fourth dhyana state. So can they stop their breathing.”

“Excellent, Nāgasena.”

Nāgasena Bhikṣu Sūtra, translated by Venerable Guang Xing. Buddha’s Light Edition English Sutra Translation Series, 2008. This publication is part of translation program of the Woodenfish Project.

The full text, with detailed notes, textual and historical discussion, and comparison between Pali and Chinese texts, is available for download in two separate files, Translation and Notes.

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This SuttaCentral edition was prepared by Bhikkhu Sujato.

Prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato.