The Ancient Therav?da Meditation System, Bor?n Kamma??h?na: ?n?p?nasati or ‘Mindfulness of The Breath’ in Kammatthan Majjima Baeb Lamdub
Buddhist Studies Review February 24, 2016 Andrew Skilton, Phibul Choompolpaisal
A meditation system called boran kammatthana, which predates modern reforms in Thai Theravada Buddhism, now survives only in small, isolated groups. This article explores the tradition taught at Wat Ratchasittharam in Thonburi by translating a text on breath meditation (anapanasati) attributed to Suk Kaitheun, the lineage head. The translation is followed by a detailed comparison with the same technique described in the Visuddhimagga, a classic Buddhist commentary. Close connections between the two sources are identified. The author suggests that, despite distinctive features such as concepts of nimitta (mental sign), bodily location, and terminology, the boran kammatthana method for anapanasati can be understood as a rational development of earlier techniques advocated by Buddhaghosa.