The Ancient Therav?da Meditation System, Bor?n Kamma??h?na: ?n?p?nasati or ‘Mindfulness of The Breath’ in Kammatthan Majjima Baeb Lamdub

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.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In Thailand the pre-reform Therav?da meditation system, bor?n kamma??h?na, is now practised only by small and isolated groups. To promote detailed comparative study of bor?n kamma??h?na, the tradition of it taught at Wat Ratchasittharam, Thonburi, is explored through a translation of a text on ?n?p?nasati attributed to Suk Kaitheun, the head of its lineage. This is followed by a detailed discussion and comparison with the description of the same technique in the Visuddhimagga. Some close connections between these two sources are identified and it is speculated that, despite features concerning nimitta, bodily location, terminology etc. that are diagnostically distinctive for bor?n kamma??h?na, its method for ?n?p?nasati can be seen as a rational development of earlier techniques advocated by Buddhaghosa.