Anapanasati - Contemplation of Mind (40min)

The Inner Rhythm Being Retreat July 2025

This morning's instruction focused on the third tetrad of the Anapanasati Sutta: Contemplation of Mind. This aspect of mindfulness of breathing invites a gentle turning inward to become aware of the mind itself—not just thoughts, but the full spectrum of inner experience. In the sutta, the mind is not viewed as a fixed entity, but as a dynamic process encompassing mood, tone, and knowing awareness. The four steps—being sensitive to the mind, gladdening the mind, concentrating the mind, and liberating the mind—describe a natural unfolding that arises as the practice deepens. Rather than doing or analyzing, the meditator rests in a receptive awareness that allows the mind to reveal itself. Gladness arises as the mind settles in its own nature, leading to an effortless concentration and, ultimately, to a sense of inner freedom. This tetrad supports the falling away of identification and opens the door to insight into the empty, luminous, and selfless quality of mind.