The Discourse to Prince Bodhi
[6. Suppressing Thought and Breath]
Then, Prince, this occurred to me: ‘What if I, with teeth clenched against teeth, with the tongue pressing on the palate, were to completely restrain, constrain and suppress one thought with another thought.
Then I, Prince, with teeth clenched against teeth, with the tongue pressing on the palate, did completely restrain, constrain and suppress one thought with another thought.
Then to me, Prince, with teeth clenched against teeth, with the tongue pressing on the palate, with complete restraint, constraint and suppression of one thought with another thought, sweat flowed from my armpits.
Just as a strong man, Prince, after seizing a very weak man by the head, or seizing him by the body, would restrain, constrain and suppress him, just so to me, Prince, with teeth clenched against teeth, with the tongue pressing on the palate, with complete restraint, constraint and suppression of one thought with another thought, sweat flowed from my armpits.
But although, Prince, my energy was strenuous and unshaken, and mindfulness was attended to and unconfused, my body was overstressed, not quietened, and therefore the effort I made was overwhelmed by the strain of exertion.
Then, Prince, this occurred to me: ‘What if I were to meditate on the breathless meditation?’
Then, Prince, I blocked the in-breath and out-breath at the mouth and at the nose.
Then to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose, there was an excessive noise of wind escaping through the ears.
Just as there is an excessive noise from blowing on a smith’s bellows, just so to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose, there was an excessive noise of wind escaping through the ears.
But although for me, Prince, energy was strenuous and unshaken, and mindfulness was attended to and unconfused, my body was overstressed, not quietened, and therefore the effort I made was overwhelmed by the strain of exertion.
Then, Prince, this occurred to me: ‘What if I were to meditate on the breathless meditation?’
Then, Prince, I blocked the in-breath and out-breath at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears.
Then to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, excessive winds raged inside my head.
Just as though a strong man, Prince, were to cleave inside my head with a sharp pointed sword, just so to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, excessive winds raged inside my head.
But although for me, Prince, energy was strenuous and unshaken, and mindfulness was attended to and unconfused, my body was overstressed, not quietened, and therefore the effort I made was overwhelmed by the strain of exertion.
Then, Prince, this occurred to me: ‘What if I were to meditate on the breathless meditation?’
Then, Prince, I blocked the in-breath and out-breath at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears.
Then to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, there was an excessive headache in my head.
Just as though a strong man, Prince, were to tie a turban on my head with a strong thong of leather, just so to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, there was an excessive headache in my head.
But, Prince, although for me energy was strenuous and unshaken, and mindfulness was attended to and unconfused, my body was overstressed, not quietened, and therefore the effort I made was overwhelmed by the strain of exertion.
Then, Prince, this occurred to me: ‘What if I were to meditate on the breathless meditation?’
Then, Prince, I blocked the in-breath and out-breath at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears.
Then to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, excessive winds cut through my stomach.
Just as though, Prince, a butcher or a butcher’s apprentice were to cut through the stomach with a sharp butcher’s knife, Lit: Cow-knife. just so to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, excessive winds cut through my stomach.
But although for me, Prince, energy was strenuous and unshaken, and mindfulness was attended to and unconfused, my body was overstressed, not quietened, and therefore the effort I made was overwhelmed by the strain of exertion.
Then, Prince, this occurred to me: ‘What if I were to meditate on the breathless meditation?’
Then, Prince, I blocked the in-breath and out-breath at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears.
Then to me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, there was an excessive fever inside the body.
Just as though two strong men, Prince, after seizing a very weak man with their arms, were to burn and scorch him with embers, so for me, Prince, with the in-breath and out-breath blocked at the mouth and at the nose and at the ears, there was an excessive fever inside the body.
But although for me, Prince, energy was strenuous and unshaken, and mindfulness was attended to and unconfused, my body was overstressed, not quietened, and therefore the effort I made was overwhelmed by the strain of exertion.
Further, Prince, this occurred to the gods after seeing me: ‘The ascetic Gotama has died,’ Lit: made his time. this occurred to some gods: ‘The ascetic Gotama has not died, he is dying,’ this occurred to some gods: ‘The ascetic Gotama has not died, he is not dying, the ascetic Gotama is Worthy, it is in this way that the Worthy One lives.’