Mindfulness of Breathing
Building on the practice developed in the Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation program, 8 weeks of focused study and practice of the 16 steps of the Ānāpānasati-sutta, guided by the teachings of renowned scholar and monastic, Bhikkhu Anālayo.
Program Overview
Program Dates | July 12 - September 6, 2025 | |
Application Deadline | May 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET | |
Prerequisites | 1) Having an established mindfulness practice and 2) having either earned a certificate of completion from our online intensive program, Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation, or participated in the Satipatthāna Meditation program online/residentially with Bhikkhu Anālayo at BCBS or another center. |
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Duration | 8 weeks | |
Time Commitment | 10-12 hours per week | |
Participation Expectation | Intensive | |
Self-Paced Components | • Video lectures • Audio guided meditations • Reading assignments • Sutta study • Discussion forums • Review questions |
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Interactive Components | • Weekly 90 minute live small group meetings, including: • Break-out practice and sutta study discussions • Moderated weekly written discussion forums |
Program Description
Mindfulness of Breathing is an eight-week, in-depth study of the sixteen steps of the Ānāpānasati-sutta, combining tranquility and insight in the form of practice that aims to cultivate the awakening factors. This program thereby builds on the practice, particularly of the awakening factors, developed in the Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation program.
Each week participants will engage with recorded guided meditations and video lectures by Bhikkhu Anālayo, complete reading assignments from Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide, attend a 90-minute weekly group meeting, and contribute to a written online forum.
Certification Track
This online program offers an optional certification track, which would qualify participants to meet the prerequisites for Bhikkhu Anālayo's advanced online or residential program Brahmavihāra & Emptiness. The optional certification track requires the completion of a final reflection and review of participation.
Timeline
Applications Open: April 14, 2025
Applications Close: May 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM ET
Initial Acceptance Notification: June 2, 2025
Registration: June 2-27, 2025
Orientation Week: July 7-12, 2025
Program Dates: July 12 - September 6, 2025
Guiding Teacher
Bhikkhu Anālayo is a scholar-monk and the author of numerous books on meditation and early Buddhism, such as Satipatthāna: The Direct Path to Realization, Perspectives on Satipatthāna, and Satipatthāna Meditation: A Practice Guide. He is a Faculty Member at the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, having retired from being a professor at the Numata Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg. His main area of academic research is early Buddhism, with a special interest in the topics of meditation and women in Buddhism. At the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, he regularly participates in online programs and undertakes research into meditation-related themes.
Bhikkhu Anālayo offers his teaching for this program through the video lectures, guided meditations, and readings. There will be no live contact with Bhikkhu Anālayo.
Facilitating Teachers
Testimonials
Program Curriculum
January 20-27 | Welcome module, orienting, and access to 1. Preliminaries |
January 27-February 3 | 1. Preliminaries |
February 3-10 | 2. Contemplation of the body (1st tetrad) |
February 10-17 | 3. Contemplation of feeling tones (2nd tetrad) |
February 17-24 | 4. Contemplation of the mind (3rd Tetrad) |
February 24-March 2 | 5. Contemplation of dharmas (4th tetrad) |
March 2-9 | 6. Awakening |
March 2-9 | 6. Awakening continued |
March 9-16 | 7. Concluding, integrating and closing |
Program Participation
This program requires considerable commitment from participants and is not a self-study program. We require attendance at weekly virtual meetings as well as completion of writing prompts and program assessments. The required time commitment is roughly 10-12* hours per week.
Weekly individual participation includes:
- 90 minutes of a small group video meeting**
- watching/listening to a 20-minute video lecture by Bhikkhu Anālayo
- daily personal Mindfulness of Breathing practice (Bhikkhu Anālayo’s recorded guided meditations will be provided)
- completing study activities
- contributing to the group discussion forum
- reading one chapter per week in the core text, Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide by Bhikkhu Anālayo.
*Participants are strongly encouraged to read Mindfulness of Breathing: A Practice Guide in advance of the program (later referring back to the book as reference/refresher for each weekly topic). Otherwise, participants should anticipate an additional 2-3 hours per week for reading during the program.
**The small group meeting is the only program component that happens at a fixed time and meetings will occur at the same day/time each week.
Winter 2025 meeting times will be posted soon. Applicants will select their available times on the application. Attendance is mandatory.
Ethical Commitment
In early Buddhist thought, tranquility and insight are complementary dimensions of meditative cultivation, traditionally based on a solid foundation in moral conduct and part of a gradual process of training. This online program will follow the Buddha's principle of ethics as the foundation for Satipaṭṭhāna practice. Participation in this program is supported by group commitment to respect and non-harming, applying to both communication with others and also to one's personal relationship with the practice.
Program Fee and Teacher Dāna
The program fee is $450. In keeping with the tradition of teachers offering the Buddhadharma out of a spirit of generosity, program fees do not include compensation for teachers. There will be an opportunity to support your teacher(s) at the end of the program.
Financial Assistance
We are committed to making this program accessible to all. Financial assistance is available to help supplement the program fee. Requests for financial assistance can be made during the registration process. If accepted into the program, financial assistance of 30%, 40% or 50% of the program fee can be selected and immediately applied during registration. If the need for financial assistance is greater than 50% of the program fee, please indicate what amount of the program fee feels affordable to you and we will do what we can to accommodate your request.
Applications
In an effort to foster meaningful connection, enrollment in this program is limited and all applications are processed on a lottery basis. You must have an established mindfulness practice and have completed a Satipaṭṭhāna Meditation program with Bhikkhu Anālayo to be accepted into this program. Some spaces are reserved for people of color and young adults who meet this prerequisite.
DEI
We are committed to providing a spiritual home and resource for all on the path to awakening. We do our best to ensure that everyone who comes here feels truly welcome, respected, and safe, whatever their age, race, ethnicity, sex (including gender identity and expression), sexual orientation, body type, disability, religion, or political viewpoint. We recognize this is ongoing work and invite you to reach out to us at contact@buddhistinquiry.org with suggestions and feedback as to how we can more fully embody our aspiration to be a refuge for all.