Four Types of Monks Who Practice Ānāpānasati in Buddhist Tradition

Buddhist monks in a Tibetan Monastery

Commentary by Jayaram V | Translation by Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Summary: This essay examines the four types of Buddhist monks described in the Ānāpānasati Sutta, who practice mindfulness of breathing to progress through spiritual stages from stream-entry to Arhatship. It explains the 16 steps of mindfulness meditation grouped into four contemplations and their connection to the four foundations of mindfulness, seven enlightenment factors, and ultimate liberation.

Anapanasati Sutta from Majjima Nikaya refers to four Buddhist communities of monks, who pass through four progressive stages of perfection and purification to reach the final stage of Arhatship. The Sutta begins with the highest type of awakened and enlightened monks who have overcome all the fetters such as belief in the Self, doubt, attachment to rites and rituals, sensual desires, ill will, lust, envy, and so on,   and ends with the fresh initiates or those who have just started their journey on the Eightfold Path. The Sutta is reproduced below and it is self-explanatory.

Anapanasati Sutta Translation

Background information

The Buddha delivered the Ānāpānasati Sutta at Sāvatthī, in the Eastern Park, on the full‑moon day of the Pavarana ceremony, marking the end of the rains retreat (vassa), when a large number of monks gathered to hear the Buddha. They listened as the Buddha spoke about the four communities or the four groups of practitioners (parisā) who follow the Eightfold Path diligently to cultivate virtues and right living.

1. Bhikkhus — fully ordained monks
2. Bhikkhunīs — fully ordained nuns
3. Upāsakas — male lay followers
4. Upāsikās — female lay followers

According to the Sutta, the Buddha further noted that within these four communities, one could find practitioners at different stages of spiritual development, such as the following.

1. Those who had attained stream-entry
2. Those who had attained once-returning
3. Those who had attained non-returning
4. Those who had attained arahantship
5. Others engaged in the practice to attain these stages

Ānāpānasati refers to the practice of mindfulness of breathing. It is suitable for practitioners at every stage to establish the four foundations of mindfulness and progress through the four stages, which lead to seven factors of enlightenment and the culmination of knowledge and liberation. In other words, anapanasati is foundational to advancing spiritually on the path of liberation through spiritual transformation and inner awakening.
The core of Ānāpānasati Sutta presents 16 steps of mindfulness of breathing, grouped into four tetrads:

1. Contemplation of the body
2. Contemplation of feelings
3. Contemplation of the mind
4. Contemplation of mental objects (dhammas)

These steps gradually refine awareness, calm the mind, and lead toward insightful awareness, inner awakening, silence of the unwholesome thoughts, and liberation.

The Ānāpānasati Sutta is one of the most complete meditation manuals in the Pāli Canon, as it integrates samatha (calming) and vipassanā (insight), connects breath meditation to the entire structure of the path, is accessible to all four communities, regardless of stage, and helps them reach the ultimate goal of Nirvana.

Ānāpānasati → Satipaṭṭhāna → Bojjhaṅga → Liberation

The following is a schematic diagram of Ānāpānasati → Satipaṭṭhāna → Bojjhaṅga → Liberation that expresses the completeness of ānāpānasati as a path, from the 16 steps of mindfulness of breathing, through the 4 foundations, into the 7 enlightenment factors, culminating in liberation.