Mindfulness - Ten Forms

Ten Forms

In the Āgamas of early Buddhism, there are ten forms of mindfulness. According to the Ekottara Āgama, these ten are:

1. Mindfulness of the Buddha;
2. Mindfulness of the Dharma;
3. Mindfulness of the Saṃgha;
4. Mindfulness of giving;
5. Mindfulness of the heavens;
6. Mindfulness of stopping and resting;
7. Mindfulness of discipline;
8. Mindfulness of breathing;
9. Mindfulness of the body;
10. Mindfulness of death.

According to Nan Huaijin, the Ekottara Āgama emphasizes mindfulness of breathing more than any of the other methods, and teaches the most specifically on teaching this one form of mindfulness.