Nagasena Bhiksu Sutra 2.71

T 1670B Nāgasena Bhikṣu Sūtra

Part 2: Dialogues 2.71. On Stopping Breathe

The king asked Nāgasena again, “Your sramanas say, ‘I can stop my breathing’. How can they stop their breathing?”

“Then have you ever heard of ‘zhi’—life principle?”

“Yes, I have heard of it.”

“Is the life principle inside the body frame of a person?”

“Yes, I consider that the life principle is inside the body frame of a person.”

Then Nāgasena said, “Great king, the ignorant person cannot control his body and speech, cannot follow the Dharma and precepts. Such a person does not love his own body.”

Nāgasena continued, “People who learn the Dharma can control their body and speech, follow the Dharma and precepts, and can obtain one-pointedness of the mind. Thus they attain the fourth dhyana state. So can they stop their breathing.”

“Excellent, Nāgasena.”