Lessons from Mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati)

Lessons from Mindfulness of breathing (anapanasati)
Question: In Satipattana Sutta, we find references to the phrase “nayassa adhigamaya..” which has a  relationship to the activity of  in and out breathing. As we do not have a clear understanding with regard to this relationship, could you kindly elaborate on this?
Answer: Satapattana sutta describes the practical aspects of a life. I mentioned earlier that dukkha (physical suffering) and domanassa (mental suffering) are the outcome of soka (sorrow) and parideva (lamentation). We constantly suffer as a result of dukkha and domanassa. If we are to weaken the existence of dukkha and domanassa (heat generated in mind and subsequent spreading throughout the body), we need to surpass them; overcome them. 
At the beginning of meditation practice in terms of the teachings of the Satipattana Sutta, we make an attempt to be aware of the breath. At this early stage we may not be able to become aware of our breath clearly. When we make further attempts to be aware of our breath, we manage to become aware of it momentarily when our defilements are suppressed temporarily. As long as one is able to become aware of one’s breath in this manner, tranquility begins to arise in the mind within those spells. This is a mental state which has surpassed the impact of dukkha and domanassa. This is a mental state in which dukkha and domanassa have disappeared temporarily. A meditator should come to the perfect realization of this specific phenomenon.(adhigamaya) . This does not mean that a mediator has achieved specific knowledges to perform magical feats such as walking on water, moving through air. This progress was identified as “nayasaa adhigamaya” by the Supreme Buddha. “naya” means theory or methodology and “adhigamaya” means improvement or progress. So, “adhigamaya”, in this context, refers to one’s specific understanding to manipulate one’s mind in an effective way in which mind would not get polluted by defilements. What is this specific understanding? The meditator becomes aware that soka and parideva (heat in mind and subsequent spreading throughout the body) would lead to dukkha and domanassa. This is a fresh, unprecedented understanding gained as a result of first hand experience in meditation practice. This is a novel spiritual improvement. This resultant outcome is referred to as “ adhigamaya”. 
For instance, when one hears a sound, one turns one’s attention towards that direction. What causes this?   Mind being not calm causes this. As soon as one hears a sound, that generates heat in one’s mind, making one’s mind uneasy, tense. That process makes one’s head turn towards the direction of the sound. The key characteristic of happiness is tranquility. Every time one experiences mental uneasiness, one should realise that it is a mental state devoid of happiness. This understanding manifests progress referred to as “adhigamaya”. When the mother of Kumara Kassapa thero saw him after 12 years, she was so excited and went running after him. Kumara kassaopa thero completely ignored her and did not even bother to turn his head towards his mother. This was possible as he had completely abandoned soka and parideva. Kumara kassapa thero acted this way purposely to assist his mother to realise the futile attachment to the son (thero) and cut it off completely. After realizing the futile affection to her son, the mother of kumara kassappa thero was able attain arahantship finally.
What we have been doing throughout our lives is making choices as good / bad or desirable / undesirable. Every time we make choices, our mind goes through a process of grief, lamentation. As a result, we have been compelled to suffer throughout our lives. The tendency to making choices would continue to exist up to the point of arupa raga (craving for immaterial existence) on the Path. At this advanced stage, the meditator chooses higher, intense bliss to be more desirable. This means that soka and parideva even exist at higher spiritual stages to a certain degree. So, the meditator has to extinguish the heat generated as a result of soka and parideva for higher attainments. It is the knowledge, referred to as “nayassa adhigamaya” that would help extinguish the heat generated in mind, as a result of soka and parideva. The specific understanding referred to as “nayassa adhigamaya” would show an individual that the outcome underlying in every act to be only suffering. He would realise that he has not been able to experience real happiness so far. He has only got ready to seek happiness. Therefore, life has been burdened with various types of misery. He has jumped from one sense object to another, seeking happiness like tick on a dog’s body. Every object has caused only suffering by way of soka and parideva. This specific understanding (adhigamaya) gained with the progress in meditation would be of great benefit to the meditator. This specific understanding would serve you constantly, standing very close to you, like your own shadow. I hope that you got a clear understanding on “nayassa adhigamaya” with this explanation.