Resources for Correlating the Four Foundations of Mindfulness with the Enneagram

The Four Foundations of Mindfulness

Mindfulness of Body (Kayanupassana)

1. Identify In-Breath and Out-Breath: Observing the breath as it is. Techniques include mindful breathing and noting inhalations and exhalations.
2. Follow In-Breath and Out-Breath: Techniques involve following the breath and maintaining sustained attention on breathing.
3. Awareness of Body: Recognizing body sensations, breath, and posture. Practices include body scan and mindful movement.
4. Releasing Tension in Body: Techniques such as relaxation exercises and releasing physical tension

Mindfulness of Feelings (Vedananupassana)

5. Bring About a Pleasant Feeling (Joy): cultivating joy, noting pleasant sensations
6. Bring About a Feeling of Happiness: gratitude, generating happiness
7. Awareness of Painful Feelings: Observing unpleasant feelings, techniques: noting pain, compassionate awareness
8. Releasing (Calming) Tension in the Feeling: Practices: emotional regulation, calming techniques

Mindfulness of Mind (Cittanupassana)

9 Recognize Mental Formations: Observing thoughts and mental states, Techniques: noting thoughts, mindful awareness
10 Gladden the Mental Formation: Techniques: positive thinking, cultivating joy,
11 Concentrate on the Mental Formation: Practices: focusing exercises, deep concentration
12 Liberation of Mental Formations: Techniques: releasing thoughts, mental clarity

Mindfulness of Dhammas (Dhammānupassanā)

13 Contemplation of Impermanence: Understanding the transient nature of phenomena with meditation on impermanence.
14 Contemplation on No Craving (Viraya) Also Disappearance of Desire: Techniques for reducing attachment and cultivating detachment.
15 Contemplation on No-Birth, No-Death: Understanding the cycle of life and death with meditation on no-birth and no-death.
16. Contemplation on Letting Go: Techniques for releasing attachments and letting go practices.

Sutra References

The following discourses of the Buddha were presented originally 2600 years ago. These are also called “sutras” or “suttas” in other translations from other Buddhist traditions.

My teacher, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh translated these sutras from Pali (an ancient language in North India), Sanskrit and Chinese Sources. There are many other translations available in English and Spanish all over the internet. You can also find dozens of YouTube videos on these sutras.

Discourse on the Full Awareness of Breathing: Ānāpānasati Sutta, Majjhima Nikāya 118
Discourse on the Four Establishments of Mindfulness: Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta, Majjhima Nikāya 10

Thich Nhat Hanh has also written books on these sutras. Here is one: Awakening of the Heart: Essential Buddhist Sutras and Commentaries. This book has a very complete explanation of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness and several other sutras with wonderful commentaries. He has written over 100 books and articles. My favorite is Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha. I bought the book in 1985 and would open it to a random page to tell a bed time story to my then two young and beautiful girls.

I invite you the check out the Plum Village web site f you are interested in learning more about the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Other Offerings

Please take a moment go check out my eBooks and Guided Meditations when you get a chance.

I invite you to check out my weekly Mindfulness In Healing sangha: group of like-minded practitioners practice mindfulness together since 2009.

I am also a Certified Mindful Mentor which means that I am qualified to mentor a single person or a small group of like-minded individuals in developing a practice of mindfulness meditation. My purpose is not so much as to teach a lot of Buddhist principles but to facilitate, as I did in the IEA presentation, developing a personal practice that is both pleasant and joyful. Check out Mindfulness Mentoring here.

For the past 28 years, ever since I presented with muscle invasive bladder cancer, I have been coaching cancer patients using the 7 Principles of Mindfulness In Healing. As a Certified Radical Remission Coach, I have been coaching a 23 year old young man in his journey through a severe case of muscle invasive bladder cancer without charge. I am open to coaching other cancer patients if you our someone you know is dealing with cancer.

Enneagram Resources

You will find the International Enneagram Association Presentation and other enneagram resources such as practices for each type once you fill out this form:

Please connect with Jerome Freedman:

If you have a question, please click here to send me an email with your request.