Abstract

The three objectives of this study are: (1) to study the principles of Ānāpānasati teaching in the Theravāda Buddhist scriptures, (2) to study the basic foundations of tennis, and (3) to study the guidelines of practicing Ānāpānasati in order to enhance playing performance during tennis.

Qualitative and documentary research was used for this study. The researcher searched the information from the Tipiṭaka, commentaries, books, and other related works. The topics of Ānāpānasati teaching in Theravada Buddhist scriptures consist of meaning, basic instruction, virtue result, how to practice in daily life, and result of practicing Ānāpānasati in daily life. The topics of the basic foundation of tennis consist of basic skill, value and benefit, and the factors that enhance playing performance during tennis.

The result shows Ānāpānasati means mindfulness of in and out breathing. It is the process of acknowledging the entire breath-body, experiencing the mental formation, and liberating the mind by contemplating impermanence, fading away, cessation, and relinquishment. Ānāpānasati is the right mindfulness and it is one of the ‘Noble Eightfold Path’. The individual who practices this will be able to end suffering and also achieve ‘The Four Foundations of Mindfulness’ which is mindfulness in regards to the body, feelings, mind, and Dharma. The practitioner who puts effort with clear awareness and mindful will be able to put aside greed and distress with reference to the world. In our daily life, Ānāpānasati can be put into practice by having mindfulness on breathing and body movement. The results show that by practicing Ānāpānasati with deep breathing and exhaling; this will instantaneously help soothe the mind and body to become calm, relax, and suitable for concentrating on the task at hand. Moreover, the value and benefit of practicing Ānāpānasati will help develop a complete state of physical, psychological, mental, and social well-being.

A tennis player should practice the basic skills of tennis properly in order to reduce accident and achieve higher skillsets in the future. The result shows that by practicing tennis at least 30 minutes a day will help develop a complete health state of physical, psychological, mental, and social well-being which is the same result when practicing Ānāpānasati. There are 3 factors that help to enhance playing performance during tennis. These are (1) Physical factors (2) Mental factors (3) Environmental factors.

A guideline for practicing Ānāpānasati in order to enhance playing performance during tennis is composed of 3 key methods (1) Practicing Ānāpānasati for Physical factors to enhance playing performance during tennis. This guideline can be put into practice by having mindfulness on breathing and body movement such as vision, footwork, and shoulder turn while playing tennis. This Ānāpānasati practice is part of Kāyānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna. (2) Practicing Ānāpānasati for Mental factors to enhance playing performance during tennis. The Mental factors are already strengthened from having mindfulness in breathing and body movement while playing tennis. However, in a tight situation the mindfulness might be interrupted. In this case, the tennis player should concentrate again on breathing to free one’s mind from thought. The short method is N-A-B (Notice-Acknowledge-Breath). This Ānāpānasati practice is related to Vedanānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna and Cittānupassanā Satipaṭṭhāna. (3) Practicing Ānāpānasati for Environmental factors to enhance playing performance during tennis. The tennis player should consider Environmental factors as a common uncontrollable nature. However, the controllable nature is oneself. This Ānāpānasati practice is related to ‘The Four Foundations of Mindfulness’, which are Kāyānu passanā, Vedanānupassanā, Cittānupassanā, and Dhammānupassanā.