Gaṇanā (Pali, "counting") is the technique ofbreathcounting inBuddhist meditation. It focuses on drawing mental attention to breathing by counting numericallyinhalation andexhalation. It is part of the six stages ofanapanasati described by authors likeVasubandhu andZhiyi, composed by counting breath (ganana), following the motions of the air flow (anugama), stilling thought in the body (sthana orsthapana), observing the elements of air (upalakshana), transformation of the mind focused on the air (vivarthana) and entering the path of vision (parisuddhi).[1][2][3] Those stages are increasingly subtle and lead to control of mind, producingsamadhi in order to achievevipassana.[4]
InZen Buddhism, the art of breath counting is namedsūsoku-kan (数息観, "number breath viewing"), although the word is used to refer to anapanasati in a general way.[2][5]
The practitioner must fix the mind upon the inhalation and exhalation, without giving consideration to the state of his body or mind, and count mentally his breaths from one up to ten.[3][4] One must keep count of every number; if the mind becomes distracted at some point, one must count anew from the starting point untilsamadhi is accomplished enough to avoid error.[3]
Asanga considers breath counting to be apt for beginners to anapana, while advanced aspirants should be able to concentrate on breathing without counting. He cites four different classifications of the counting technique:[1]
Buddhaghosa establishedganana as the first of four phases, followed by continuously following the flow of air as it enters in and out of the body (anubandhanā), resting attention on the nose tip where the passage of air can be felt (phusanā) and fixing or settling the mind (ṭhapanā), which are then followed by four other stages. For counting the breath, ten breaths must be counted, for under five thoughts become too cramped, and over ten the mind wanders.[6]
Zhiyi, while listing the six stages intonirvana, warns the practitioner must regulate his breath while counting, not allowing it to be too shallow, too rough or too smooth. He also enumerates three main techniques:[7]
TheRinzai school holdssusokukan as one of its main mind alignement techniques along withkoan work.[8] It is usual that after achievingsusoku, the practitioner initiateskoan kufu or meditation with koan.[9] Some masters consider it a beginner's technique or a breathing exercise.[8][9] Even then, some masters still recommendsusoku as a way to assist koan meditation or for its value alone.[8][7] It is also considered a way to gatherki in the abdomen ortanden.[8]
The usual method is counting every exhalation up to ten and again from one, starting up again from one if losing count.[8][9] By bringing the attention continually to the count, the student learns to keep from being distracted. It also teaches the importance of good posture and breathing, as those make counting easier.[9] It is also possible to count from one to a hundred or a thousand, or even internally recite one over and over.[8] Another method used is counting one while breathing in, two while breathing out, three while inhaling again, until ten.[5]Breath control is exerted during the exercise, maintainingabdominal breathing while focusing on the outbreath, which should last for eight to fifteen seconds.[8]
In theSōtō school of Zen,susoku was considered byDogen to be a holdover fromhinayana (theravada),[5][10] althoughKeizan recommended it, and today it is still cultivated within the school.[10]
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