Ganana

Gaṇanā (Pali, "counting") is the technique of breath counting in Buddhist meditation. It focuses on drawing mental attention to breathing by counting numerically inhalation and exhalation. It is part of the six stages of anapanasati described by authors like Vasubandhu and Zhiyi, composed by counting breath (ganana), following the motions of the air flow (anugama), stilling thought in the body (sthana or sthapana), 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, producing samadhi in order to achieve vipassana.[4]

In Zen buddhism, the art of breath counting is named sūsoku-kan (数息観, "number breath viewing"), although the word is used to refer to anapanasati in a general way.[2][5]

  1. ^ Pradeep P. Gokhale (2020). The Yogasūtra of Patañjali: A New Introduction to the Buddhist Roots of the Yoga System. Taylor & Francis. p. 105-106. ISBN 9781000041613.
  2. ^ a b Y. Haruki, I. Homma, A. Umezawa, Y. Masaoka (2001). Respiration and Emotion. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9784431702863.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Gelong Lodro Sangpo; Bhikkhu K.L. Dhammajoti (2012). Abhidharmakosa-Bhasya of Vasubandhu: Volume 3. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 1904. ISBN 9788120836105.
  4. ^ Frank Hoffman; Deegalle Mahinda (2013). Pali Buddhism. Routledge. ISBN 9781136785603.
  5. ^ Helen J. Baroni (2002). The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism. The Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN 9780823922406.