Ganana

{{Short description|Technique in Buddhist meditation}} '''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'').<ref name=Gokh>{{cite book|author=Pradeep P. Gokhale|title=The Yogasūtra of Patañjali: A New Introduction to the Buddhist Roots of the Yoga System|date=2020|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=9781000041613|page=105-106}}</ref><ref name=Emot>{{cite book|author=Y. Haruki, I. Homma, A. Umezawa, Y. Masaoka|title=Respiration and Emotion|date=2001|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9784431702863}}</ref><ref name=Gelo>{{cite book|author1=Gelong Lodro Sangpo|author2=Bhikkhu K.L. Dhammajoti|title=Abhidharmakosa-Bhasya of Vasubandhu: Volume 3|date=2012|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=9788120836105|page=1904}}</ref> Those stages are increasingly subtle and lead to control of mind, producing samadhi in order to achieve vipassana.<ref name=Pal>{{cite book|author1=Frank Hoffman|author2=Deegalle Mahinda|title=Pali Buddhism|date=2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn= 9781136785603}}</ref>

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.<ref name=Emot/><ref name=Baro>{{cite book|author1=Helen J. Baroni|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Zen Buddhism|date=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn= 9780823922406}}</ref>

==Technique== 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.<ref name=Gelo/><ref name=Pal/> One must keep count of every number; if the mind becomes distracted at some point, one must count anew from the starting point until samadhi is accomplished enough to avoid error.<ref name=Gelo/>

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:<ref name=Gokh/>

* ''Ekaika-ganana'': when the practitioner breathes in, counts one; when he breathes out, counts two, and so on. * ''Dvayaika-ganana'': when he completes the cycle of breathing in and out, he counts one; upon completing it again, it counts two. * ''Anuloma-ganana'': he counts from one to ten and again from one. * ''Pratiloma-ganana'': starting from ten, he counts backwards to one and again from ten.

Buddhaghosa established ''ganana'' 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.<ref name=Shaw>{{cite book|last=Shaw|first=Sarah|title=Buddhist Meditation: An Anthology of Texts from the Pali Canon|url=|date=2006|publisher=Routledge|page=147-149|isbn=9781134242030}}</ref>

Zhiyi, while listing the six stages into nirvana, 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:<ref name=Omo>{{cite book|author=Omori Sogen|title=Introduction to Zen Training: A Physical Approach to Meditation and Mind-Body Training (The Classic Rinzai Zen Manual)|date=2020|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn= 9781462921577}}</ref>

* Counting one after inhalating and exhalating, counting two after inhalating and exhalating again, and so on. * Counting after every inhalation. * Counting after every exhalation.

==In Zen Buddhism== {{See also|Zazen}} The Rinzai school holds ''susokukan'' as one of its main mind alignement techniques along with koan work.<ref name=Harada>{{cite book|authorlink=Shodo Harada|title=The Path to Bodhidharma: the teachings of Shodo Harada Roshi |date=2000|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn= 978-0804832168|page=52-67}}</ref> It is usual that after achieving ''susoku'', the practitioner initiates ''koan kufu'' or meditation with koan.<ref name=Arrow>{{cite book|author=Kenneth Kushner|title=One Arrow, One Life: Zen, Archery, Enlightenment|date=2011|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn= 9781462900640}}</ref> Some masters consider it a beginner's technique or a breathing exercise.<ref name=Harada/><ref name=Arrow/> Even then, some masters still recommend ''susoku'' as a way to assist koan meditation or for its value alone.<ref name=Harada/><ref name=Omo/> It is also considered a way to gather ''ki'' in the abdomen or ''tanden''.<ref name=Harada/>

The usual method is counting every exhalation up to ten and again from one, starting up again from one if losing count.<ref name=Harada/><ref name=Arrow/> 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.<ref name=Arrow/> It is also possible to count from one to a hundred or a thousand, or even internally recite one over and over.<ref name=Harada/> Another method used is counting one while breathing in, two while breathing out, three while inhaling again, until ten.<ref name=Baro/> Breath control is exerted during the exercise, maintaining abdominal breathing while focusing on the outbreath, which should last for eight to fifteen seconds.<ref name=Harada/>

In the Sōtō school of Zen, ''susoku'' was considered by Dogen to be a holdover from hinayana (theravada),<ref name=Baro/><ref name=Doge>{{cite book|author=Carl Bielefeldt|title=Dogen's Manuals of Zen Meditation|date=1990|publisher=University of California Press|isbn= 9780520909786}}</ref> although Keizan recommended it, and today it is still cultivated within the school.<ref name=Doge/>

==See also== *Dhāraṇā *Samyama

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Pali words and phrases Category:Buddhist meditation Category:Zazen Category:Pranayama Category:Mindfulness (Buddhism)