breath counting in the suttas?

[Thanavuddho]

Hello,

I'm looking for a sutta reference for breath counting.

[Macavity]

There isn't one. Breath-counting is first described in the Vimuttimagga and Visuddhimagga.

In the Suttas even the most detailed account of anapanassati —the one in the Patisambhidamagga— doesn't mention it.

Kind regards,
Ciarán

[mikenz66]

Hi Santeri,

Hello,
I'm looking for a sutta reference for breath counting.

Like Macavity said...

See Visuddhimagga VIII 190 (Page 300 of the Nanamoli translation.)

Herein, this clansman who is a beginner should first give attention to this meditation subject by counting. And when counting, he should not stop short of five or go beyond ten or make any breaks in the series. .... [Goes on for several paragraphs.]

Mike

[Thanavuddho]

Hi friends,

I remember reading a sutta where the Buddha is teaching breath counting. Meaby my memory is failing me, this is possible...

[mikenz66]

Maybe it was from the commentary to the Sutta or a footnote.
You can look at the google results for breath, breaths, and breathing at Access to Insight:
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&sa ... arch&meta=
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&sa ... arch&meta=
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&sa ... arch&meta=

Or here:
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&sa ... arch&meta=
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&sa ... arch&meta=
http://www.google.co.nz/search?hl=en&sa ... arch&meta=

Mike