釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 5.21

5.21

三、明用息不同者，一師教繫心數出息。所以者何？數出息則氣不急，身不脹滿，身心輕利，易入三昧。有師教數入息，何故爾？數入息：一者、易入定，隨息內歛故；二、斷外境故；三、易見內三十六物故；四、身力輕盛故；五、內實息貪恚故。有如是等勝利非一，應數入息。有師教數入出無在，但取所便而數。無的偏用，隨人心安，入定無過，即用三師所論，皆不許出入一時俱數。何以故？以有息遮病，生在喉中，猶如草葉，吐則不出，咽則不入，此患生故。又師依四時用數，今所未詳。

Third, regarding the explanation of the different uses of breath: one master teaches binding the mind to counting exhalations. Why is this? Counting exhalations prevents the breath from becoming strained, prevents the body from bloating, and makes the body and mind light and agile, making it easy to enter samādhi. Another master teaches counting inhalations. Why is this? In counting inhalations: first, it is easy to enter absorption because one gathers inward along with the breath; second, it severs external sense-objects; third, it is easy to view the thirty-six internal substances; fourth, bodily strength becomes light and vigorous; fifth, internally it calms greed and anger. Because there are many such excellent benefits, one should count inhalations. Another master teaches that counting inhalation or exhalation does not matter—one simply adopts what is convenient and counts it; without an exclusive preference, one proceeds according to what settles the person's mind, entering absorption without fault. Applying what the three masters discuss, none of them permits counting both inhalation and exhalation at the same time. Why is this? Because there is an obstruction ailment of breath that arises in the throat like a blade of grass: spitting it out does not expel it, and swallowing it does not take it in; this trouble would arise. Another master relies on the four seasons to apply the counting, which is not treated in detail here.