JHANA: Directly Seeing Realms of Existence

The Buddha teaching forest monks to meditate (buddhachannel.tv)

[The 31 Planes of Existence in Buddhist cosmology are literal worlds, not theoretical. They are all directly visible to the person who becomes proficient in serenity meditation -- the jhanas.] The attainment of any [of the eight] jhanas ["meditative absorptions"] comes about through a twofold process of development. On one side the states obstructive to it, called its factors of abandonment, have to be eliminated. On the other hand the states composing it, called its factors of possession, have to be acquired.

In the case of the first jhana, the factors of abandonment are the Five Hindrances, and the factors of possession are the five basic jhana factors. Both are alluded to in the standard formula for the first jhana. The opening phrase refers to the abandonment of the hindrances and the subsequent portion enumerates the jhana factors:

"Quite secluded from sense pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states of mind, one enters and dwells in the first absorption, which is accompanied by applied thought and sustained [attention] with rapture and happiness born of seclusion" (M.i,1818; Vbh.245).

This chapter will first discuss the Five Hindrances and their abandonment then investigate the factors of absorption both individually and by way of their combined contribution to the attainment of the first jhana. The chapter closes with some remarks on the ways of perfecting the first absorption, a necessary preparation for the further development of concentration.... More>>

THE FULL TEACHING

1. Introduction

The Doctrinal Context of Jhana

Etymology of Jhana

Jhana and Samadhi

2. The Preparation for Jhana

The Moral Foundation for Jhana

The Good Friend and the Subject of Meditation

Choosing a Suitable Dwelling

3. The First Jhana and its Factors

The Abandoning of the Hindrances

The Factors of the First Jhana

Perfecting the First Jhana

4. The Higher Jhanas

The Higher Fine-material Jhanas

The Immaterial Jhanas

The Jhanas and Rebirth

5. Jhanas and the Supramundane

The Way of Wisdom

The Two Vehicles

Supramundane Jhana

The Jhanic Level of the Path and Fruit

6. Jhana and the Noble Disciples

Seven Types of Disciples

Jhana and the Arahant ["enlightened person"]

• Source: Ven. Henepola Gunaratana from Wheel Publication No. 351/353 (Buddhist Publication Society, Kandy, 1988) -- an abridged version of The Path of Serenity and Insight: An Explanation of the Buddhist Jhanas (© 1985 Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi). Published in the Wheel series by arrangement with publisher (© 1988 BPS). Republished for free distribution.