Ecstatic absorption: Bliss of the Jhanas

(Buddha's Wisdom) The Four Jhanas (meditative absorptions): From Rapture (piti) to perfect equanimity (upekkha)

• Jhana: meditative "absorption" ("meditation") chiefly refers to the first four meditative absorptions of form

Gandhara: meditating Buddha

Namely, these are the form absorptions of the fine-material sphere (rūpa-jjhāna or rūpāvacara-jjhāna, see avacara). These profound absorptions are reached through full (ecstatic) stillness, samādhi, concentration (appanā).

 
At this time there is a complete (albeit temporary) suspension of fivefold sense-activity and of the Five Hindrances (pancha-nīvarana). However, this state of consciousness is one of full alertness and lucidity and, it is said, singlepointedness (ekagata) of mind/attention.

This degree of concentration becomes a fully absorbed state. It is generally developed by the practice (cultivation) of one of the 40 subjects of tranquility meditation (samatha-kammatthāna, see bhāvanā).

There are four higher (more refined) states of absorption called the Four Formless Attainments of the immaterial Spheres (arūpāyatana). These are called the four absorptions of the immaterial sphere (arūpa-jjhāna or arūpāvacara-jjhāna).

The usual text, often met with in the Pali canon sutras, runs as follows:... More: jhāna

• Pīti: rapture, bliss, joy
• Upekṣā: equanimity