Practical Guide to Deep Meditative States

(Dhamma Centre) How to strengthen concentration through jhāna with Shaila Catherine

How to strengthen concentration through jhāna with Shaila Catherine

(Dhamma Centre) Streamed live in 2021. This online event includes a Dhamma talk, a brief guided meditation, and a Question & Answer session. Ask questions about the practice of concentration, and Shaila will respond with an understanding gleaned from her extensive experience with jhana practice. Join to explore the role of concentration in Dhamma practice.

• 

  The Buddha in samadhi at Gal Vihara, Sri Lanka

  "Concentration"? What does samadhi really mean? The Pali texts describe this quality of mind as "internally steadied, composed and settled, unified." It is a coherent mind, a unification of the mind with the object, a stillness of mind free of distraction, undistractedness, collectedness, and focused attention that produces a profound stability of mind. It is the factor that lands on the meditation object, penetrates it, and stays there. We stay attentive with the object, not dispersed, dissipated, scattered, or agitated. We experience it with cohesion and coherence, internal strength, often very pleasant (states linked to bliss, happiness, equanimity, a joy born of seclusion or withdrawal of the senses) associated with tranquility, calm, ease, peacefulness, stillness, rapture, bliss, deep and profound equanimity. Fixed focus (appana samadhi) is a single focus on any one of a variety of different objects. There is another called momentary concentration (kannica samadhi).

The Jhanas: A Practical Guide to Deep Meditative States

The Jhanas: A Practical Guide

Author Shaila Catherine has 4.8 out of 5 stars with 27 ratings for this instructional manual. It promises to give access to some wonderful things:

Experience new levels of joy, calm, and clarity with this revised and enhanced edition of the bestselling Focused and Fearless.

The Pali word jhana (Sanskrit dhyana) literally means “to meditate.” It also refers to a traditional series of states of meditative absorption, each deeper than the last, in which the mind is undistracted by sensation, thoughts, or moods.

• Shaila Catherine—founder and principal teacher – Insight Meditation South Bay

Shaila Catherine’s friendly, wise approach, blended with contemporary examples and pragmatic "how to" instructions that anyone can try, shows meditators (and non-meditators) how to attain these extraordinary states with relative ease.

But jhana practice is about much more than just meditation or concentration [the misleading word most often used to translate samadhi]; it offers a complete path toward bliss, fearlessness, and true awakening.

• Dharma Seed - Shaila Catherine's Dharma Talks

From the introduction:

It's so natural, laypeople can reach it with ease.

Jhanas are states of happiness that can radically transform the heart, reshape the mind, imbue consciousness with enduring joy and ease, and provide an inner resource of tranquility that surpasses any conceivable sensory pleasure.

Jhanas are states of deep rest, healing rejuvenation, and profound comfort that create a stable platform for transformative insight.

Beyond Distraction: Five Ways

In this approach to jhana, we use the calming aspects of concentration to support the investigative aspects of insight meditation. The fruit of concentration is freedom of heart and mind.

This new edition of the meditation classic clarifies crucial points and offers twenty-one additional exercises, making this a great book for both those new to jhana practice and those looking to deepen their practice. The Jhanas: A Practical Guide to Deep Meditative States

• Buddhist Meditation Teacher Shaila Catherine
• Shaila Catherine (Amazon.com)
• AllYouCanBooks.com
• Shaila Catherine, Bhante, Dhamma Centre, March 6, 2021 (Dharma talk); Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

What is Samadhi, concentration or stillness?

Ven. Nyanatiloka, Buddhist Dictionary; Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

"Concentration" is a very misleading translation of the Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu term samādhi. It literally means "the [mental] state of being firmly fixed."

Sam+ā+√ hā is the fixing of the mind [attention, the heart] on a single object. "One-pointedness of mind (cittass' ekaggatā), Ven. Visakha, this is called samadhi" (MN 44).

The English language term "concentration" connotes effort, struggle, control, and force, as if it is something achieved by grimacing, pressing one's temples, and strongly desiring in the heart. These are all antithetical to samadhi.

One enters with ease, calming down, letting go, directing and guiding the mind persistently but without force or frustration. Fixation might be closer, except that that usually involves strong craving.

Imagine a light in a dark room. It would not be difficult to notice. It might be the only external attraction with only internal distractions.

Coming back to it until the mind becomes fixed or fixated on it would be good, at least to the extent that it otherwise clears the mind and brings it into the present moment: this attention on this single thing.

While often very weak it is one of the seven mental concomitants inseparably associated with all consciousness. Compare with the terms nāma (name or mind) and cetanā (intention, motivation).

"Right stillness" (sammā-samādhi), as the last link of the Ennobling Eightfold Path (magga), is defined as the first four meditative absorptions (jhānas).

In a wider sense, comprising also much weaker states of attention, it is associated with all karmically skillful/wholesome (kusala) consciousness.

"Wrong attention" (micchā-samādhi) is attending associated with all karmically unskillful/unwholesome (akusala) consciousness.

Wherever in the texts this term is not differentiated by "right" or "wrong," "right" attention or stillness is meant.

In stillnes or attention one distinguishes three grades of intensity:

(1) "Preparatory stillness" (parikamma-samādhi) existing at the beginning of the mental exercise.

(2) "Neighborhood stillness" (upacāra-samādhi), that is, stillness "approaching" but not yet attaining the first meditative absorption (jhāna), which in certain mental exercises is marked by the appearance of a "counter-image" (patibhāga-nimitta).

(3) "Attainment stillness" (appanā-samādhi), that is, that stillness that is present during the absorptions (App.) For further details, see bhāvana, The Path of Purification (Vis.M. III), and Fund. IV.

Mental stillness connected with the four noble (enlightened) path-moments (magga), and fruition-moments (phala) is called supermundane (lokuttara), having nirvana as their object.

Any other attention, even that of the most sublime absorptions is merely mundane (lokiya).

According to DN 33, the development of stillness (samādhi-bhāvanā) may procure a fourfold blessing:

1. present happiness through the four absorptions;
2. knowing and seeing (knowledge and vision or ñāna-dassana, here probably identical with the "divine eye" (abhiññā) through perception of light (kasina);
3. mindfulness and clear comprehension (sati-sampajjana) through the clear knowledge of the arising, turning, and passing away of feelings, perceptions, and thoughts;
4. extinction of all cankers (āsavakkhaya) through understanding the arising and passing away of the Five Aggregates clung to as self (khandha).

Stillness is one of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment (satta bojjhanga), one of the Five Spiritual Faculties and Five Powers (bala), and the last link of the Noble Eightfold Path.

In the threefold division of the Noble Eightfold Path (into the categories of virtue, stillness, and wisdom), stillness is a collective name for the three last links of the path (sikkhā).

The "Secret of Water" (GAIA)

Gaia.com/video/secret-water; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

Secret of Water

Preview: Secret of Water

(1 hour and 16 minutes) Water is a "living" substance, the most common on earth and least understood. It defies the basic laws of physics yet holds the keys to life.

Known to the ancients as a transmitter to and from the higher realms, water retains hidden messages and conveys information to DNA.

However, water can die if treated poorly. Our use and misuse of this precious resource has altered the vital information it carries in unexpected ways.

Influences such as sound, thought, intention, and prayer, as well as toxins such as chlorine, structure water’s molecular arrangement – affecting all it comes in contact with.

Prominent scientists help reveal the secret of water, allowing us to use its healing power for human beings and the planet.

• Sign up to watch: gaia.com/cart/account-creation
• Directors: Jirka Rysavy, Saida Medvedeva
• Narrator: Lex Lang
• Audio Languages: English, Spanish, German, French
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, German

Science: Sound can raise our vibration (video)

Joanna McEwen (TEDxU.ofBrighton); Amber Larson, Crystal Quintero (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

What if ancient Buddhists knew the importance of sound and built vibrating singing bowls?

Why raising our vibration increases serendipity

TEDx Talks

Joanna McEwen speaks about coherence through sound therapy and its importance in our lives.

• [The most important possibility of this technology is the possibility of bringing the mind to coherence (absorption, samadhi) through the use of binaural beats such as the Monroe Institute's Hemi-Sync.]
• [In mysticism and metaphysics, coherence can be defined as the presence of peace, grace, ease, and also acceptance, appreciation, allowing (versus resistance) or, to employ a concept found in Buddhism, "pure pervasive kindness toward everything" or "friendliness toward everyone," which engenders harmony and synchrony.]

McEwen is a qualified and experienced sound therapist who holds a Master's degree in applied anthropology emphasizing youth and community. She has supported children, youth, and families for over 15 years within mainstream special needs schools as well as youth and community groups.

She creates and delivers well-being [serendipity (fortunate happenstance or pleasant surprise)] workshops through the use of sound healing, music, drama, mindfulness, and breath and body awareness. She works with adults and children of all ages and abilities, including those with Asperger's Syndrome, autistic spectrum disorders, and profound and multiple learning disabilities.

McEwen is a trained Empowered Learning Practitioner able to work with children with special learning needs.

Monthly Sound Meditations with McEwen

Can vibrations induce meditative states of serenity (samatha) and coherence (samadhi)?

.

Joanna McEwen trained with The College of Sound Healing, British Academy of Sound Therapy, and Don "The Gong" Conreaux. Her journey with sound began as a teenager when she would soothe her teenage angst with the baroque rhythms of Pachabel’s Cannon. While DJ-ing in her 20s she saw the power of music to move and shift people’s emotions and energies, and it was at this time she first came across the research of Fabian Maman on the ability of sound frequencies to explode cancer cells [similar to the banned-for-working Royal Rife (rife.org) and Hulda Regehr Clark cures].  This led her to explore sound therapy with James D’Angelo...First Sunday of the month (Dec. 3, 2017), 7:30-8:30 pm at Unity Studios, 130a Lewes Rd, Brighton, BN2 3LG. More

• [Practiced weekly in Los Angeles, CA, 7:00-8:30 pm, FREE, Thursday nights at PasaDharma's Mass Meditation Initiative]

Himalayan singing bowls vibrate with different resonant healing tones (mysoreyoga.in)

• This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
• Study: Sense of coherence contributes to mental and physical health

Meditation: Five Factors of Absorption

Dhr. Seven, Ananda (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly UPDATED; Ven. Nyanaponika (The Five Mental Hindrances and Their Conquest: Selected Texts from the Pali Canon and the Commentaries)

The Absorptions or Zen States

There are eight meditative states of "absorption" (Pali jhana, Japanese zen, Sanskrit dhyana, Chinese ch'an, Vietnamese seon), four material and four immaterial (and in the Abhidharma a ninth beyond feeling and perception).

Five "absorption factors" (jhana-anga) or temporary liberations are crucial to developing the states of meditation that result in profitable types of consciousness corresponding to higher form (rupa, "fine-material") and formless (arupa) worlds, beyond our sensual sphere. They are:

1. initial-application of attention (vitakka)
2. sustained-application (vicchara)
3. joy, rapture, bliss, keen interest, enthusiasm (piti)
4. happiness, ease (sukha)
5. single-pointedness of mind (ekaggata)

These five factors are evident in most types of consciousness, even the sensual sphere consciousness of the human plane.

The Five Hindrances

The Five Hindrances (nivarana) are typical of very low, unprofitable states of consciousness and development -- such as the consciousness of animals (and other less favorably born beings), which is saturated with these factors:

1. craving/clinging
2. aversion (anger)/fear
3. drowsiness/lethargy
4. restlessness/worry
5. skeptical doubt

The presence of these hindrances means that mind is conditioned and manipulated by the variegated stimuli around it.

In opposition to these Five Hindrances are the Five Factors of Absorption. The absorption factors counter and eventually eliminate the hindrances. We can reduce the controlling power of the hindrances to the extent we cultivate the absorption factors.

The Crossroads

I can do it this way or that.

In a sense we are at a crossroads. All of these factors, hindering us or leading us to immediate absorption, are present in our minds/hearts. The question is, "Do we allow the mental hindrances to dominate, or do we develop the absorption factors?"

The Five Factors of Absorption, or intensification, can liberate the heart/mind. The contest is important. As long as the hindrances predominate, we are likely to see the results in this life and the next. There's immediate woe and rebirth in unfavorable states.

However, if consciousness is cultivated, raised, and tuned -- developing the absorption factors -- it effortlessly reaches higher levels of consciousness both here-and-now and in the future, wherever we may go.

The lesson is to regard to the Five Hindrances as an inner or outer undisciplined animal versus a well-trained companion dissuaded from bringing us harm. Regarded in this way, the Five Factors of Absorption are immediately seen as friends, aides, and wondrous powers.

Does samadhi mean "concentration"? No

Amber Larson, Pat Macpherson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly; Wiki edit

Before successful insight meditation (vipassana) is possible, there must be right-samādhi. What is samādhi?

• Right-samadhi is the eighth limb of the Noble Eightfold Path

The common and misleading English translation of this Sanskrit/Pali term is "concentration," as in striving or straining to limit the mind's attention on one object.

But it actually means to the clearness and heightened alertness of mind that effortlessly appears through sustained practice of absorption (jhana or dhyana).

• In the Mahāyāna Buddhism of Japan, jhana is translated as zen, in India dhyana, in China chan (short for chánnà), in Tibet bsam gta, in Vietnam thien, and in Korea it is seon. Although it means "absorption," the original translation of the term was "meditation" (and bhavana meant development, cultivation, lit. "bringing into being").

Dude, I am all Zen'ed out. Look at my tat.

The term samadhi derives from the root sam-a-dha, which means "to collect" or "bring together." It is "unification of mind." In early Buddhist texts, it is also associated and often considered a synonym of the term samatha (serenity, tranquility, calm abiding).

In the sutras, it is defined as "one-pointedness of mind" (cittass'ekaggatā) [but because this is what it becomes when it collects not because it is what one does to make it such] (Ven. Henepola Gunaratana, The Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation, Bhavana Society, West Virginia, 1995).

According to the commentaries, Ven. Buddhagosa defines samadhi as "the centering of consciousness and consciousness-concomitants [cetasikas] evenly and rightly on a single object...

Samadhi is the state in virtue of which consciousness and its concomitants remain evenly and rightly on a single object, undistracted and unscattered" (The Path of Purification, 84-85; pp.85). More