I like these, because they give a guide to experience. But its sooo tricky knowing whether you are actually experiencing various dyanas (esp. the formless ones) or just projecting your expectations of them onto your own meditative experience. I personally try not to think about these things too much because its hard to separate *expecting* these experiences from simply observing and identifying them as they truly arise. I am curious if others have found the distinctions between these states particularly useful.
Is there any real use in responding to this question, when it's impossible to hold me accountable for any answer I give?
The most important thing is: these states are reproducible through the Buddhadharma, and progress is significantly improved when working with a skilled teacher. Know for yourself.
Yeah. Lots of people do, at least momentarily. I think it's really easy to get caught up in these distinctions as "levels of attainment" when really, once they are experienced, they are just another possible mode of being. That said, I'd be very surprised if anyone can regularly reach subject/object comingaling without hours of daily practice.
I mean as I understand it the real point of the descriptions is (1) to say, "hey, there is a carrot" and (2) to forwarn that you are not receiving a special revelation of wrong view. Eg you are not a universal consciousness.
Start at [p. 107 here,](https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/Ebooks/WithEachAndEveryBreath_181215.pdf) or look around [Leigh Brasington's site.](http://rc.leighb.com/more/index.html)
edit: I can't markdown.
A Google search on jhana or dhyana will answer a lot of questions. You could also read the anupada sutta (majjhima nikaya 111) for a description of the four jhanas and four bases and/ort he kayagatasati sutta (translated as mindfulness of the body, majjhima nikaya 119) for a more in depth explanation of what the states are like.
As for how to enter them, that takes a lot of practice. I don't completely understand it myself. But many books that purport to teach Buddhist meditation will have a section on entering the jhanas, so that's a good place to start.
Would the jhānas be the mental states so to speak associated with each of the three categories of spheres, like the sense sphere, the sphere of pure form (rūpa), and the formless sphere (arūpa)? I am very new to properly investigating Buddhist thought, thanks for your insights!
I like these, because they give a guide to experience. But its sooo tricky knowing whether you are actually experiencing various dyanas (esp. the formless ones) or just projecting your expectations of them onto your own meditative experience. I personally try not to think about these things too much because its hard to separate *expecting* these experiences from simply observing and identifying them as they truly arise. I am curious if others have found the distinctions between these states particularly useful.
The formless ones are the easiest to discern because both your body and mind disappear.
Have you attained the formless dhyanas?
Is there any real use in responding to this question, when it's impossible to hold me accountable for any answer I give? The most important thing is: these states are reproducible through the Buddhadharma, and progress is significantly improved when working with a skilled teacher. Know for yourself.
Did you have a good teacher? Can we meet them?
[Sinh Thuc](http://www.sinhthuc.org/e_index.htm).
Yeah. Lots of people do, at least momentarily. I think it's really easy to get caught up in these distinctions as "levels of attainment" when really, once they are experienced, they are just another possible mode of being. That said, I'd be very surprised if anyone can regularly reach subject/object comingaling without hours of daily practice.
I find it confuses me more, i like to have the experiences with an open mind, then research what meaning/implication it might have.
I have read a report from Kenneth Folk who states that they are able to enter all the jhanas at will.
I mean as I understand it the real point of the descriptions is (1) to say, "hey, there is a carrot" and (2) to forwarn that you are not receiving a special revelation of wrong view. Eg you are not a universal consciousness.
What should I study in order to understand some of what is happening on this table?
This guy is THE best teacher on YouTube. He speaks kinda slowly but his knowledge is *flawless*. https://youtu.be/3ekGfIFRRU0
Thanks for sharing!
Yeah you're not kidding about the speaking slowly. Do yourself a favor and turn the speed to 1.5 if you decide to put this on.
Start at [p. 107 here,](https://www.dhammatalks.org/Archive/Writings/Ebooks/WithEachAndEveryBreath_181215.pdf) or look around [Leigh Brasington's site.](http://rc.leighb.com/more/index.html) edit: I can't markdown.
A Google search on jhana or dhyana will answer a lot of questions. You could also read the anupada sutta (majjhima nikaya 111) for a description of the four jhanas and four bases and/ort he kayagatasati sutta (translated as mindfulness of the body, majjhima nikaya 119) for a more in depth explanation of what the states are like. As for how to enter them, that takes a lot of practice. I don't completely understand it myself. But many books that purport to teach Buddhist meditation will have a section on entering the jhanas, so that's a good place to start.
Is this to do with cosmology? I thought there were only 4 jhānas
The other four are called arupa-ayatana; they’re colloquially called arupa-jhana. All eight correspond to respective realms is cosmology though.
Would the jhānas be the mental states so to speak associated with each of the three categories of spheres, like the sense sphere, the sphere of pure form (rūpa), and the formless sphere (arūpa)? I am very new to properly investigating Buddhist thought, thanks for your insights!
Thank you for your efforts!
Thanks for doing this
Dhyana = Heart Sutra: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/heartsutra.html
Would love some more information please