The jhanas are states of deep meditative absorption that most meditators have heard of but few have experienced. Described in Buddhist texts for millennia, they represent profound concentration that goes beyond ordinary meditation into altered states of consciousness.
Are jhanas real? Essential? Just for monks? Here's what you should know about these distinctive meditative states.
What Are Jhanas?
The Basic Definition
The word: Jhana (Pali) or Dhyana (Sanskrit)—means absorption or meditation.
The state: Deep concentration where ordinary thinking subsides and distinct qualities arise.
The experience: Qualitatively different from everyday consciousness.
The Traditional Count
The form jhanas: Four primary absorptions (sometimes further divided).
The formless jhanas: Four additional, more refined states.
The progression: Each builds on the previous.
What They're Not
Not trance: You remain aware and lucid.
Not unconsciousness: Consciousness is heightened, not diminished.
Not visualization: Not imagined states—experientially distinct.
Not necessary for insight: Different practitioners emphasize them differently.
The Four Form Jhanas
First Jhana
The entry: Concentration stabilizes; mind becomes unified.
The characteristics: - Applied attention (vitakka)—directing mind to object - Sustained attention (vicara)—maintaining contact - Rapture (piti)—energetic pleasure, sometimes physical - Happiness (sukha)—contentment, ease - One-pointedness (ekaggata)—unified attention
The experience: Pleasurable concentration with some mental activity still present. Joy and rapture are pronounced.
The analogy: Like discovering an oasis after walking through desert.
Second Jhana
The shift: Applied and sustained attention fade.
What remains: - Rapture - Happiness - One-pointedness
The experience: Stiller than first jhana. Less effort required. Rapture prominent without the work of directing attention.
The analogy: Like a spring-fed pool—joy wells up from within without effort.
Third Jhana
The shift: Rapture fades.
What remains: - Happiness (more subtle, peaceful) - One-pointedness - Equanimity begins
The experience: Deeper calm. The energetic pleasure of rapture settles into peaceful contentment. Equanimous happiness.
The analogy: Like lotus flowers in cool water—immersed in peace.
Fourth Jhana
The shift: Happiness transforms into pure equanimity.
What remains: - Equanimity (upekkha) - One-pointedness - Neither pleasure nor pain
The experience: Profound stillness. Utterly balanced awareness. Breath may become very subtle or seem to stop.
The analogy: Like being wrapped in white cloth—complete purification of awareness.
The Formless Jhanas
Beyond Form
The territory: After mastering fourth jhana, attention can shift to increasingly refined objects.
The progression: Each state transcends the previous.
The subtlety: Increasingly difficult to describe in words.
Fifth Jhana: Infinite Space
The shift: Attention moves from breath/body to boundless space.
The experience: Sense of infinite extension in all directions.
The object: Space itself, without limit.
Sixth Jhana: Infinite Consciousness
The shift: From space to the consciousness knowing space.
The experience: Awareness of boundless awareness.
The object: Consciousness itself, infinite.
Seventh Jhana: Nothingness
The shift: Even infinite consciousness releases.
The experience: Absence of anything to perceive.
The object: The absence of anything.
Eighth Jhana: Neither Perception Nor Non-Perception
The shift: Even nothingness is too gross.
The experience: Almost impossible to describe—perception so refined it barely registers.
The object: At the edge of consciousness itself.
How to Access Jhana
Prerequisites
Strong concentration: Ability to stay with object for extended periods.
Relaxation: Tension blocks absorption.
Interest: Genuine engagement with the meditation object.
Letting go: Not trying too hard.
The Process
1. Establish access concentration: Mind settles, distractions fade, attention steady.
2. Notice pleasant sensations: Joy or comfort that arises with concentration.
3. Incline toward pleasure: Let attention rest on the pleasant feeling itself.
4. Allow absorption: Stop efforting. Let the state take over.
5. Surrender: You don't do jhana; you allow it.
Common Approaches
The Visuddhimagga approach: Very precise definitions, hard to achieve, rare states.
The sutta approach: Lighter criteria, more accessible, some debate about authenticity.
Modern teachers: Various interpretations of what counts as jhana.
What Helps
Longer sits: Jhana typically requires more than 20 minutes.
Retreat conditions: Reduced stimulation, more time for depth.
Teacher guidance: Someone who has experienced states can point the way.
Patience: May take years to access reliably.
What Hinders
Trying too hard: Effort blocks the letting go required.
Wanting jhana: Desire itself prevents absorption.
Doubt: "Is this it?" kicks you out.
Restlessness: Can't absorb when agitated.
Sleepiness: Need alertness for jhana, not drowsiness.
Different Interpretations
The Controversy
The debate: What exactly qualifies as jhana?
The spectrum: From very strict to quite inclusive interpretations.
The stakes: Who has "really" achieved jhana?
The Strict Interpretation
The claim: True jhana is rare, requires extensive training.
The criteria: No body awareness, no sense of time, complete absorption.
The source: Visuddhimagga (5th century commentary).
The Lite Interpretation
The claim: Jhana is more accessible than often taught.
The criteria: Stable attention with jhana factors present.
The source: Direct reading of suttas, some modern teachers.
The Practical View
The approach: Don't worry about whether it's "real" jhana.
The focus: Is your concentration developing? Are qualities present?
The priority: Experience matters more than labels.
Why Jhanas Matter
For Concentration Development
The training: Jhana practice builds powerful concentration.
The skill: Ability to stabilize mind transfers to other practices.
The foundation: Strong samadhi supports insight.
For Wellbeing
The experience: Jhanas are deeply pleasant and refreshing.
The effect: Practice leaves you feeling renewed.
The baseline: Regular jhana practice improves overall wellbeing.
For Insight
The traditional: Jhana provides basis for insight practice.
The sequence: Calm the mind, then investigate.
The clarity: From jhana, mind is bright and pliable.
For Understanding Mind
The demonstration: Shows what mind is capable of.
The deconditioning: Reveals that ordinary experience isn't the only option.
The motivation: Experiencing deep states inspires further practice.
Common Experiences
Physical Sensations
Rapture: Energy, tingling, waves of pleasure, goosebumps.
Lightness: Body feels light or disappears.
Stillness: Profound physical calm.
Breath changes: Very subtle, may seem to stop.
Mental Experiences
Unified attention: Mind not scattered or divided.
Clarity: Unusual brightness of awareness.
Joy: Independent of external conditions.
Timelessness: Time perception changes or disappears.
After Jhana
The afterglow: Pleasant effects persist after emergence.
The clarity: Mind remains bright and concentrated.
The insight: Good time for investigation practice.
Cautions and Considerations
Not the Goal
The warning: Jhana can become an end in itself.
The trap: "Jhana junkie"—seeking states instead of insight.
The balance: Use jhana, don't cling to it.
Misidentification
The risk: Mistaking concentration states for jhana.
The problem: Inflated sense of attainment.
The solution: Teacher guidance, humility.
Attachment
The danger: Craving jhana blocks development.
The irony: Wanting jhana prevents jhana.
The remedy: Equanimity toward states.
Not for Everyone
The reality: Some practitioners access jhana easily; others don't.
The factors: Temperament, conditions, karma (if you accept that concept).
The alternative: Insight practice doesn't require deep jhana.
Learning Jhana
Finding Teachers
The requirement: Someone who has experience with these states.
The traditions: Theravada teachers most commonly teach jhana explicitly.
The names: Pa Auk Sayadaw tradition, Leigh Brasington, Shaila Catherine, others.
Retreat Practice
The context: Jhana typically develops on retreat.
The conditions: Extended practice, reduced stimulation, teacher guidance.
The duration: Week-long minimum, often longer for first access.
Home Practice
The possibility: Some develop jhana at home.
The requirement: Long sits, consistent practice, patience.
The advantage: Can build foundation for retreat work.
The Long View
The timeline: Jhana typically takes years, not weeks.
The consistency: Regular practice matters more than occasional intensity.
The patience: Not forcing, allowing development.
Practical Recommendations
If You're Curious
Start here: Build strong concentration on breath.
Duration: Extend sits to 45+ minutes.
Consistency: Daily practice builds momentum.
Study: Read Leigh Brasington or Shaila Catherine.
If You're Struggling
Don't force: Effort is counterproductive.
Examine hindrances: What's blocking absorption?
Get guidance: Teacher feedback helps.
Trust the process: Practice correctly; results follow eventually.
If You've Accessed Jhana
Explore: Learn to move between jhanas.
Stabilize: Make access reliable.
Use: Apply the concentration to insight.
Don't cling: Remember it's a tool, not the goal.
The Bottom Line
The jhanas are:
- Deep states of meditative absorption
- Characterized by specific qualities (rapture, happiness, equanimity)
- Accessible through concentrated practice
- Valuable for wellbeing and as foundation for insight
- Not necessary for all practitioners but enriching for those drawn to them
Whether you pursue jhana or not, knowing about these states helps you understand the landscape of meditation practice. They represent what's possible when the mind becomes truly unified and still.
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