The Great Jhana Debate

The cultivation of calm or tranquility and the development of concentration
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Kumara
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Kumara »

Spiny Norman wrote:
Kumara wrote:Also, the sutta doesn't speak of "factors". It provides descriptions of the 4 meditative states.
The factors are described here for example in MN43, the Mahavedalla Sutta.
Ya, I know about this one. In Anupada Sutta (MN111), we can see many more "factors". These seems to be the beginnings of the abhidhammika way of thought.
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Spiny Norman »

Kumara wrote:
Spiny Norman wrote:
Kumara wrote:Also, the sutta doesn't speak of "factors". It provides descriptions of the 4 meditative states.
The factors are described here for example in MN43, the Mahavedalla Sutta.
Ya, I know about this one. In Anupada Sutta (MN111), we can see many more "factors". These seems to be the beginnings of the abhidhammika way of thought.
I don't know about that, but the 5 factors seem to occur repeatedly in sutta descriptions of jhana, with the factors progressively "dropping off" as one goes from 1st to 4th jhana. And I think the relationship between these 5 factors and the 5 hindrances is significant. I've also noticed a correlation between the 5 factors and the 7 factors of enlightenment.
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dhammarelax
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by dhammarelax »

Kumara wrote:
Spiny Norman wrote:
Kumara wrote:Also, the sutta doesn't speak of "factors". It provides descriptions of the 4 meditative states.
The factors are described here for example in MN43, the Mahavedalla Sutta.
Ya, I know about this one. In Anupada Sutta (MN111), we can see many more "factors". These seems to be the beginnings of the abhidhammika way of thought.
Hi,

Does anybody knows of other suttas like MN 111 that are describing the factors to be seen while in the Jhanas?

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Dhammarelax
Even if the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, I will use all my human firmness, human persistence and human striving. There will be no relaxing my persistence until I am the first of my generation to attain full awakening in this lifetime. ed. AN 2.5
Coyote
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Coyote »

I wonder if someone could help me understand one aspect of this debate, touched upon in this thread and elsewhere. Please excuse my ignorance if this has been addressed in this topic already.
Basically "vivicceva kāmehi" has been used to show jhana as being a state removed from the 5 senses, if I understand correctly. This hinges on kāmā meaning sense objects rather than sensual desire/sensuality ect. Does this necessarily refer to being cut off from 5 sense experience entirely, rather couldn't it refer to having guarded sense gates?
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
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dhammarelax
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by dhammarelax »

Coyote wrote:I wonder if someone could help me understand one aspect of this debate, touched upon in this thread and elsewhere. Please excuse my ignorance if this has been addressed in this topic already.
Basically "vivicceva kāmehi" has been used to show jhana as being a state removed from the 5 senses, if I understand correctly. This hinges on kāmā meaning sense objects rather than sensual desire/sensuality ect. Does this necessarily refer to being cut off from 5 sense experience entirely, rather couldn't it refer to having guarded sense gates?
Hi Coyote

Both points of view exist, one is the absorption jhana and the other is the insight jhana, Ajahn Brams goes for the absorption while Thanissaro and Vimalaramsi go for the insight while in the Jhana, MN 111 seems to defend the insight jhana but it has being singled as a late addition by Bhiky Sujato in his "A history of mindfulness":

"...But the Anupada Sutta is clearly late. It consists chiefly of stock phrases and technical terms; if these are left out there are
only a few lines that make up the characteristic vocabulary of the Anupada Sutta. These lines include at least three words suggestive of a late idiom
(anupada, vavattheti, and pāramī). In addition, the text is poorly edited. The jhāna factors are listed, as per the usual Sutta idiom, with the conjunctive
particle ca. But the remaining factors are listed in the Abhidhamma style with no ca; they have clearly been inserted from another source."

However the same author in his "A swift pair of messengers":

"One passage speaks of a monk establishing the ‘mind one-pointed in samādhi’ while in all four postures, including walking.14 This would
seem to be difficult to square with the usual understanding of jhāna, although it would not necessarily directly contradict anything in the suttas." AN 4:12 http://suttacentral.net/en/an4.12" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And

"The path of samatha and vipassanā yoked equally is explicitly identified in only one place. MN 149.9"

I have been in absorption jhana and is great but you don't learn much, I now practice the Insight Jhana where I learn more things while in it.

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dhammarelax
Even if the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, I will use all my human firmness, human persistence and human striving. There will be no relaxing my persistence until I am the first of my generation to attain full awakening in this lifetime. ed. AN 2.5
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Coyote »

dhammarelax,

Thanks for responding. I realise that there is a lot of complicated textual study behind either of the two viewpoints. One could probably find a basis for either idea in the canon depending on what sources one takes as authoritative or early, and seen with Bhikkhu Sujato. It's an interesting subject and not one I feel comfortable in coming to my own conclusions about just yet. I just wonder whether, from a language pov, vivicca always or usually means completely cut off from, or if there is room for it to refer to guarded senses.
"If beings knew, as I know, the results of giving & sharing, they would not eat without having given, nor would the stain of miserliness overcome their minds. Even if it were their last bite, their last mouthful, they would not eat without having shared."
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dhammarelax
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by dhammarelax »

Coyote wrote:dhammarelax,

Thanks for responding. I realise that there is a lot of complicated textual study behind either of the two viewpoints. One could probably find a basis for either idea in the canon depending on what sources one takes as authoritative or early, and seen with Bhikkhu Sujato. It's an interesting subject and not one I feel comfortable in coming to my own conclusions about just yet. I just wonder whether, from a language pov, vivicca always or usually means completely cut off from, or if there is room for it to refer to guarded senses.
Hi Coyote

I am afraid my knowledge of Pali is very limited, I have no clue.

Smile all the time
Dhammarelax
Even if the flesh & blood in my body dry up, leaving just the skin, tendons, & bones, I will use all my human firmness, human persistence and human striving. There will be no relaxing my persistence until I am the first of my generation to attain full awakening in this lifetime. ed. AN 2.5
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mikenz66
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by mikenz66 »

Here's a series that Ven Kumara pointed out here:

Jhana Wars!

:anjali:
Mike
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Zom »

Jhana Wars!
Nice comments here .)
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Mkoll
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Mkoll »

mikenz66 wrote:Jhana Wars!
Coming soon to a theater near you?

Image

:tongue:
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
Namo tassa bhagavato arahato samma sambuddhassa
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Alex123
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Alex123 »

One overcomes rūpasaññānaṃ, paṭighasaññānaṃ and nānattasaññānaṃ going from 4th Jhāna to base of infinite space (ākāsānañcāyatanaṃ).

Exactly what is:
a) rūpasaññānaṃ . The wording suggest that it is rūpa not purely mental objects (dhāmmasaññā) that one overcomes.

b) paṭighasaññānaṃ. Can purely mental objects impinge like physical ones?

c) nānattasaññānaṃ. Diversity of what kind of rūpa can be found in 4th Jhāna and below?

It seems to suggest that 5 senses perceptions are finished between 4th Jhāna and ākāsānañcāyatana.
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Kumara
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Kumara »

Spiny Norman wrote:
Kumara wrote:Ya, I know about this one. In Anupada Sutta (MN111), we can see many more "factors". These seems to be the beginnings of the abhidhammika way of thought.
I don't know about that, but the 5 factors seem to occur repeatedly in sutta descriptions of jhana, with the factors progressively "dropping off" as one goes from 1st to 4th jhana.
Tell me the five factors in the most standard description of 1st jhana.
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by mikenz66 »

A helpful analysis fromBhikkhu Cintita Dinsmore:
Buddha’s Meditation and its Variants

The daunting plethora of modern Buddhist meditation techniques has proved itself a source of bewilderment, doubt and contention. As a result meditators bandy about many terms, like “mindfulness,” “insight,” and “jhana” with little agreement on what these mean, and with much uncertainty about the relative merits of alternative techniques or doubts about the viability of their own chosen practices. In spite of this, the Buddha actually gave some us some very clear instructions about meditation, available to us today in the Pali Suttas and in the Chinese Agamas. This series of posts considers, first, the Buddha’s meditation and its unique characteristics, and, second, its later variants and how these came to differ from their origins.
https://bhikkhucintita.wordpress.com/ho ... -variants/

:anjali:
Mike
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Alex123
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Alex123 »

mikenz66 wrote:A helpful analysis fromBhikkhu Cintita Dinsmore:
Buddha’s Meditation and its Variants

The daunting plethora of modern Buddhist meditation techniques has proved itself a source of bewilderment, doubt and contention. As a result meditators bandy about many terms, like “mindfulness,” “insight,” and “jhana” with little agreement on what these mean, and with much uncertainty about the relative merits of alternative techniques or doubts about the viability of their own chosen practices. In spite of this, the Buddha actually gave some us some very clear instructions about meditation, available to us today in the Pali Suttas and in the Chinese Agamas. This series of posts considers, first, the Buddha’s meditation and its unique characteristics, and, second, its later variants and how these came to differ from their origins.
https://bhikkhucintita.wordpress.com/ho ... -variants/

:anjali:
Mike

I think that the problem is with putting too much emphasis on "technique" rather on the reason why one is doing what one is doing.
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Re: The Great Jhana Debate

Post by Pondera »

There are those who say jhana is so absorbing that sound and awareness cease, among other things, to exist. Yet, in suttas the Buddha repeatedly references the "saturation" and "permeation" of Jhana throughout the body. How does one accomplish this if one is in a state of non-conscious absorption? This is my argument for jhana as a "subtle material body" absorption vs. a purely "mind made" absorption.
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