Jhana: yes, no, neither, could be? Hmm?
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 7:15 am
I'm way out in the boon docks, without any support in practice. That said, I believe I have been experiencing Jhana. I'm interested in any thing people have to offer here, but mostly: do you think you've experienced Jhana, and by what standard are you basing that (written or teacher)? Since I have heard this is a controversial topic, I will understand if no one responds. But I'm hoping.
For me I measure success by what seems to be present, and the order that they are present (Ajaan Lee described Jhana a lot in his writing, which I have read). Since I am having some consistency in my practice, I get to analyze my experiences some. My first experiences involved the sense of the body becoming large and comfortable, with the breath almost like a backdrop for all my experiences/thoughts/etc. I was aware of these other things, but also the breath, always there. Now days I don't get the big body, nor the small body, sense anymore, but just a gradual awakening of the body as the mind also calms and latches onto the breath. A point comes where the breath and my attention do not separate, with the body feeling like a statue: present, relaxed, comfortable and seemingly immovable. I can move, but there seems almost no inclination in the mind to move, even when pain sets in (from sitting on a hard floor I do experience the onset of pain after a time; not sure how long into it). At that point I can rest with the breath as backdrop with very little effort. Mostly I just avoid adjusting the breath and this state will persist. If I focus in on the breath again then things start to change.
There's more, but maybe I should stop here. Mostly, does this sound like it's progressing how it should?
Please forgive me if this thread is inappropriate. Some experienced mediators to talk with (email or other) would be a great boon to me.
Thanks.
For me I measure success by what seems to be present, and the order that they are present (Ajaan Lee described Jhana a lot in his writing, which I have read). Since I am having some consistency in my practice, I get to analyze my experiences some. My first experiences involved the sense of the body becoming large and comfortable, with the breath almost like a backdrop for all my experiences/thoughts/etc. I was aware of these other things, but also the breath, always there. Now days I don't get the big body, nor the small body, sense anymore, but just a gradual awakening of the body as the mind also calms and latches onto the breath. A point comes where the breath and my attention do not separate, with the body feeling like a statue: present, relaxed, comfortable and seemingly immovable. I can move, but there seems almost no inclination in the mind to move, even when pain sets in (from sitting on a hard floor I do experience the onset of pain after a time; not sure how long into it). At that point I can rest with the breath as backdrop with very little effort. Mostly I just avoid adjusting the breath and this state will persist. If I focus in on the breath again then things start to change.
There's more, but maybe I should stop here. Mostly, does this sound like it's progressing how it should?
Please forgive me if this thread is inappropriate. Some experienced mediators to talk with (email or other) would be a great boon to me.
Thanks.