The Jhanas

General discussion of issues related to Theravada Meditation, e.g. meditation postures, developing a regular sitting practice, skillfully relating to difficulties and hindrances, etc.
Post Reply
User avatar
Dhammakid
Posts: 375
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Santa Fe, NM USA
Contact:

The Jhanas

Post by Dhammakid »

Hello all,
Although I'm not yet ready for jhana meditation, I would like to read up on them to get a better understanding of what they are. I know about some books out there by Ajahn Brahm, Ayya Khema, and others. But I can't spend any money right now. Are there any online resources explaining the jhanas and how to attain them? And not something shallow or basic. I want something in-depth. That might be a stretch for the net, I understand, but it's worth a try.

Any feedback is appreciated.

:namaste:
Dhammakid
User avatar
mikenz66
Posts: 19932
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: The Jhanas

Post by mikenz66 »

You can download the basic chapters of Ajahn Brahm's book, Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond, from http://bswa.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and also many guided meditations in the podcast area. In the "saturday" ones he discussed particular issues.

Metta
Mike
User avatar
stuka
Posts: 171
Joined: Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:37 am

Re: The Jhanas

Post by stuka »

http://what-buddha-taught.net/books/gun ... jhanas.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The Jhānas in Theravāda Buddhist Meditation by Mahathera Henepola Gunaratana
User avatar
Dhammakid
Posts: 375
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Santa Fe, NM USA
Contact:

Re: The Jhanas

Post by Dhammakid »

mikenz66 wrote:You can download the basic chapters of Ajahn Brahm's book, Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond, from http://bswa.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and also many guided meditations in the podcast area. In the "saturday" ones he discussed particular issues.

Metta
Mike
Thanks Mike. But I can't find the link to this book on that site. Do you have a direct link?
User avatar
Dhammakid
Posts: 375
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Santa Fe, NM USA
Contact:

Re: The Jhanas

Post by Dhammakid »

stuka wrote:http://what-buddha-taught.net/books/gun ... jhanas.htm

The Jhānas in Theravāda Buddhist Meditation by Mahathera Henepola Gunaratana
Thanks Stuka. This looks like a great resource. I really enjoy his book "Mindfulness in Plain English" so it's nice to have another one from him.

:namaste:
Dhammakid
User avatar
mikenz66
Posts: 19932
Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 7:37 am
Location: Aotearoa, New Zealand

Re: The Jhanas

Post by mikenz66 »

Dhammakid wrote:
mikenz66 wrote:You can download the basic chapters of Ajahn Brahm's book, Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond, from http://bswa.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and also many guided meditations in the podcast area. In the "saturday" ones he discussed particular issues.
Thanks Mike. But I can't find the link to this book on that site. Do you have a direct link?
Hmm, annoying isn't it?

Scroll down and click on the book cover on the right, which will take you to the bookstore. Click on it again and you will get a pdf, which is this: http://www.bswa.org/PDF/MindfulnessBlis ... ers1-5.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mike
User avatar
Cittasanto
Posts: 6646
Joined: Tue Dec 30, 2008 10:31 pm
Location: Ellan Vannin
Contact:

Re: The Jhanas

Post by Cittasanto »

hi
here are some links in a quick search I done looking for a site I know of but the Jhanas aren't something I know about and would prefer a simple explanation for each!

http://www.what-buddha-taught.net/Books ... Jhanas.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dham ... jhana.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.leighb.com/jhanas.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and the page I was looking for
http://www.leighb.com/jhanantp.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Blog, Suttas, Aj Chah, Facebook.

He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them.
But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion …
...
He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them … he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.
John Stuart Mill
User avatar
Dhammakid
Posts: 375
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Santa Fe, NM USA
Contact:

Re: The Jhanas

Post by Dhammakid »

Thanks Mike and Manapa, it is greatly appreciated.

:namaste:
Dhammakid
User avatar
cooran
Posts: 8503
Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:32 pm
Location: Queensland, Australia

Re: The Jhanas

Post by cooran »

Hello all,

You may find this article of interest:
The Jhānas and the Lay Disciple According to the Pāli Suttas ~ Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
http://mail.saigon.com/~anson/ebud/ebdha267.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

metta
cooran
---The trouble is that you think you have time---
---Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe---
---It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---
User avatar
Dhammakid
Posts: 375
Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2009 7:09 am
Location: Santa Fe, NM USA
Contact:

Re: The Jhanas

Post by Dhammakid »

Chris wrote:Hello all,

You may find this article of interest:
The Jhānas and the Lay Disciple According to the Pāli Suttas ~ Ven. Bhikkhu Bodhi
http://mail.saigon.com/~anson/ebud/ebdha267.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

metta
cooran
Hey Cooran! Great to see you here :) Thanks so much for the link, it really helps a lot.

:namaste:
Dhammakid
Post Reply