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[Great Western Vehicle] [Events] [Supporting the GWV]
[Pali & Buddhist Studies] [Tipitaka Index] [Buddhist Timeline] [Pali-English Dictionary] [Sanskrit & Vedic Studies] [Ecstatic Meditation Archive]
Discover the Joy of Meditation
GWV Ecstatic Buddhism & Jhana Resource Guide
By the contemplative recluse monk Arahatta Jhanananda (Jeffrey S, Brooks)
(updated 10-25-05)
For free distribution
Within a Theravadan Buddhist context the meditative absorption states are known as "Jhana." The Buddha defined the eighth fold of the Noble Eightfold Path in terms of jhana (DN 22.21). When one examines the many suttas (s. sutras) that refer to jhana (s. dhyana) one certainly gets the idea that these jhanas are altered states of consciousness that arise due to the skillful practice of various meditation techniques that Sidharta Gotama taught to his students. The Christian mystics, like Saints Anthony, Vitus, Francis of Assisi, Bernard of Clairvaux, Teresa de Avila and Juan de la Cruz, also taught various techniques of prayer, meditation and contemplation, and they called these altered states of consciousness religious ecstasies. In fact one will find every contemplative tradition, such as Sufism and kabala, has some context for these states.
"And what is skilful meditation (sama-samadhi)? There is the case where an aspirant -- quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful (mental) qualities -- enters & remains in the first absorption (jhana)"... (through fourth jhana).
For more on what is Jhána? Jhána as defined in the Buddha's Discourses (October 25, 2005)
Please note the new URL for the Great Western Vehicle
http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/index.html
Jhana Lectures, Classes and Retreats
'The Jhanas: Perfecting States of Concentration'.
Contents:
Mary Talbot: WHAT ARE THE JHANAS?
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana: THE PATH OF SERENITY AND INSIGHT
Leigh Brasington: A MIND PURE, CONCENTRATED, AND BRIGHT
Christina Feldman: OPENING THE GATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS
Thanissaro Bhikkhu: SEEING FOR YOURSELF
Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo: ABSORBED IN THE BREATH
plus selection from the Pali Canon
http://www.tricycle.com/new.php?p=articles&id=280
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THE Great Western Vehicle JHANA ARCHIVE In an effort to provide support for those seeking to cultivate the jhanas the Great Western Vehicle offers two services to the jhana bound contemplative. They provide an archive of articles on the subject of jhana. The Jhana archive is at this URL:
JHANA SUPPORT GROUP A peer level support group for supporting people who have. or think they are experiencing the symptoms or conditions of ecstatic absorption (jhana) is at this URL:
A bi-weekly newsletter for Jhana and Ecstatic Buddhists
&&&&&&&&&&& other S O U R C E S for J H A N A &&&&&&&&&&&
The Buddhist Society Of Western Australia (BSWA)
The Jhanas an e'book by Ajahn Brahmavamso
http://www.volny.cz/chandako/en_info_chandako.html
A Honed and Heavy Axe: Samatha and Vipassana in Harmony by Chandako, Ajahn
The Jhana In Theravadan Buddhism by Maháthera Henepola Gunaratana
http://www.buddhanet.net/asia_dir/2abc_b.htm
Bhikkhu Sujato
A Swift Pair of Messengers by Bhikkhu Sujato
Thanissarro Bhikku (Tan Geoffrey)
METTA FOREST MONASTERY (WAT METTAVANARAM)
&&&&&&&& GWV Yahoo Groups in support of Jhana &&&&&&&&
A newsletter for ecstatic Buddhists
A peer level support group for supporting people who have. or think they are experiencing the symptoms or conditions of ecstatic absorption (jhana) is at this URL:
A personal Jhana Journal
&&&&&&&& other Yahoo Groups in support of Jhana &&&&&&&&
A discussion forum for anyone interested in understanding the Buddha's teachings as found in all three baskets of the Tipitaka, the original record of the Buddha's word in the Theravada tradition, and as further elucidated in the ancient commentaries of that tradition.
Ancient Discourses hsow us Serenity(Samatha)/Insight(Vipassana) meditation as "yoked together" and jhana occuring along the way to insight. Talk about this.
This site is to discuss open questions about the evolution of Buddhism and what it is today in America. We are looking at practicing Samatha/Vipassana together and what Jhana originally was in the Buddhist practice.
The Virtual Sangha for Practitioners of Meditative Absorption and Insight is a primarily Buddhist forum to discuss the practice of meditative absorption, known as Jhana in Pali and Dhyana in Sanskrit, and its relationship to revealing transcendent Insight, known as Vipassana or Vipasyana, for the ultimate purpose of Awakening.
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The Great Western Vehicle Archive on Ecstatic Buddhism
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Last updated 10-25-05
What is Ecstatic Buddhism? (September 19, 2004)
What is Jhána? Jhána as defined in the Buddha's Discourses (October 13, 2005)
The GWV Jhana Resource Guide
A Critical Analysis of the teaching of Jhana
Jhana, the Joyful Home of the Way. Understanding the meditative absorption states (jhanas) and their associated phenomena (phala) within the Buddhist canon. Kundalini, Kriyas, OOBs and other aspects of Ecstatic Meditation by the contemplative recluse monk Sotapanna Jhanananda (Jeffrey S, Brooks)
The Jhanas By Ajahn Brahmavamso
A Honed and Heavy Axe: Samatha and Vipassana in Harmony by Chandako, Ajahn
A Swift Pair of Messengers by Bhikkhu Sujato
The Jhanas in Theravada Buddhist Meditation, by Mahathera Henepola Gunaratana (Buddhist Publication Society Wheel Publication No. 351; 1988; 159k/53pp.)
Jhana, the Joyful Home of the Way
Understanding the meditative absorption states (jhanas) and their associated phenomena (phala) within the Buddhist canon.
Kundalini, Kriyas, OOBs and other aspects of Ecstatic Meditation
by the contemplative recluse monk Sotapanna Jhanananda (Jeffrey S, Brooks)
copyright 2003, 2004, 2005
The Fruits (Phala) of the Contemplative Life (September 13, 2004)
Clairaudience or the Divine Ear and meditation induced tinnitus (May 9, 2004)
The characteristic manifestations of absorption, Jhana-Nimitta (October 1, 2004)
Charismatic Movement, Kriyas (April 23, 2004)
The Proto-Contemplative Life, Lucid Dreams and Out-of-Body Travel (August 1, 2004)
Rapture in Buddhism, Manomaya, the "mind-made body." The Buddha's Discourses on the Astral Body and Out-of-Body (OOB) experiences (updated November 09, 2004)
Remaining Conscious During the Sleep Cycle
Recognizing the Absorption States (jhana) (October 16, 2004)
Absorption States (Jhanas) Within A Theistic Context (April 17, 2004)
Absorption States (Jhanas) Within A Non-dualist Context (April 28, 2004)
A Proposed Unifying Theory for the Experience of Gnosis Within a Structure of Placing the Phenomena Associated with the Concept of Access Concentration (upacara-samadhi), The luminous Orb, and the Out-of-Body (OOB) experience within the Buddha's 8 stages of Meditative Absorption (jhana)
The Joy of Meditation
The Contemplative Practices (Magga) of Ecstatic Buddhism
A Practice Regimen (Magga) That Can Lead To Enlightenment (Phala) In This Very Lifetime
Understanding Right Meditation (samma-samadhi) Concentration leads to Absorption, which leads to Enlightenment (May 9, 2004)
The Degree of "Grip" upon the Meditation Object
Random Reflections Upon Field Meditation During a Solo Wilderness Retreat, 2005
On the Recollection of Former Lives
Posture for the Skillful Practice of Meditation
Lying Down Meditation (May 26, 2004)
Walking Meditation (February 23, 2005)
Eyes Open Verses Closed During Meditation
The use of the Visual Meditation Object, Kasina (April 5, 2004)
Using the Moon as a visual meditation object, Kasina (August 11, 2004)
Sex and the Ecstasies (Kundalini/Jhana), updated (November 9, 2004)
Food and a Contemplative Life (June 11, 2004)
Commitment as a Refuge, Dark Night of the Soul in Buddhism (January 1, 2003
The Personal Experience of Ecstatic Meditation
Jhanananda's Autobiographical Writing
Some Answers to questions regarding The Personal Experience of Ecstasy (Jhana) (October 2, 2004)
The Experience of Meditation (July 23, 2004)
The Proto-Contemplative Life, Lucid Dreams and Out-of-Body Travel (August 1, 2004)
Circa 1910-1945, Commitment, reliving torture in a prison camp
Circa 1880-1910, A Mirror Reflected into its Self, a Native American lifetime
Circa AD 1000, Salmon-Boy, a Native American lifetime
The Joyful Home of the Way (Di.t.thadhammasukhavihaaraa). Buddhist Psychology and ethics within the context of the meditative absorption states (Jhanas)
Abandoning the Five Hindrances (nivarana) and the 10 Fetters (samyojana)
The Fruits (phala) of the Contemplative Life (September 13, 2004)
Commitment as a Refuge, Dark Night of the Soul in Buddhism (January 1, 2003)
The Language of Ecstasy (October 15, 04)
A Pleasure that is not of the Senses (Jhana)
Understanding Piti and Sukha
Understanding the Pali terms, 'vitakka' and 'vicára' (October 10, 2004)
A Critical Analysis of Buddhism,
Challenges to the Translation of the Pali Canon,
And Some Nikayan Buddhist Concepts, Beliefs and Practices
Disputation In the Dhamma
The Importance of Critical Analysis
The Failure of Antinomianism Understanding Ethic in Buddhism
The Myth of Lineage
Was the Buddha an Atheist, Nihilist or a Stoic?
The Cha'an, Son and Zen Concept of Makyo the "ghost" or "devil's cave" as evidence of the subversion of the Buddha Dhamma.
The Emperor Has No Clothes, A Critique of neo-Advaitanism and Adyashanti
A Critique of Western Research on Meditation
Dispelling the Myth of Access Concentration (upacara-samadhi)
Dispelling Common Misconceptions Regarding Insight (vipassana) and Absorption (Jhana/dhyana)
A Proposed Unifying Theory for the Experience of Gnosis Within a Structure of Placing the Phenomena Associated with the Concept of Access Concentration (upacara-samadhi), The luminous Orb, and the Out-of-Body (OOB) experience within the Buddha's 8 stages of Meditative Absorption (jhana)
Commitment as a Refuge, Dark Night of the Soul in Buddhism (January 1, 2003)
The Lack of Evidence In Support of a 'Dry' Insight Practice
The Demonizing of Ecstatic Meditation (Jhana) by the Institutions of Buddhism
The Language of Gnosis (October 15, 04)
Considering the Siddhis, Occult, or Magic Powers of the Mystics
How to determine an authentic teacher
The Emergence of Western teachers of Buddhism and Meditation
Exposing translator bias in the Translation of the Pali Canon and other Buddhist literature (updated 11-10-04)
Understanding the Pali terms, 'vitakka' and 'vicára' (October 10, 2004)
A Critical Analysis of the teaching of Jhana
Original Buddhism And Brahminic Interference by Dr. K. Jamanadas
The Buddha's Discourse on Attainment
Key Sutta Translations of the Pali Canon and the Yoga Sutras in support of Ecstatic Meditation,
edited and/or translated by Jhanananda
Ahara Sutta (SN XLVI.51) “Food” (for the Factors of Awakening)
Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118) "Mindfulness of the breath"
Aneñja-sappaya Sutta (MN 106) “Conducive to the Imperturbable” Arupa Jhana Practice Paths
Bahiya Sutta (U 1.10) relinquishing cognition
Ganakamoggallana Sutta (MN 107) On a training strategy
Gopaka Moggallana Sutta (MN 108) Ten Qualities Inspiring Confidence
Kayagata-sati Sutta (MN 119) “Mindfulness of the Body"
Magga-vibhanga Sutta (SN XLV.8) “Analysis of the Path”
Mahaasaccaka sutta (MN 36) On the pleasure of meditation (jhana), the fruits (phala) of the contemplative life, and the Dark Night of the Soul.
Maha-nidana Sutta (DN-15) "The Larger Discourse on Causation," Seven Stations of Cognition and Eight Emancipations
Mahàsàropama sutta (MN 3. 9) "The Major Discourse on Heartwood"
Maha-satipatthana Sutta (DN 22) the "Larger Discourse on the Four Paths of Mindfulness" updated 10-27-04
Samadhanga Sutta (AN V. 28) "The Factors of Absorption"
Samadhi Sutta (AN IV.41) "The Discourse on Absorption"
Samana-Mundika Sutta (MN 78) "Mundika the Contemplative"
Samaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) “The Fruits of the Contemplative Life”
Samugatta Sutta (AN III.100 xi-xv) "Arising" or Nimitta Sutta
Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10) "the Four Paths of Mindfulness"
Satipatthanasamyutta (SN 8) (8) “The Competent Cook,” a Discourse on Jhana-nimitta.
Translation into English of Dhammapada Verse 372 By Twenty-five Authors (November 10, 2004)
May you be enlightened in this very lifetime
Jhanananda (Jeffrey S. Brooks):
This resource guide may be retrieved at this URL:
http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/jhanasources.htm