1017 LESSON 21-08-2013 WEDNESDAY
4) School of Historical Studies
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FREE ONLINE eNālāndā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY
run through http://sarvajan.ambedkar.org
Is with
1) Schools of International Relations and Peace Studies;
2) School of Business
Management and Development Studies;
3) School of Information Sciences and
Technology;
4) School of Historical Studies;
5) School of Buddhist Studies,
Philosophy and Comparative Religion;
6) School of Languages and Literature;
and
7) School of Ecology and Environmental Studies.
It is a model for evolving a
happy, prosperous and peaceful society in our planet which is an
evolution of Awakened with Awareness Citizen.
The education here is with a
value system, religion transforming into spirituality and economic
development for societal transformation. It advises the Government to
supply healthy seeds with land to the tiller and proper irrigation. To
give government loans to the youth of the country to start-up small
enterprise and to see the government servants do efficient duty for the
good governance without corruption. Thus this mission of Unity of Minds
has started gaining momentum all over the world.
It is a facilitator of partnership of countries all over the world.
It will work
with Harvard or Cambridge located in Asia with an Asian cover page.
Asian intellectuals can go to the West to obtain their PhDs to gain
recognition back home, and in return they can churn out western ideas
and theories, especially in humanities, economics, healthcare,
environmental and developmental studies, with critically examining it
which is not “anti-western” with hopes that the revived N?l?nd?
University would be able to start this process of “Awakening with
Awareness” of the mind.
4) School of Historical Studies
Jhāna (झान) (Pāli) is a form of Buddhist meditation. It refers to various states of samadhi, a state of consciousness in which the observer detaches from several qualities of the mind. In this state the mind has become firm and stable and the ability to concentrate is greatly enhanced.
Jhāna proper is the concentration of the mind, resulting in samadhi. The Sutta Pitaka describes four levels, called jhana, each of increasing depth. The Jhanas are described many times in the Pāli canon, and a great deal of the post-canonical Theravāda Buddhist and Mahayana literature have been devoted to its elucidation.
The Zen-tradition has been named after this meditative state, though in Chinese Buddhism Jhāna may refer to all kind of meditation techniques and their preparatory practices which can be used to attain samadhi.
Very little scientific study have been conducted on these states. The most notable are those of neurologist Professor James H. Austin.
The jhanas in the early suttas
Thes are states of meditation where the mind is free from the five hindrances—craving, aversion, sloth, agitation and doubt—and (from the second jhāna onwards) incapable of discursive thinking.
In the early texts, the jhanas are taught as a state of collected,
full-body awareness in which mind becomes very powerful and still but
not frozen, and is thus able to observe and gain insight into the
changing flow of experience.The Buddha’s instructions on attaining jhana are via mindfulness of breathing, found in the Ānāpānasati Sutta
and elsewhere. Jhāna, or samadhi, alone is not enough to attain
liberation. According to the Theravada tradition it must be combined
with vipassana, which gives insight into the three marks of existence and leads to detachment and “the manifestation of the path”.
Later Theravada literature, in particular the Visuddhimagga, describes it as an abiding in which the mind becomes fully immersed and absorbed in the chosen object of attention, characterized by non-dual consciousness.
Appanà samàdhi
The First to Fourth Jhanas may also be described collectively by the term appanà samàdhi.
When disciples of the Buddha use the word Jhāna now, it is generally
understood to refer collectively to the First to Fourth Jhāna in
particular.
In its early use, the word Jhāna can be understood to have meant any
meditation in general. Early Buddhism considered only the First to
Fourth Jhānas as right meditation. Over time, the word jhana began to
take on this particular meaning among many of his disciples, while
excluding other types of meditation practised contemporaneously to the
Buddha, such as appana-kam Jhāna (involving suppression of
breathing, typically causing great pain) or sensual meditation focusing
on an object. For this reason, the word Jhāna can sometimes be seen used
in its earlier meaning to refer to meditation in general, and on
other occasions the word Jhāna can be seen used collectively to denote
all four of the Jhānas taught as right meditation by the Buddha.
Usage by the Buddha
The Buddha himself entered Jhāna, as described in the early
texts, during his own quest for awakenment. The meditations he
learned (that were not of Jhāna) did not lead to nibbana.
He then underwent harsh ascetic practices with which he eventually also
became disillusioned. He subsequently remembered entering Jhāna as a child, and realized that “that indeed is the path to awaktenment.”
According to the Maha-Saccaka Sutta, the Buddha recalled a meditative state he entered by chance as a child and abandoned the ascetic practices he has been doing:
I thought: ‘I recall once, when my father the
Sakyan was working, and I was sitting in the cool shade of a rose-apple
tree, then — quite secluded from sensuality, secluded from unskillful
mental qualities — I entered & remained in the first Jhāna: rapture
& pleasure born from seclusion, accompanied by directed thought
& evaluation. Could that be the path to Awakening?’ Then following
on that memory came the realization: ‘That is the path to Awakening.’
According to the Upakkilesa Sutta,
after figuring out the cause of the various obstacles and overcoming
them, the Buddha was able to penetrate the sign and enters 1st–4th Jhāna:
I also saw both the light and the vision of forms.
Shortly after the vision of light and shapes disappear. I thought, ‘What
is the cause and condition in which light and vision of the forms
disappear?’ Then consider the following: ‘The question arose in me and
because of doubt my concentration fell, when my concentration fell, the
light disappeared and the vision of forms. I act so that the question
does not arise in me again.’
I remained diligent, ardent, perceived both the light and the vision of
forms. Shortly after the vision of light and shapes disappear. I
thought, ‘What is the cause and condition in which light and vision of
the forms disappear?’ Then consider the following: ‘Inattention arose in
me because of inattention and my concentration has decreased, when my
concentration fell, the light disappeared and the vision of forms. I
must act in such a way that neither doubt nor disregard arise in me
again.’
In the suttas the Buddha is depicted many times encouraging his disciples to develop Jhāna as a way of achieving awakening and liberation.
Just before his passing away, The Buddha entered the Jhānas in direct and reverse order, and the passing away itself took place after rising from the fourth Jhāna.
Stages of Jhāna
The Pāli canon describes eight progressive states of Jhāna. Four are called meditations of form (rūpa Jhāna), and four are formless meditations (arūpa Jhāna).
The Rupa Jhānas
There are four stages of deep collectedness which are called the Rupa Jhāna (Fine-material Jhāna).
Description of the Four Rupa Jhānas
For each Jhāna are given a set of qualities which are “ferreted them out one after another” and “vanish”:
- First Jhāna — In the first Jhāna there are: “directed thought, evaluation, rapture, pleasure, unification of mind, contact, feeling, perception, intention, consciousness, desire, decision, persistence, mindfulness, equanimity & attention”
- Second Jhāna — In the second Jhāna there are: “internal
assurance, rapture, pleasure, unification of mind, contact, feeling,
perception, intention, consciousness, desire, decision, persistence,
mindfulness, equanimity, & attention” - Third Jhāna — In the third Jhāna, there are:
“equanimity-pleasure, unification of mind, contact, feeling, perception,
intention, consciousness, desire, decision, persistence, mindfulness,
equanimity & attention” - Fourth Jhāna — In the fourth Jhāna there are: “a feeling of
equanimity, neither pleasure nor pain; an unconcern due to serenity of
awareness; unification of mind, contact, feeling, perception, intention,
consciousness, desire, decision, persistence, mindfulness, equanimity
& attention”.
Jhāna Factors
Jhānas are normally described according to the nature of the mental factors which are present in these states:
- Movement of the mind onto the object (vitakka)
- Retention of the mind on the object (vicāra)
- Joy (pīti)
- Happiness (sukha)
- Equanimity (upekkhā)
- One-pointedness (ekaggatā)
Factors per Jhāna
The qualities that remain in each Jhāna are:
- First Jhāna (vitakka, vicāra, pīti, sukha, ekaggatā):
The five hindrances have completely disappeared and intense unified
bliss remains. Only the subtlest of mental movement remains, perceivable
in its absence by those who have entered the second jhāna. The ability to form unwholesome intentions ceases. - Second Jhāna (pīti, sukha, ekaggatā): All mental movement utterly ceases. There is only bliss. The ability to form wholesome intentions ceases as well.
- Third Jhāna (sukha, ekaggatā): One-half of bliss (joy) disappears.
- Fourth Jhāna (upekkhā, ekaggatā): The other
half of bliss (happiness) disappears, leading to a state with neither
pleasure nor pain, which the Buddha said is actually a subtle form of
happiness (more sublime than pīti and sukha). The breath is said to cease temporarily in this state.
Psychic powers
Traditionally, the fourth Jhāna is seen as the beginning of attaining psychic powers (abhijñā).
The Arupa Jhānas
Beyond the four Jhānas lie four attainments, referred to in the early texts as aruppas. These are also referred to in commentarial literature as immaterial/the formless Jhānas (arūpajhānas), also translated as The Formless Dimensions, in distinction from the first four Jhānas (rūpa Jhānas). In the Buddhist canonical texts, the word “Jhāna” is never explicitly used to denote them, but they are always mentioned in sequence after the first four Jhānas.
The immaterial attainments have more to do with expanding, while the Jhānas (1-4) focus on concentration. The enlightenment of complete
dwelling in emptiness is reached when the eighth jhāna is transcended.
The four formless Jhānas are:
- Dimension of Infinite Space - In this dimension the following qualities are “ferreted out”:
“the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness,
singleness of mind, contact, feeling, perception, intention,
consciousness, desire, decision, persistence, mindfulness, equanimity,
& attention”. - Dimension of Infinite Consciousness - In this dimension the following quailities are “ferreted out”:
“the perception of the dimension of the infinitude of consciousness,
unification of mind, contact, feeling, perception, intention,
consciousness, desire, decision, persistence, mindfulness, equanimity,
& attention”. - Dimension of Nothingness - In this dimension the following qualities are “ferreted out”:
“the perception of the dimension of nothingness, singleness of mind,
contact, feeling, perception, intention, consciousness, desire,
decision, persistence, mindfulness, equanimity, & attention” - Dimension of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception No qualities to be “ferreted out” are being mentioned for this dimension.
Although the “Dimension of Nothingness” and the “Dimension of Neither
Perception nor Non-Perception” are included in the list of nine Jhanas
taught by the Buddha, they are not included in the Noble Eightfold Path.
Noble Path number eight is “Samma Samadhi” (Right Concentration), and
only the first four Jhanas are considered “Right Concentration”. If he
takes a disciple through all the Jhanas, the emphasis is on the
“Cessation of Feelings and Perceptions” rather than stopping short at
the “Dimension of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception”.
Nirodha-Samapatti
The Buddha also rediscovered an attainment beyond the dimension of
neither perception nor non-perception, Nirodha-Samapatti, the “cessation
of feelings and perceptions”. This is sometimes called the “ninth jhāna” in commentarial and scholarly literature.
Liberation
As long as there is clinging to the equanimity attained in the
dimension of neither perception nor non-perception a practitioner is
stiil not “totally unbound”. Only “Without clinging/sustenance, Ananda, a
monk is totally unbound.”
According to other texts, after progressing through the eight jhanas and the stage of Nirodha-Samapatti, a person is liberated. According to some traditions someone attaining the state of Nirodha-Samapatti is an anagami or an arahant.[21] In the Anupadda sutra, the Buddha narrates that Sariputta became an arahant upon reaching it.
The Buddhist tradition has incorporated two traditions regarding the use of jhana. There is a tradition that stresses attaining insight (Bodhi, prajna, kensho)
as the means to awakening and liberation. But it has also incorporated
the yogic tradition, as reflected in the use of jhana, which is rejected
in other sutras as not resulting in the final result of liberation. One
solution to this contradiction is the conjunctive use of vipassana and samatta. In Zen Buddhism, this problem has appeared over the centuries in the disputes over sudden versus gradual enlightenment.
Jhāna as an aid to attaining insight
The meditator uses the Jhāna state to bring the mind to rest, and to strengthen and sharpen the mind, in order to investigate the true nature of phenomena (dhamma) and to gain higher knowledge. The longer the meditator stays in the state of Jhāna the sharper and more powerful the mind becomes.
As the five hindrances may be suppressed for days after entering Jhāna,
the meditator will feel perfectly clear, mindful, full of compassion,
peaceful and light after the meditation session. This, according to
Ajahn Brahm, may cause some meditators to mistakenly assume that they
have gained awakenment.
The Jhāna state cannot by itself lead to awakenment as it only suppresses the defilements. Meditators must use the Jhāna
state as an instrument for developing wisdom by cultivating insight and
use it to penetrate the true nature of phenomena through direct
cognition, which will lead to cutting off the defilements and nibbana.
According to the later Theravāda commentorial tradition as outlined by Buddhagoṣa in his Visuddhimagga, after coming out of the state of Jhāna the meditator will be in the state of post-Jhāna
access concentration. This will have the qualities of being certain,
long-lasting and stable. It is where the work of investigation and
analysis of the true nature of phenomena begins and is also where deep
insight into the characteristics of impermanence, suffering and not-self
arises. The meditator can experience these truths, which lie at the
heart of the Buddha’s teachings, through direct experience.
In contrast, according to the sutta descriptions of Jhāna practice, the meditator does not emerge from Jhāna to practice vipassana but rather the work of insight is done whilst in Jhāna itself. In particular the meditator is instructed to “enter and remain in the fourth Jhāna” before commencing the work of insight in order to uproot the mental defilements:
With the abandoning of pleasure and pain — as with
the earlier disappearance of elation and distress — he enters and
remains in the fourth Jhāna: purity of equanimity and
mindfulness, neither-pleasure nor pain…With his mind thus
concentrated, purified, and bright, unblemished, free from defects,
pliant, malleable, steady, and attained to imperturbability, the monk
directs and inclines it to the knowledge of the ending of the mental
fermentations. He discerns, as it has come to be, that ‘This is
suffering… This is the origination of suffering… This is the
cessation of suffering… This is the way leading to the cessation of
suffering… These are mental fermentations… This is the origination
of fermentations… This is the cessation of fermentations… This is
the way leading to the cessation of fermentations.’— Samaññaphala Sutta
Mastering the Jhānas
The scriptures state that one should not seek to attain ever higher Jhānas but master one first, then move on to the next. Mastery of Jhāna involves being able to enter a Jhāna at will, stay as long as one likes, leave at will and experience each of the Jhāna factors as required. They also seem to suggest that lower Jhāna factors may manifest themselves in higher Jhāna, if the Jhānas have not been properly developed. The Buddha is seen to advise his disciples to concentrate and steady the Jhāna further.
The early suttas state that “the most exquisite of recluses” is able to attain any of the Jhānas and abide in them without difficulty. This particular arahant is “liberated in both ways:” he is fluent in attaining the Jhānas
and is also aware of their ultimate unsatisfactoriness. If he were not,
he would fall into the same problem as the teachers from whom the
Buddha learned the spheres of nothingness and neither perception nor
non-perception, in seeing these meditative attainments as something
final. Their problem lay in seeing permanence where there is impermanence.
Aspects of Jhāna mastery
A meditator should first master the lower Jhānas, before they can go into the higher Jhānas. There are five aspects of Jhāna mastery:
- Mastery in adverting: the ability to advert to the Jhāna factors one by one after emerging from the Jhāna, wherever he wants, whenever he wants, and for as long as he wants.
- Mastery in attaining: the ability to enter upon Jhāna quickly.
- Mastery in resolving: the ability to remain in the Jhāna for exactly the pre-determined length of time.
- Mastery in emerging: the ability to emerge from Jhāna quickly without difficulty.
- Mastery in reviewing: the ability to review the Jhāna and its factors with retrospective knowledge immediately after adverting to them.
Preliminary stage
The Buddha explains right concentration (samma samādhi), part of the noble eightfold path, as the four first Jhānas. According to the Pāli canon commentary, there is a certain stage of meditation that the meditator should reach before entering into Jhāna. This stage is access/neighbourhood concentration (upacāra-samādhi). The overcoming of the five hindrances—sensual
desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry and
doubt—marked the entries into access concentration. This concentration
is an unstable state where the mind becomes well concentrated on an
object but it is still not yet a state of “full concentration” (jhāna).
The difference is, in full concentration certain factors become
strengthened to such a degree that they bring about a qualitative shift
in the level of consciousness and the mind no longer functions on the
ordinary sensory level. Access concentration is not mentioned in the
discourses of the Buddha. However there are several suttas where a person gains insight into the Dhamma
on hearing a teaching from the Buddha. Often their minds are described
as being free from hindrances when this occurs and some have identified
this as being a type of access concentration. The equivalent of upacāra-samādhi used in Tibetan commentaries is nyer-bsdogs.
At the state of access concentration, some meditators may experience vivid mental imagery (Pāli: nimitta),
which is similar to a vivid dream—as vividly as if seen by the eye, but
in this case the meditator is fully aware and conscious that they are
seeing mental images. This is discussed in the early texts, and expanded
upon in Theravāda commentaries.
Different meditators will experience different mental images; some
meditators may not experience any mental images at all. The same
meditator doing multiple meditation sessions may experience different
mental images for each session. The mental image may be pleasant,
frightening, disgusting, shocking or neutral.
As the concentration becomes stronger, the feelings of breathing and
of having a physical body will completely disappear, leaving only pure
awareness. At this stage inexperienced meditators may become afraid,
thinking that they are going to die if they continue the concentration
because the feeling of breathing and the feeling of having a physical
body has completely disappeared. They should not be so afraid and should
continue their concentration in order to reach “full concentration” (Jhāna).
Parallels with Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga
There are parallels with the fourth to eighth stages of Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga, as mentioned in his classical work, Yoga Suttas of Patanjali composed in the 2nd century BCE.
Patanjali discerns bahiranga (external) aspects of yoga namely, yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, and the antaranga (internal) yoga. Having actualized the pratyahara stage, a practitioner is able to effectively engage into the practice of Samyama. At the stage of pratyahara, the consciousness of the individual is internalized in order that the sensations from the senses of taste, touch, sight, hearing and smell don’t reach their respective centers in the brain and takes the sadhaka (practitioner) to next stages of Yoga, namely Dharana (concentration), Jhāna (meditation), and Samadhi (mystical absorption), being the aim of all Yogic practices.
Parallels in Brahmanical texts
Alexander Wynne
Alexander Wynne attempted to find parallels in Brahmanical texts to
the meditative goals the two teachers claimed to have taught, drawing
especially on some of the Upanishads and the Mokshadharma chapter of the
Mahabharata.
Reversal of the creation of the world
Wynne claimed that Brahminic passages on meditation suggest that the
most basic presupposition of early Brahmanical yoga is that the creation
of the world must be reversed, through a series of meditative states,
by the yogin who seeks the realization of the self.
These states were given doctrinal background in early Brahminic
cosmologies, which classified the world into successively coarser
strata. One such stratification is found at TU II.1 and Mbh XII.195, and proceeds as follows: self, space, wind, fire, water, earth. Mbh XII.224 gives alternatively: Brahman, mind, space, wind, fire, water, earth.
In Brahmanical thought, the meditative states of consciousness were thought to be identical to the subtle strata of the cosmos. There is no similar theoretical background to element meditation in the early Buddhist texts, where the elements appear simply as suitable objects of meditation.
Investigation of self
On this point, it is thought that the uses of the elements in early
Buddhist literature have in general very little connection to
Brahmanical thought; in most places they occur in teachings where they
form the objects of a detailed contemplation of the human being.
Patanjali’s Yoga Suttas
The Eight Limbs of the yoga suttas show Samadhi as one of its limbs. But the Eight limbs of the Yoga Sutta
was only developed after the Buddha and is influenced by the Buddha’s
Eightfold Path. The suttas show that during the time of the Buddha,
Nigantha Nataputta, the Jain leader, did not even believe that it is
possible to enter a state where the thoughts and examination stop.
Samadhi
Rhys Davids and Maurice Walshe agreed that the term “samadhi” is not
found in any pre-buddhist text. Hindu texts later used that term to
indicate the state of awakenment. This is not in conformity with
Buddhist usage. According to Maurice Walshe:
Rhys Davids also states that the term samadhi is
not found in any pre-Buddhist text. To his remarks on the subject should
be added that its subsequent use in Hindu texts to denote the state of awakenment is not in conformity with Buddhist usage, where the basic
meaning of concentration is expanded to cover ‘meditation’ in general.
Tripitaka-polemics
Three discourses in the Bhojjhanga-Samyutta present the claims of non-Buddhist wanderers that they too develop Buddhist-style meditation, including samādhi.
They ask the Buddha what the difference is between their teachings and
his. He does not respond by teaching right view, but by telling them
that they do not fully understand samādhi practice. Ajahn Sujato interprets this statement as explaining a statement of the Buddha’s elsewhere that he “awakened to Jhāna“; he was the first to fully comprehend both the benefits and limitations of samādhi experiences.
In Mahāyāna traditions
Bodhisattva seated in meditation. Afghanistan, 2nd century CE
Mahāyāna Buddhism includes numerous schools of practice. Each draw
upon various Buddhist sūtras, philosophical treatises, and commentaries,
and each has its own emphasis, mode of expression, and philosophical
outlook. Accordingly, each school has its own meditation methods for the
purpose of developing samādhi and prajñā, with the goal of ultimately attaining enlightenment.
Description of the dhyānas
Venerable Hsuan Hua, who taught Chán and Pure Land Buddhism, outlines the four preliminary stages of dhyāna:
- In the First Dhyāna, there is the arising of bliss. The external
breathing stops, while the internal breathing comes alive, and it is
said that the mind is as clear as water and as bright as a mirror. When the external breathing stops, the nose and mouth do not breathe. While in this state, the mind and body have a feeling of existing within empty space. - In the Second Dhyāna, there is pure bliss born from samādhi. In this
stage, there is said to be happiness without compare. After reaching
this stage, it is said that some practitioners may go without food or
water for many days and still be alright. When in this second stage, not
only does the external breathing stop, but the pulse comes to a stop as
well. After leaving this state, the pulse resumes its normal function. - In the Third Dhyāna, the joy of the previous stages is left, leaving only a subtle and blissful peace. At this stage it is said that not only do the breathing and pulse stop, but idle thoughts stop as well.
Although idle thoughts have been cleared away, it is emphasized that
this stage is nothing special, and just part of the progression. At this stage, the body becomes as soft as the body of an infant.
Softness and suppleness of the body is considered to be a physical
indicator of the quality of an individual’s samādhi. Nan Huai-Chin
states: “All the eminent monks of great virtue in the past were able to
predict what day they would die, and even on the brink of death their
bodies were as soft and supple as a baby’s. Others who were even more
lofty turned into a field of light, and their human forms disappeared.
At most all they left behind were a few pieces of fingernail, or a lock
of hair as a memento.” - In the Fourth Dhyāna, the only manifestation is that of complete purity and perfection. At this stage one is still considered the stage of an ordinary mortal, and still far from the Nirvāṇa of the fully enlightened buddhas.
In the tradition of Chinese Buddhism, it is said that those individuals
who have reached this stage sometimes choose to walk with their feet
one inch above the earth, so they do not harm any living beings.[65]
Dhyāna in the Chán school
In China, the word dhyāna was originally transliterated 禪那 (pinyin: chánnà), and shortened to just 禪 (pinyin: chán) by common usage. In Chinese Buddhism dhyāna may refer to all kind of meditation techniques and their preparatory practices which can be used to attain samadhi.[4] The word chán became the designation for the Chán school (Japanese: Zen).
Dhyāna is a central aspect of Buddhist practice in Chán. In his classic book on meditation of the various Chinese Buddhist traditions, Charles Luk writes,
Venerable Nan Huai-Chin echoes similar sentiments about the importance of meditation by remarking,
Intellectual reasoning is just another spinning of the sixth consciousness, whereas the practice of meditation is the true entry into the Dharma.”
Huineng and the Platform Sutra
In the Platform Sutra, Hui Neng says:
Dispute about dhyāna and Chán
Some western scholars and various authors have claimed that Chán/Zen Buddhism does not utilize the stages of dhyāna. These claims are contradicted by statements from well known exponents of Chán Buddhism such as Venerable Sheng Yen, Venerable Hsuan Hua, and Venerable Nan Huai-Chin.
Sheng Yen, a Buddhist monk and scholar from the Linji and Caodong
lineages of the Chán school, clarifies that the Chán/Zen school does
indeed include the dhyānas:
Although the Chán school definitely advocates
practicing meditation to reach absorption states (dhyāna), not all
meditative absorption states are those of the Chán school.
Sheng Yen also cites meditative concentration as necessary, citing
samādhi as one of the requisite factors for progress on the path toward
enlightenment.
Nan Huai-Chin also agrees about the dhyānas being necessary in Chán
Buddhism, and regarding the various stages, he states, “Real cultivation
going toward samādhi goes through the four dhyānas.”Sheng Yen clarifies that the eight dhyānas are to be understood as
mundane meditative states, which are also shared by practitioners on
“outer paths”, as well as ordinary people, or in principle even animals. He characterizes these as intermediate steps for supramundane realization in dhyāna.
Vajrayāna
B. Alan Wallace holds that modern Tibetan Buddhism lacks emphasis on achieving levels of concentration higher than access concentration.[74][75]
According to Wallace, one possible explanation for this situation is
that virtually all Tibetan Buddhist meditators seek to become
enlightened through the use of tantric practices. These require the presence of sense desire and passion in one’s consciousness, but jhāna effectively inhibits these phenomena.
While few Tibetan Buddhists, either inside or outside Tibet, devote
themselves to the practice of concentration, Tibetan Buddhist literature
does provide extensive instructions on it, and great Tibetan meditators
of earlier times stressed its importance.[76] All this being said, Wallace has translated and commented on Tsongkapa’s Stages of the Path, a Tibetan classic on this topic, in his book Balancing the Mind.
It is a very intricate guide on mastering equanimity and insight during
meditation, both of which are claimed to be required to advance up the
jhanas.
Scientific studies
There has been little scientific study of these mental states. In 2008, an EEG
study found “strong, significant, and consistent differences in
specific brain regions when the meditator is in a jhana state compared
to normal resting consciousness”. Tentative hypotheses on the neurological correlates have been proposed, but lack supporting evidence.
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மற்றும் என்ன, maraṇa மரணம் என்பது? பல்வேறு வகைப்பட்ட உயிருருகளுக்கு பல்வேறு வகைப்பட்ட வர்க்கம், இந்த சாவு, இந்த நடமாடும் நிலை, [வாழ்க்கைக்கு வெளியே ]இந்த கலைந்து செல்,இந்த மறைவு, இந்த சாதல், maraṇa மரணம், இந்த கழிதல், இந்த khandhas மொத்தை கற்பனையுருவ தோற்ற குவியல் கூறு கூறாக்கு, இந்த உயிரற்ற மனித உடல் கீழ் நோக்கி கிடப்பது: இது, பிக்குளே, maraṇa மரணம் என்பது.
மற்றும் என்ன, மனத்துயரம் என்பது? ஒன்றில்,பல்வேறு வகைப்பட்ட இணைக்கப்பட்ட இடர்பாடு வகைகள், பல்வேறு வகைப்பட்ட dukkha dhammas துக்க தம்மா, இணைக்கப்பட்ட மனம் நெகிழவைத்தல்,இந்த மனத்துயரம், இந்த துயருறுதல், இந்த ஆழ்ந்த மனத்துன்ப நிலை, இந்த உட்புறமான மனத்துயரம், இந்த உட்புறமான அபார மனத்துயரம்:இது, பிக்குளே, மனத்துயரம் என்பது.
மற்றும் என்ன,புலம்பல் என்பது? ஒன்றில், பல்வேறு வகைப்பட்ட இணைக்கப்பட்ட இடர்பாடு வகைகள், பல்வேறு வகைப்பட்ட dukkha dhammas துக்க தம்மா, இணைக்கப்பட்ட மனம் நெகிழவைத்தல், இந்த மனத்துயரம், இந்த துயருறுதல், இந்த ஆழ்ந்த மனத்துன்ப நிலை, இந்த உட்புறமான மனத்துயரம், இந்த உட்புறமான அபார மனத்துயரம்: இது, பிக்குளே, புலம்பல் என்பது.
மற்றும் என்ன, dukkha துக்கம் என்பது? என்னவாயினும் உடலைச் சார்ந்த துக்கம், உடலைச் சார்ந்த சச்சரவு, dukkha துக்கம் உடலைச் சார்ந்த தொடர்பான சுவேதசம், வெறுப்பு விளைக்கிற vedayitas உறுதலுணர்ச்சி அனுபவம்: இது, பிக்குளே, dukkha துக்கம் என்பது.