Jhanas are special states of deep absorption that make a wonderful setup for doing awakening practices. In this video, meditation teacher Michael Taft describes what jhanas are, and clarifies the basic steps for getting into the first jhana.
Jhanas are meant to be enjoyable, and it’s very important not to approach jhana in a mood of grasping, tightness, or struggle. Don’t try too hard! Instead, approach jhana in a mood of pleasure, joy, gratitude, kindness, and openness. Learning to do jhana is an excellent way to supercharge your vipassana practice, or to stabilize the mind for nondual awareness practices.
00:03 – Introduction
1:24 – The Setup for Jhana (getting focused, and allowing piti to arise)
9:16 – Entering the First Jhana (moving attention to the piti, then resting until unification occurs) 12:39 – Three Things that Can Happen Next (including going into the second jhana)
16:28 – How Jhana Can Change Your Life
20:49 – Books and other resources
Rob Burbea’s Jhana retreat on Dharmaseed audio: https://dharmaseed.org/retreats/4496/
Here is the transcript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VFtEWc9ARmRckElM01Z-yLWeptAodLGG/view?usp=sharing
Support the creation of more videos like this contributing on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/michaeltaft
Thank you!! This was very motivating and helpful. The links to Rob Burbea’s jhana retreat recordings and transcript were outstanding!!! I was not familiar with him before, I hadn’t heard his podcast with you. I’ve printed out that jhana retreat transcript and downloaded the audio, I’m all over it with a highlighter. This has helped me diagnose some fantastic piti experiences from earlier this year (and perhaps what influenced their appearance). To quote Rob: “If you have ever experienced some lovely well-being from meditation, in meditation – say, pīti –some lovely well-being through the body, I stand by this: if you have ever experienced that, it means that everything, what I’m talking about, is possible for you. The whole thing, the whole nine yards, the whole eight jhānas – it’s possible. You can do this.” And that means so much to me right now!
So glad to hear it, J!