How do you know you are in Jhana?

[guilotine]

I have heard a lot about the jhanas since I was a kid and have always been fascinated by such states. However I never thought I would be able to achieve that state because in my culture  it was viewed as a grand accomplishment that would require you to let go of all worldly desires and meditate for hours a day like the buddha did.

More recently after reading the blog of Illuminatus and the Reddit thread by Absolutus I had renewed faith that I can achieve this state while maintaining a regular layman life. From the descriptions I have had about jhanas I have been expecting them to be states of extreme bliss and very strong one pointedness of mind.

Lately in my meditation practice I have been experiencing mild bliss states and periods of high concentrations. Sometimes I experience these states simultaneously and sometimes they are separate.
Two night ago during meditation I got to a point where my mind was very still and very focused on my breath. However I did not feel any bliss in this state and there still were a few distracting thoughts from time to time.

Last night I experienced more bliss sensations than I am used to (but still pretty mild) but my mind was not as one pointed as the night before. At this point I am not sure where I am at in my meditation. So far I am nowhere near the states that I am expecting to experience.
I guess my question is  - are my expectations for jhana realistic or am I overblowing it? Also based on my experiences am I closing in on the First Jhana?

[Cal]

I have heard a lot about the jhanas since I was a kid and have always been fascinated by such states. However I never thought I would be able to achieve that state because in my culture  it was viewed as a grand accomplishment that would require you to let go of all worldly desires and meditate for hours a day like the buddha did.

More recently after reading the blog of Illuminatus and the Reddit thread by Absolutus I had renewed faith that I can achieve this state while maintaining a regular layman life. From the descriptions I have had about jhanas I have been expecting them to be states of extreme bliss and very strong one pointedness of mind.

Lately in my meditation practice I have been experiencing mild bliss states and periods of high concentrations. Sometimes I experience these states simultaneously and sometimes they are separate.
Two night ago during meditation I got to a point where my mind was very still and very focused on my breath. However I did not feel any bliss in this state and there still were a few distracting thoughts from time to time.

Last night I experienced more bliss sensations than I am used to (but still pretty mild) but my mind was not as one pointed as the night before. At this point I am not sure where I am at in my meditation. So far I am nowhere near the states that I am expecting to experience.
I guess my question is  - are my expectations for jhana realistic or am I overblowing it? Also based on my experiences am I closing in on the First Jhana?

Hi Guilotine,

While meditating for hours, like the Buddha did, certainly leads to enlightenment and spiritual mastery, which is a product of abandoning worldly desires, one must first come to the genuine acceptance of the 4 Noble Truths. Once can come to that acceptance by following the Noble Eight-fold Path. Be self-aware, know what you're feeling, when you're feeling it, and then ask why you felt it. Right contemplation. After you have asked "why" read the 4 Noble Truths.

Your meditation practice in of itself is excellent, however, it looks like you're putting emphasis on method. There is no method, one just meditates.

If you're asking if you can experience Jhana, then the answer is yes. Jefferey is a great teacher, I can assure you that you've put your faith in the right person. Welcome to the community.

[Jhanananda]

Lately in my meditation practice I have been experiencing mild bliss states and periods of high concentrations. Sometimes I experience these states simultaneously and sometimes they are separate.
Two night ago during meditation I got to a point where my mind was very still and very focused on my breath. However I did not feel any bliss in this state and there still were a few distracting thoughts from time to time.

Last night I experienced more bliss sensations than I am used to (but still pretty mild) but my mind was not as one pointed as the night before. At this point I am not sure where I am at in my meditation. So far I am nowhere near the states that I am expecting to experience.
I guess my question is  - are my expectations for jhana realistic or am I overblowing it? Also based on my experiences am I closing in on the First Jhana?

While religions tend to depend upon fantastic explanations; nonetheless, you are on a forum where most of us experience on jhana or another every time we meditate, and for most of us that is several times a day.

Here is a link to an article on the 8 stages of samadhi, as defined by Siddhartha Gautama, and experienced by many of us.  Recognizing the Absorption States (jhana).
 

[guilotine]

While religions tend to depend upon fantastic explanations; nonetheless, you are on a forum where most of us experience on jhana or another every time we meditate, and for most of us that is several times a day.

Here is a link to an article on the 8 stages of samadhi, as defined by Siddhartha Gautama, and experienced by many of us.  Recognizing the Absorption States (jhana).

I have gone through that list and I can say that I experience all 5 of those at a small level. (Except Joy and bliss I don't know the difference between the two). That is what the confusion is for me.
I don't think I am in first jhana yet because the the one pointedness and joy are not that strong. Should I keep doing what I am doing and expect it to grow? How powerful should the bliss and one pointedness be before I am sure it is first jhana?

EDIT: Upon further research it seems that I experience more bliss and a little bit of joy.

[guilotine]

Hi Guilotine,

While meditating for hours, like the Buddha did, certainly leads to enlightenment and spiritual mastery, which is a product of abandoning worldly desires, one must first come to the genuine acceptance of the 4 Noble Truths. Once can come to that acceptance by following the Noble Eight-fold Path. Be self-aware, know what you're feeling, when you're feeling it, and then ask why you felt it. Right contemplation. After you have asked "why" read the 4 Noble Truths.

Your meditation practice in of itself is excellent, however, it looks like you're putting emphasis on method. There is no method, one just meditates.

If you're asking if you can experience Jhana, then the answer is yes. Jefferey is a great teacher, I can assure you that you've put your faith in the right person. Welcome to the community.

Thank you. Right now I am interested in experiencing the jhanas develop my mental abilities to perform better in worldly affairs. I will probably focus more on enlightenment as I grow older (I am 29 now) but for now that is not my aim.

[Sam Lim]

Thank you. Right now I am interested in experiencing the jhanas develop my mental abilities to perform better in worldly affairs. I will probably focus more on enlightenment as I grow older (I am 29 now) but for now that is not my aim.

I don't think one has any control of whether you want to be enlightened or not. The jhanas will change you if you continue practicing, hence your perception of things will change.

[Jhanananda]

I have gone through that list and I can say that I experience all 5 of those at a small level. (Except Joy and bliss I don't know the difference between the two). That is what the confusion is for me.
I don't think I am in first jhana yet because the the one pointedness and joy are not that strong. Should I keep doing what I am doing and expect it to grow? How powerful should the bliss and one pointedness be before I am sure it is first jhana?

EDIT: Upon further research it seems that I experience more bliss and a little bit of joy.

Good to know that you have done some reading of our resources, which helped you to realize that you might be experiencing jhana already, because the first step in leading a fruitful contemplative life is to understand what the fruit are, and how one attains them.  One will also realize that no mainstream religion has ever understood or valued a fruitful contemplative life, and typically marginalizes those who arrive at one.

The other thing to get is the 8 stages of depth in meditation (samadhi) are relative shades of grey, and not fixed points.  Thus, the first stage is not extreme bliss, ecstasy and joy.  It is simply a relative increase in the bliss and joy factors, which you recognize that you have found already.

The next key step for you is to realize that reifying of your meditation technique, the teacher, teaching and religion will not help you.  You will have to learn the subtle step in progress in depth in meditation, where both your mind becomes still, and the meditation technique stops, while maintaining onepointedness, and deep relaxation.  So, relaxation while meditating is a critical skill to develop.

Sam is right, but I agree with you, there is no point in obsessing over enlightenment at this time.  Just give yourself some time to make progress.  Because, you sound like someone who will make rapid progress from here on out, so keep it up, and explore the interior terrain, and please do report back to us your results for the benefit of others.