Awareness during jhanas question

[Tad]

Is it possible to go up to 4th jhana while maintaining awareness of breathing?

[Jhanananda]

Is it possible to go up to 4th jhana while maintaining awareness of breathing?

It depends upon what you mean by "maintaining awareness of breathing." The point here is by the time we get to the 2nd jhana the meditation technique becomes irrelevant and we have to dump the technique in favor of a still mind. Nonetheless, in the case of observation of the breath, the breath remains with us until we go out of body in the 5th stage of ecstasy, but from the second jhana on it is better described as bare attention. And, arguably, the 4th jhana is nearly an OOBE where we still believe we are in the physical body, but it doesn't hold, or demand our attention. The level of body awareness at the 4th jhana is minimal which explains why those who are at the 4th jhana do not feal pain, or the effects of gravity.

[Tad]

Thanks, Jhananda. Bare awareness makes sense.

BTW, what do you think about walking meditation and have ever used in regular practice? How deep do you think it is possible to go with it? I guess 1st jhana would be max for a typical person.

[Jhanananda]

Thanks, Jhananda. Bare awareness makes sense.

BTW, what do you think about walking meditation and have ever used in regular practice? How deep do you think it is possible to go with it? I guess 1st jhana would be max for a typical person.

I started Tai Chi practice in about 1974 or 5. I found it to be a very useful form of meditation in which I could easily get to the 3rd jhana.  Sam Lim, who was a member here before he died of a stroke some years ago had been into Tai Chi and Qui Gong, and he regularly experienced OOBEs. So, in my personal experience and that of another experienced practitioner here moving meditation, when conducted properly can net fruitful results. However, I recommend if one is going to engage in moving meditation practice that one have a regular sitting practice as a base.

[Tad]

Thanks, Jhananda. Bare awareness makes sense.

BTW, what do you think about walking meditation and have ever used in regular practice? How deep do you think it is possible to go with it? I guess 1st jhana would be max for a typical person.

I started Tai Chi practice in about 1974 or 5. I found it to be a very useful form of meditation in which I could easily get to the 3rd jhana.  Sam Lim, who was a member here before he died of a stroke some years ago had been into Tai Chi and Qui Gong, and he regularly experienced OOBEs. So, in my personal experience and that of another experienced practitioner here moving meditation, when conducted properly can net fruitful results. However, I recommend if one is going to engage in moving meditation practice that one have a regular sitting practice as a base.

Thanks, Jhananda. That is pretty impressive. Combining sitting practice with some movement is a good idea.