Dhammapada 110

[Michael Hawkins]

Bettter than a hundred years
lived undiscerning, uncentered, is
     one day
lived by a discerning person
absorbed in jhana

(Thanissaro Bhiddkhu's poetic translation)

[Jhanananda]

Thanks, Michael. This is a good reminder, but we sure don't hear this from the priesthood of the 3 vehicles, other than one monk who doesn't have the courage to translate jhana.

[Michael Hawkins]

Thanks, Michael. This is a good reminder, but we sure don't hear this from the priesthood of the 3 vehicles, other than one monk who doesn't have the courage to translate it.

He seems to dabble his feet in there, but always falls seems to back on "concentration" during his talks.  Kind of weird, especially since he pulls a lot of weight in the Thai tradition.  Oh, well....

[Jhanananda]

He seems to dabble his feet in there, but always falls seems to back on "concentration" during his talks.  Kind of weird, especially since he pulls a lot of weight in the Thai tradition.  Oh, well....

His inability to translate jhana in ecstatic terms is probably due to his never having experienced jhana, and his need for a donation stream.