Authentic Instruction in Jhana and Higher Consciousness
Based on Daily Personal Experience
Updated 1.20.2015
IntentTo provide the most efficacious, succinct, and comprehensive instruction possible. The intention here is to guide an individual to establish themselves in higher states of consciousness.
This meaning that you will become acquainted well enough to know when you're in these refined states and how to consistently enter them. The first four of these are called "jhana."
Why Bother Meditating or Reading?You mean besides the very best reasons a human can have to do the very best a human can do? Besides the bliss, joy, and ecstatic insight? Well, there's plenty of books and techniques on meditation,
but I've met and read so few who have experience with the grand splendor of authentic higher states of consciousness.Aren't you curious what a legitimate transcendental experience is like?
Learning the Hard WayI learned jhana through years of searching, studying and practice--only to find that
I, and others here, could give good instruction to others, and they can enter jhana or even higher states of consciousness within a few minutes. Note: This isn't exhaustive. Instead, I have aimed to provide a simple path with as few variables as possible. I will explain what "as few variables as possible" means along the way.Posture: I'm Too UncomfortableYou might be too warm, too cold, too stiff, too sleepy, too wired, too sick, or dis-eased. Fortunately, It's not required that you sit in full lotus perfectly still and erect, floating in the air. That's just silly nonsense which I wasted enough time on for everyone who will ever read this. Cross-legged and erect is ideal, yes, but ideal is not something to worry about when first establishing in jhana. We just need to learn to enter jhana every time we meditate, which isn't difficult if you're committed and informed.
- Find any posture that allows your body to be comfortable, while retaining blood flow and alertness. For me, this was actually lying on my back. For you, it might be walking--which I am working on explaining for a book and/or another post. The different resulting qualities of entering these states in different postures, even as similar as reclining or laying down, is remarkable!
- Utilize blankets, chairs, or even a fan. Eat smaller meals and foods that make you comfortable. Do some yoga or stretching. If necessary, you can even take some Tylenol or the least psychoactive medicine that can help you feel comfortable. Your "heart", the door to these states, will meet you where you're at. You are not perfect, and that's kind of the point of all of this. All of it... So, listen to your intuition, and do what's necessary to find a good balance for you.
Comfort and DurationThose who aren't established will want to make themselves comfortable enough to meditate for at least one hour per session. Soon, comfort will not be as much an issue. However, If you've not established in jhana, yet, then you'll want to be on the lookout for ways you can dedicate an entire day to meditation sessions. 8 hours of meditation in one day is much better than one hour each of 8 days.
In fact, it was when I learned how to remain comfortable enough to meditate all day that I established in jhana. Just one day completely dedicated to meditation. Soon after that, it didn't matter. I am almost, if not always in jhana. Yes, you can let that put a smile on your face in reminder of things to come.
EnvironmentAlthough it's possible to be in jhana while on a bus, on a plane, or in school, for the beginner you'll want the most still, silent, natural, and comfortable environment you can easily attain.
Basic TechniqueThe basic technique is simple. It really is! Remember, I am making this extremely simple to do. You will have many, many questions and uncertainties. But, as long as you follow these instructions sincerely, you'll get there quickly.
- Gazing on the Waters Below
You rest your awareness on a meditation "object." This object acts like an anchor at the depths of the mind, for your awareness floating around the stormy and wavy surface. As a result, this anchor allows your awareness to rest, stiller, and stiller. As long as the awareness stays steadied on this object/anchor, jhana will arise from the depths. This object, this anchor for your awareness, is often called a "charism" on this forum. But, we will continue calling it an anchor for a little while. - Tingling Bliss
Direct your awareness to feel inside the hands or feet. A tingling will arise. This is known as "bliss" (in the original Buddha instruction.) Although it may take a few moments to begin to feel like bliss. Rest the awareness on this tingling, and stay with it's location as continuously as possible. This tingling bliss is your anchor. - Swaying in the Breeze
Don't force your awareness on the anchor, causing everything to tense up. But, also don't relax so much that your awareness strays away from the anchor. You must gently balance your "grip." Maybe something will tense up in the body because you are trying to force your awareness, but just let that go and gently rest your awareness on the tingling again. Your awareness may be too soft, and stray into thoughts and other sensations. But let that go, and confidently return your awareness to the tingling. Nothing more. No guilt nor frustration. Just come back to it, and maintain a restful balance--almost like you're in a hammock, swaying in the breeze, until, naturally, it calms to stillness. Continue this, and see what happens to those mere "tingles....."
Honestly, that's all there is to it. Go. Do. Or rather, let it happen. Let it all go. All the shit from the past, the suffering, the stuff you thought was good or bad, and just sway in that blissful hammock. Then come back after an hour and we'll answer some questions below.
How Will I Know When Jhana has Arisen? You can learn the Buddha's explanation of jhana as properly translated by Jhananda here:
http://www.greatwesternvehicle.org/jhana.htmlWithin the context of this specific technique, here is what you can expect to see...
1st Jhana - The tingling in your hands or feet will become a bit stronger, and spread a little into the legs or arms. There will be a passing moment where the mind feels a subtle sense of feeling "engaged", almost like the first sensations of falling asleep. Conscious effort to keep the awareness on the tingling will be necessary. Some will sense joy like that of getting in a freshly made bed when you're a child. Although in my experience, the joy is much stronger in 2nd jhana.
2nd Jhana - The tingling will become stronger and the awareness becomes attracted to the increased stimulation--similar to how people passing through a room will look at televisions without conscious effort. The tingling may be detectable throughout most of the body--the stomach often being too subtle to notice at this point. A mild-moderate sense of joy and ease will arise--like kicking back in silence on a recliner after a long day of noise and work.
In my experience, between 2nd and 3rd jhana is a hypersensitivity phase. For example: If there is a sudden sound, like a door closing, I will feel that sound shockwave through the body. It can be unnerving. So it is good to develop equanimity at that point.
3rd Jhana - The tingling becomes the strength and similarity of an orgasm, which can be felt throughout the body. The awareness can be moved around still, but it has entered the orbiting gravity of jhana. Other charisms and abilities will arise as a result of this orbiting. Significant pain and discomfort relief occurs here, which can often lead to sexual fantasies arising. They have tremendous gravity and can easily derail a meditation session. Third jhana is about pleasure and equanimity, but it's wise to embrace equanimity if one wishes to attain 4th jhana. Keep the awareness on the tingling throughout the whole body while allowing other charisms to arise at their own rate.
4th Jhana - The physical body sensations are almost entirely absent, while the tingling and other charisms take its place as a non-physical body. This non-physical body is far lighter than the density of third jhana tingling. The tingling and other charisms of the third jhana are like a subwoofer compared to the crisp and light highs of fourth jhana's tweeter. Pain and pleasure no longer impact the awareness. Sensations may remain that WOULD be considered painful or pleasant, but they are not interpreted that way by the mind. It's like floating on your back in a pool of the most perfect temperature and silky smooth water.
I Still Can't Enter JhanaTry to relate jhana to the process of falling asleep. You're trying to relax like you would to fall asleep. And it feels similar in the beginning. The difference is that your awareness will be CONSCIOUSLY anchored and absorbed in the tingling of the charismatic body--the same body used in dreaming. That way you won't lose consciousness. Instead you consciously transition from the physical body, to the non-physical body.
Waiting for your take on the immaterial domains... Stu
SamadhiStu, I must be honest with you that the level of refinement of my consciousness is not adequate to address the immaterial domains very well. However, I do have experience with each samadhi, and an excellent group call with the sangha lead to Jhananda facilitating knowledge drawn from my past experiences. I recommend cross-referencing with
31 Planes of Existence Chart as extracted from the the Buddha's discourses. Note that a majority portion of these words are Jhananda's that helped me realize what samadhi level I had entered in the past. So, I have used a good amount of his wording here.
Transition Phase - The VoidFirstly, the transition phase between 4th jhana and 5th samadhi. I've found this to be the most bewildering state of meditative absorption. The simplest way I can describe it is void ecstasy. Or, it can just be a void, or even an unacknowledged experience if the consciousness isn't refined enough at the time of entry. Sometimes it's simply an unknown "blip" before finding myself in 5th samadhi.
5th Samadhi - OOB Exploration of the Physical PlaneFifth samadhi, according to Jhananda, and confirmed by past experiences, is when one leaves the physical body and experiences the form planes via flight, and it seems also, teleportation. During this, I might see other beings of form which technically reside primarily in an upper or lower plane of form. As you begin to leave the planet, the galaxy, you are transitioning to the upper planes of sixth samadhi.
6th Samadhi - The Pure Abodes and Devas (See 31 Planes Chart)Sixth samadhi, in comparison of my experiences and Jhananda's description, is leaving this physical plane and entering the physical heavens, or "pure abodes." Here you will find deva's--beings similarily perceived as that of a human--but it's like seeing humanity perfected within the bounds of physical form. I have also experienced formless beings of light, in the appearance of a ball of light. If this formless being is followed, it will lead beyond the physical heavens of sixth samadhi.
7th Samadhi - OmnipresenceIn comparison of my two experiences and Jhananda's description, is the omnipresence of galaxies of light. In my experience, it has been similar to that of photos captured beyond the atmosphere of the Earth by satellite scopes. Although, of course, it is not static like a photo. Each star--each point of light--is a being eminating a frequency of love which varies from being to being. In my memory of the most lucid of these experiences I've had, it's like a sublime symphony of love and light.
8th Samadhi - Oneness (Omniscience?)I have only one recalled and vivid experiences of eighth samadhi, and so I am mainly relying on the confirmation Jhananda provided during our group call. In this experience, I was becoming the entirety of all immaterial existence and knowledge. In reflection, I see that it was a gradual process--not just BANG! This seems obvious having typed it out.
LiberationSo, in my case, before finishing "assimilation", I fell out of samadhi. It was absolutely terrifying and yet ecstatic--the contrast made the ecstasy that much more intense. This is the greatest amount of ecstasy I've ever felt, and was so powerful I returned to my body with streams flowing down my cheeks with an immense release of baggage. But I felt apologetic. Jhananda suggested since the full assimilation of the eight samadhi results in liberation, that I was unable to let go of the last of the identity and was why I was apologizing when I returned.
Before I ever told anyone of this experience, or even read anything remotely descriptive like I'm writing now, I distinctly remember the intuitive knowledge "I just missed full enlightenment" once I re-entered the physical body and left absorption. And indeed I felt all the factors of enlightenment so strongly the 30-60 minutes after returning that an intuition repeated itself "That is "It" many times. The factors were so strong, I relieved my roommate of severe back pain with less than a second of touching him. I had never tried to do this before.
Stu, I apologize that, as you can see, I do not have the same level of understanding of samadhi as I do jhana. But, I hope you found this helpful.
