Some Questions for Jhanananda

[Intuition]

Hello Jhanananda, I have a few questions. I'm sorry if they've been answered elsewhere on this site or on GWV.

1. When you first stumbled into the jhanas, what were you studying and learning from that led you to practice the way you did, leading to the jhanas? Were you reading the Pali cannon at this time? Or were you studying hindu traditions? Or some other tradition? Do you remember what books you were reading at the time that lead you to practice the way you did that lead to the jhanas?

2. On your site on the GWV, you have many translations of the Tipitaka listed. If one is going to read the Pali cannon, which translation would you recommend? What is your favorite, and what has lead you most clearly to the jhanas? It seems to me that you often have translations by (1) Upalavanna posted. Do you consider these translations to be the most accurate?

[Jhanananda]

Hello Jhanananda, I have a few questions. I'm sorry if they've been answered elsewhere on this site or on GWV.

1. When you first stumbled into the jhanas, what were you studying and learning from that led you to practice the way you did, leading to the jhanas? Were you reading the Pali cannon at this time? Or were you studying hindu traditions? Or some other tradition? Do you remember what books you were reading at the time that lead you to practice the way you did that lead to the jhanas?

Hello, Intuition, good to hear from you again. I stumbled into the subjective states that we call here 'jhana' a few weeks after taking up a daily practice of meditation back around September of 1973.  At the time I was reading the major mystics of Catholicism: Saints Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, then John of the Cross.  Later that year I was introduced to the non-dualism of Advaita Vedanta in a book by Lisel Raimon.  After that I just kept going.

2. On your site on the GWV, you have many translations of the Tipitaka listed. If one is going to read the Pali cannon, which translation would you recommend? What is your favorite, and what has lead you most clearly to the jhanas? It seems to me that you often have translations by (1) Upalavanna posted. Do you consider these translations to be the most accurate?

I have read every published English translation of the major books  of the Pali Canon and found every translation was deeply flawed when it came to their description of the superior fruit of the contemplative life (maha-phala).  I had to come to the realization that translators are almost never contemplatives, and the publishers of religious literature almost always have a bias that is not reflected in and accurate translation of their own religious literature.  This includes the bible.  So, while I was camped in the wilderness for 2 years I translated the major discourses that describe samadhi, and the other superior fruit of the contemplative life (maha-phala). I call that collection the "Fruitful Discourses (Phala-Nikaya)."  You can find it ou the GWV website at the link.

[Joseph]

I was wondering if anyone has ever practiced yogic sleep meditation called Yoga Nidra. Swami Jnaneshvara goes into more detail about the process and the three states of consciousness of Waking,Dreaming and Deep sleep on his website at swamij.com. In Yoga Nidra, you leave the Waking state,go through the Dreaming state, and into the Deep sleep state, yet remain fully awake.

[Jhanananda]

Hello, Joseph, thanks for posting your comment.  Sorry to be getting back to you so late, but I have been working on moving, so I have not had many opportunities to get back online.

We have discussed Swami Jnaneshvara and his concept of the three states of consciousness several times here.  We have a different concept than his, which is essentially based upon the writing of the major mystics, and most essentially the Pali Canon.  Our concept here is oriented toward cultivating deep the meditation experience, which is known in Indic literature as "samadhi."

According to the Pali Canon, there are 8 stages of samadhi, and they come in 2 classes.  There are 4 material states of samadhi, also known as rupa samadhi. The Sanskrit term 'rupa' means 'material.'  The next 4 stages of samadhi are known as 'arupa' which means 'immaterial.'

So, we find here when a contemplative can consistently practice into the immaterial stages of deep meditation (arupa samadhi), then one is able to travel out of body in one of 4 immaterial domains.

I hope that helps.

[Naman]

I was wondering if anyone has ever practiced yogic sleep meditation called Yoga Nidra. Swami Jnaneshvara goes into more detail about the process and the three states of consciousness of Waking,Dreaming and Deep sleep on his website at swamij.com. In Yoga Nidra, you leave the Waking state,go through the Dreaming state, and into the Deep sleep state, yet remain fully awake.

Hi,
It is essentially same thing what Jhananda is doing ans what we are trying to achieve. When you meditate to 4th jhana depth and goto sleep meditating, slee will turn into conscious sleep,  that is yoga nidra.  The more you practice during day and before sleep easier it is to achieve that.

[Joseph]

Thanks for your response to my question Jhanananda. When you talk about traveling out of body in one of the four immaterial domains are you referring to astral travel?

I'm really happy to know that people like you exist out there in this vast country! Cheers

[Jhanananda]

Yes, Joseph, 'astral travel' is one of many terms used in the literature of mysticism that refers to leaving the body and traveling through the immaterial domains.