Home→Forums→Spirituality→Advice for Jhana Absorption in Meditiation?
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Ralph. 
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June 28, 2017 at 10:10 am #155408
RalphParticipantHello folks!
I need some advice from someone who is experienced in meditation, especially in Jhana Absorptions.
I am currently able to reach the first level in about an hour. (I practice every day, at least one hour if its possible). I am watching my breath until it becomes very shallow, and then the typical feeling of the first absorption slowly sets in (lightness, warm feeling…), and in the books i read about meditation was said that to reach the second level (joy or happiness), is to put this feeling in the background and let the joy arise.
But i am not sure if i should still let my attention on the breath or on the feeling. This is a hard part for me and i am trying to make progress but somehow i cant manage to let the second level fully arise.
Any advice?
June 28, 2017 at 10:39 am #155422
AnonymousGuestDear Ralph:
I am not experienced at all in jhana meditation and I hope that a member who is experienced in it will give you the advice you asked for.
Looking at Wikipedia’s entry on “Dhayanna in Buddhism”- a lengthy entry- you may find an answer under #3: “Mastering the jhanas”.
anita
June 30, 2017 at 11:27 am #155838
RalphParticipantthanks anita! I will have a look at it!
July 8, 2017 at 9:13 am #157038
RalphParticipantOk i got it now!
I’ll share my experiences here in case someone is struggling with the same issue.
The breath is just the “key” to the inside. It helps us to build up concentration, so the first jhana is the beginning of the act of meditation at all. When this level is reached, one must let go of the breath and focus on the rapture of the first absorption. When this happens, joy follows naturally. It is then possible to further let go of the feeling and focus on the sensation of joy.
(The jhanas are getting successive more subtle as it gets deeper).
So one has to put the feeling in the back of the awareness and let the joy come full to frution. This is the second jhana
The third can be attained, if one lets even further go of the bodily aspects of joy, and what happens then, is called “deep peace”, the third absorption. And indeed, what can be experienced here, is uncomparable to everything else whats called “peace” one can experience. This is also the beginning where one starts to gain wisdom about the world and himself, as one can see, that this peace is in us, all the time, we just need to hold the “key” (the breath) long enough to open up the door to the inside.
I came this far now, and hope i will get further, because the third absorption had a heavy impact on me, and i am seeing the whole world and myself from a different view since this experience.
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