Guest Author - Samten Tsomo

Jhana is a meditative state of mind that is developed with concentration as one progresses with their meditation. The most common meditation used to develop jhana is breathing meditation. Of course, if you want to achieve these states chances are that you won't. If you reach any of these and then cling to it then you will not be able to maintain that state.

The first jhana is reached when one removes ones mindset from the five hindrances. Once one has entered into the fist jhana they will be filled with “rapture and pleasure born from withdrawal.”

The second jhana is categorized by one being filled with “rapture and pleasure born of composure.”

The third jhana is categorized by one being filled with “pleasure divested of rapture”

The fourth jhana is reached when one is no longer affected by the ups and downs of samsara “so that there is nothing of his entire body unpervaded by pure, bright awareness.”


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