วีดีโอ

Thanks for your great question! The Buddha described all the jhanas as perceptions. That is also true from my lived experiences as a meditator. I dial into a jhana iby giving rise to a perception and I maintain the jhana by feeding, cultivating and holding that perception in mind. I drop the jhana by observing a changing or disappearing perception. What I was trying to convey is there’s an ever deepening wisdom from that fundamental insight. My sense of reality is perception-dependent. My sense of pleasure is also perception-dependent. We want pleasure to be set in stone. It’s not. It’s a subtle layer of resistance to the insight of impermanence. A few days ago I hurt my knee. Viewed from one angle pain is pain. Viewed from the inside, the « pain » appeared as heat, it lost its story, and became neutral enough for me to laugh at, set aside aas a thing and become part of the perception of the pleasurable jhana. One of the benefits of meditation is getting to put these hypotheses to the test. So put all this through the ringers so to speak: take it on and prove it right or wrong. I think you can see why the Buddha taught us how these observations give rise to dispassion, cessation and release from suffering. Thanks again!

When you see how experience is generated, maintained and destroyed by perception - a flimsy thing like a mirage drawing you further into the desert, you see its power and you release from its power. I hope that helps to describe one approach to the Unmanifest!

Hi Jason the correct answer to your question is that no guided meditation will “take” you to the first jhanas. Only you can do that. Of course, that’s not what you meant. The hardest part of learning to practice jhana is knowing what to do with pain and distractions (ie the 5 Hindrances), when they arise, and to keep them abandoned when they are abandoned. If you know how to handle those hurdles, this short meditation will guide you into proximity with the first jhana and keep you there. Your task is to stabilize the first jhana and keep making it a comfortable place to dwell. Then you can explore. You can explore the jhana itself or leave it entirely and begin reflecting on a theme of your choice. The Buddha recommended the 5 Clinging Aggregates. It’s a shorter distance to the second jhana from there. Thanks for your question. May you be well, healthy, happy and peaceful.

@@robertrhyne9660 thanks Robert. I'll reflect on this. Your video is helpful in my life. The world desperately needs this wisdom.

Hi Jason, thanks for writing me. I used to have a tense upper back (also from injuries) that would quickly turn painful on long sits and retreats. I addressed it in many ways and it resolved through the combination of several solutions, not just one. I mention this because you want to be careful to keep in mind that there are few single solution quick fixes when it comes to working with injuries and trauma. I’m happy to hear you’re advanced enough in your practice to notice the complexity of sensation. Most people can only “see” and observe pain when certain pain receptors are active, but in fact the body and mind are much richer. If you have the equanimity to hover close to the pain without flinching you can sense pleasurable and neutral sensations there close by. Of course pain initially “shouts” louder. With practice I was able to focus the mind on the sensation register I chose. I hope this is useful knowledge for you when working your way through jhanas. Finally I give free guided meditations on my zoom channel. It’s free because it’s through a Sri Lankan Buddhist temple in Washington DC and I’m not interested in donations. Currently we convene at 9:30 am EST every Sunday online. If you’re interested, message me privately.

Pa Auk Teachers have made major changes to the meditation system. What is wrong? What is correct? Please look at Mistakes of Pa Auk Meditation.

@@respectdhamma3645 thx

​@@robertrhyne9660hi Robert, hope you are doing well. Is it possible to share your zoom link by any chance? Other than that- my question is what if I can't sense piti or pleasurable sensations? What can I do? I do feel pain on my back because of bad posture. I feel like that would be my meditation object. But for years of practice I'm lost finding any happiness to induce jhanas. Thanks so much

Thank you dayananda dolly. Please to meet you. I’m the guiding teacher.

Thanks. May you be well, happy and peaceful.

Dmitry Pasichnyk thanks for your blessing wishes. May you be well, happy, and peaceful.