Interpretations of the Jhanas

not

The first broad categorization would be into "Sutta Style Jhanas" and "Visuddhimagga Style Jhanas". These two phrases are not ideal, but I use them until someone comes up with a better pair. "Visuddhimagga Style Jhanas" use a nimitta for access and involve very deep concentration. "Sutta Style Jhanas" do not require a nimitta and involve more accessible states of concentration.

The Jhanas as discussed in the suttas are accessible to many people. The suttas seem to indicate that they were just part of the monastics' training program; thus they were not a big deal and were accessible to many.

However, the Visuddhimagga states in section XII.8 that of those who undertake the meditation path, only one in 1,000,000 (at best) can reach absorption 1. We don't have to take this figure literally to begin to understand that the Jhanas as discussed in the Visuddhimagga are of a much deeper level of concentration than those described in the suttas. Basically, the Jhanas as described in the Visuddhimagga seem to be much more developed and systematized than those of the suttas. Even the factors given for the first four Jhanas are not the same: see The Traditional Factors of the 8 Jhanas.

So the following table lists the various interpretations I have encountered and gives a (hopefully somewhat accurate) picture of each of the interpretations. Each system is given by the name of the place or teacher that teaches (or taught) in the style:

Interestingly, most teachers of Jhana tend to regard all Jhana methods with concentration levels weaker than their own as "not authentic, not real Jhanas", and they tend to regard all methods with concentration levels stronger than their own as "indulging, not useful."

Given the diversity outlined above, several possible conclusions can be drawn:

Mistakes in the above are quite possible! There are a number of different ways to interpret the ancient literature about the Jhanas. We don't really know exactly what type of Jhanas the Buddha and his disciples were practicing. Since it is very clear that the Buddha did not regard the Jhanas as anything more than a tool, what is really important is not so much which version you learn, but that you apply the jhanic state of mind to insight practice, either while still in the Jhana or immediately thereafter.



For a more detailed discussion of some of the above teachers and their teaching please see the very excellent article by Natalie Quli: Multiple Buddhist Modernisms: Jhana in Convert Theravada.

"[T]he kasina preliminary work is difficult for a beginner and only one in a hundred or a thousand can do it. The arousing of the sign is difficult for one who has done the preliminary work and only one in a hundred or a thousand can do it. To extend the sign when it has arisen and to reach absorption is difficult and only one in a hundred or a thousand can do it." Vsm. XII.8 Thus only 1 in 100 x 100 x 100 = 1,000,000 can reach absorption (Jhana) - using the most optimistic figures.

The Mystery of the Breath Nimitta by Bhikkhu Sona (highly recommended!)

How Many Jhānas Are There? A look at states that go by the name Jhana

Multiple Buddhist Modernisms: Jhana in Convert Theravada by Natalie Quli

Dharma Overground Discussion Thread

Back to The Jhanas

Back to Essays

