Donate  |   Contact


The greatest gift is the
gift of the teachings
 
Dharma Talks
2019-05-06 Jhanas 5-8 28:22
Mary Aubry
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC Jhanas and Insight Retreat

2019-05-05 Jhanas 1-4 43:06
Mary Aubry
Insight Meditation Community of Washington DC Jhanas and Insight Retreat

2019-02-20 Cultivating Meditative Absorptions (Jhanas) (Retreat at Spirit Rock) 63:40
Tempel Smith
There are two larger categories of meditation: samatha meditations and vipassana meditations. Samatha meditations are intended to calm, unify, balance and develop strengths of the heart, and vipassana meditations lead toward insight into our patterns of suffering, confusion, clarity and freedom. The samatha meditations can develop to the point where we are fully absorbed into our meditation subject. This talk describes this process.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center February Monthlong

2018-09-12 The Jhanas: An Introduction 53:40
Leigh Brasington
Cambridge Insight Meditation Center

2017-07-25 Secular Samadhi 55:12
Stephen Batchelor
Reflections on the practice of the jhanas, a personal account of the role of meditation in my life.
Gaia House Secular Buddhist Meditation Retreat

2017-07-22 Concentration Meditation and the Jhanas 6:15:06
Stephen Snyder
Taught by Stephen Snyder, this daylong returns our awareness to one object of meditation, thereby collecting and unifying the mind stream.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2016-01-07 Characteristics of mindfulness 51:29
Ajahn Sucitto
the doors to the deathless; right view the essential reference; that which can arise and be gladdened; 11 doors or entry points –4 jhanas, 4 bhrama-viharas and three immaterial states; the Buddha advised meditators to “absorb”, rather than concentrate / tightening up; a sponge must absorb to open up, not contract; need to drench ourselves in withdrawal; viveka, vitaka, vichara, piti and sukka; in the body; using wise (rather than hard or tight) attention; withdrawal from unwise attention; intention (the inclination of the heart) comes before attention and replaces immature lunging in or irresolute attention; make the intention one pointed as the mind settles down and the attention will follow; necessary wise preparation; a wise cow in the mountains; shortcoming of language; tracking the breath through the body, its beginnings and endings; a careful and deliberate enjoying is to be encouraged; open and soften; spread it through the body by directing it; first jhana; seeing the presence and absence of hindrances and learning though the simplicity of the experience of it; it’s like THIS now; not rushed , not biased or corrupted by the mind turning things upside down/ getting things wrong; appreciate the comparative slowness of the dawning quality on the citta; the open moments; pausing at the end of things; what’s helpful now?

2014-08-18 Morning Instructions, Day 3 56:37
Adrianne Ross
Jhanas, Connecting and Sustaining
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Concentration Retreat

2014-03-15 Happiness of a Concentrated Mind—Talk and Guided Meditation 39:54
Shaila Catherine
This is a talk on the theme of the joy of seclusion, followed immediately by a guided meditation on concentration using the breath as the focus. A concentrated mind is a happy mind. Joy, rapture, happiness, pleasure, sublime bliss, peacefulness, and equanimity are intrinsic to concentrated states. This brief talk introduces the four states of concentrated absorption known as the four jhanas and the immaterial states of infinite space, infinite consciousness, the base of nothingness or emptiness, and the base of neither-perception-nor-non-perception. In Buddhism, not only is the rapture and pleasure of attaining jhana a form of happiness, but the deep ease and equanimity of the immaterial states are considered to be refined forms of happiness.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2013-03-16 A Road Map from the Buddha, Guided Practice 1:21:27
Rick Hanson
The latest brain research has begun to confirm the central insights of the Buddha and other great teachers. And it’s suggesting ways you can help your brain to enter deeper states of mindfulness, quiet, and concentration. Suffering, joy, and freedom all depend on what happens within your nervous system. Skillful practice thus means being skillful with your own brain. This experiential workshop will offer user-friendly information with lots of practical methods. No background in neuroscience or mindfulness is needed, though teaching are also appropriate for health care professionals. We’ll cover: --- Implications from brain research for steadying the mind... quieting it... and bringing it to singleness --- The brain during the jhanas or other states of deep concentration --- How to help lay the neurological foundation for liberating insight
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2013-03-16 Neural Factors of Mindfulness, Guided Practice 1:49:29
Rick Hanson
The latest brain research has begun to confirm the central insights of the Buddha and other great teachers. And it’s suggesting ways you can help your brain to enter deeper states of mindfulness, quiet, and concentration. Suffering, joy, and freedom all depend on what happens within your nervous system. Skillful practice thus means being skillful with your own brain. This experiential workshop will offer user-friendly information with lots of practical methods. No background in neuroscience or mindfulness is needed, though teaching are also appropriate for health care professionals. We’ll cover: --- Implications from brain research for steadying the mind... quieting it... and bringing it to singleness --- The brain during the jhanas or other states of deep concentration --- How to help lay the neurological foundation for liberating insight
Spirit Rock Meditation Center

2012-10-27 Focus and Freedom: Introduction to the Jhanas 2:31:31
Leigh Brasington
A workshop/retreat on the meditative absorptions (jhanas) and their relationship to mindfulness and insight practice. There will be periods of instructions coupled with sitting and walking meditation along with ample time for questions and answers. Although one day is insufficient to learn the jhanas, the workshop will allow you to learn about them and to consider whether you want to pursue this study further. For people who want to read more on Jhana practice, please go to Leigh’s web site at http://leighb.com
New York Insight Meditation Center Focus and Freedom: Introduction to the Jhanas

2011-02-16 Concentration Practice III 55:28
Donald Rothberg
We review our previous exploration of concentration practices with further treatment of 1) wise effort, 2) how concentration deepens toward the Jhanas, and 3) the relationship of concentration and insight practice.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Monday and Wednesday Talks

2010-10-06 Jhanas Five to Eight 65:28
Leigh Brasington
Gaia House Paticca-Samuppada and Jhana Dependent Co-Origination and the Meditative Absorptions

2010-10-04 Jhanas One to Four 63:42
Leigh Brasington
Gaia House Paticca-Samuppada and Jhana Dependent Co-Origination and the Meditative Absorptions

2009-01-15 2009 Monthly Sitting Group, Month 1: Overview of the Samatha Practice 63:51
Tina Rasmussen
Includes: The three stages of practice (Sila, Samatha, Vipassana); The Buddha’s practice of the jhanas; Why do this practice?; and an overview of the path of practice as taught by Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw; meditation instructions.
Various

2008-10-15 Jhanas Five to Eight 1:11:21
Leigh Brasington
Gaia House Jhanas and Dependent Origination

2008-10-13 Jhanas One to Four 68:46
Leigh Brasington
Gaia House Jhanas and Dependent Origination

2008-08-23 Vipassana Jhanas 62:07
Steve Armstrong
Insight knowledge unfolds with increasing maturity of the jhanic factors of mind. Stability of mind enables increasing depth of liberating knowledge.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center Concentration

2008-08-11 Talk Four: Jhanas One to Four 64:43
Rob Burbea
As we learn to develop concentration in meditation, samatha (calm, tranquility) is also developed, and together these qualities become a powerful means for deep insight and a source of profound well-being. This progressive series of talks, guided meditations and instructions explores in some detail the art of concentration, primarily through different ways of working with the breath and the body to open to deeper and deeper levels of calmness, presence and joy.
Gaia House The Art Of Concentration (Samatha Meditation)

2008-07-02 What Is The Jhana Practice? #1 66:22
Stephen Snyder
This talk was given by both Tina Rasmussen and Stephen Snyder: how the jhanas fit into Buddhist practice; overview of the entire samatha practice; the three types of concentration; and differences from other practices.
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge July 2008 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2008-07-02 What Is The Jhana Practice? #1 66:22
Tina Rasmussen
This talk includes: how the jhanas fit into Buddhist practice; overview of the entire samatha practice; the three types of concentration; and differences from other practices.
Insight Meditation Society - Forest Refuge July 2008 at IMS - Forest Refuge

2008-04-19 Jhanas Morning Instructions #8 30:58
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Jhānas (Meditative Absorptions) Retreat for Experienced Students

2008-04-19 Jhanas Afternoon Talk #8 62:27
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Jhānas (Meditative Absorptions) Retreat for Experienced Students

2008-04-18 Jhanas Morning Instructions #7 35:10
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
Insight Meditation Society - Retreat Center Jhānas (Meditative Absorptions) Retreat for Experienced Students

Creative Commons License