Just as the river Ganges slants, slopes, and inclines towards the east, so too, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu who develops and cultivates the four jhānas slants, slopes, and inclines towards Nibbāna.
– SN 53.1 - 12
Whoever, Ānanda, now or after my passing, dwells as an island unto themselves, with themselves as their own refuge, not dependent on another as a refuge; with the Dhamma as their island, with the Dhamma as their refuge, not dependent on another as a refuge; they, Ānanda, will be the foremost of those who are keen on the training.
– SN 47.13
As one progresses through the jhānas, one’s mind becomes increasingly refined, gradually arising the successive factors of awakening of joy, tranquility, collectedness (concentration) and equanimity (mental poise, unshakability).
The four jhānas are presented along with their factors and how they map to the factors of awakening.
Jhāna 1
Factors
- abandoning of the five hindrances,
- secluded from sensual pleasures,
- secluded from unwholesome states,
- accompanied with reflection and examination of thoughts (or sustained and applied thought),
- with joyful pleasure born of seclusion.
Factors of Awakening
Jhana 1 (5th factor) maps to the awakening factor of joy (rapture) coming into arising firmly. Some tranquility may be present.
Jhāna 2
Factors
- subsiding of reflection and examination (of thoughts),
- has internal tranquility and unification of mind,
- is without reflection and examination, and
- has joyful pleasure born of collectedness.
Factors of Awakening
Jhana 2 (2nd factor) maps to the awakening factor of tranquility coming into arising fully. Collectedness may also be present.
Jhāna 3
Factors
- with the fading away of joyful pleasure,
- dwells equanimous (with mental poise, unshakability),
- mindful,
- fully aware,
- experiences ease with the body
Factors of Awakening
Jhana 3 factors map to the awakening factor of collectedness (concentration) coming into arising fully. Equanimity may also be present.
Jhāna 4
Factors
- abandoning of ease and suffering (discontentment),
- previous disappearance of pleasure and displeasure,
- neither painful nor pleasant,
- purity of equanimity,
- purity of mindfulness.
Factors of Awakening
Jhana 4 factors map to the awakening factor of equanimity (mental poise, unshakability wrt phenomena) coming into arising firmly.
-
To be with even one hindrance and to arise the first jhāna at the same time, this is impossible to do. Fueling the hindrances (e.g. pursuing sensual pleasures, staying with thoughts of ill-will or harm) further fuels one’s ignorance of the path to awakening.
-
Tracing the causes of ignorance | delusion | avijjā sutta (AN 10.61) - Even though ignorance has no discernible first point, it still has a cause.
-
Hindrances as different bowls of water (SN 46.55) - The brahmin Saṅgārava asks why sometimes verses stay in memory while other times they don’t. The Buddha replies that it is due to the presence of either the hindrances or awakening factors. He gives a set of similes illustrating each of the hindrances with different bowls of water.
-
The five hindrances weaken wisdom | simile of side-channels weakening a river’s flow (AN 5.51) - The five hindrances weaken wisdom like side-channels weaken a river’s flow.
-
-
Along with the abandoning of the hindrances:
-
One can bring dedication to learning the teachings of the Buddha and to a regular practice of meditation (regularly clearing the mind of the hindrances),
-
Reflect on one’s mind and practice - AN 10.51 (I also use this for our monthly reflection post), and
-
To take initiative and be persistent in applying the teachings into practice (arising the awakening factor of energy or persistence, application of right effort, the faculty of energy or persistence).
-
One should often reflect on the state of one’s mind and review the mental qualities present over a period of few to several weeks, observing for:
-
the growth of the positive qualities of the mind, and
-
improvements in one’s personal and professional relationships.
Jhānas and Enlightenment
The goal for developing and cultivating jhānas is to attain to one of the stages of enlightenment, so that one’s experience is free of the arising of the hindrances once and for all, where one has a pleasant abiding and is free of any exertion, enjoying the unconditioned enlighten-mental qualities of peace, joy, tranquility, unshakability of the mind, enjoying blossoming relationships, and an excellent ability to recollect past events and actions without distortion.
-
Attaining to stream-entry (first stage of enlightenment) completely eliminates the hindrance of doubt from arising in one’s experience.
-
Similarly, attaining to once-returning (second stage of enlightenment) weakens the hindrances of sensual desire and ill-will.
-
Attaining to non-returning (third stage of enlightenment) eliminates the hindrances of sensual desire and ill-will from arising in one’s experience.
-
An Arahant (a fully enlightened being) will have eliminated all the five hindrances, and thus, will be abiding in one of the jhānas (see AN 3.63) or another dwelling that is free of hindrances at all times.
Teachings on Jhānas and its mastery
The Buddha’s guidance is on the gradual path to enlightenment, emphasizing the importance of steady progress through disciplined practice. These teachings outline the cultivation of the jhānas as essential stages in developing collectedness (concentration) and insight, leading to the removal of mental fetters and to the attainment of liberation. The Buddha uses similes and practical advice to illustrate how practitioners can overcome hindrances, refine their intentions, and ultimately incline their minds towards Nibbāna.
Gradual Training, Gradual Practice, and Gradual Progress (MN 107) - The gradual training guideline teaching of the Buddha is how a student starting out in the teachings of the Buddha should gradually practice in to see gradual progress. By progressing through each practice areas one at a time, gradually, one ends with the cultivation of the jhānas.
The Path to Liberation with similes | Five Hindrances, Four Jhānas, Three True Knowledges (MN 39) - This teaching lays out the path to liberation with a series of visual similes, including for the four jhānas. The practice areas map well to both a monastic or a lay practice.
The Path and the Way of Practice for removal of five lower fetters (MN 64) - In this teaching, the Buddha shares the path and the way of practice for removal of the five lower fetters of: 1.) self-identity view, 2.) doubt regarding teachings, 3.) adherence to rites and rituals, 4.) sensual desires, and 5.) ill-will.
Developing the mind by classifying thoughts into two categories | Right Intention (MN 19) - In this teaching, the Buddha describes how he cultivated his mind with a careful categorization of thoughts to cultivate and thoughts to eliminate, understanding their relationship and how it inclines the mind’s underlying tendencies. He also shares on the wisdom of not exhausting the body or tiring the mind with excessive thoughts, and finally shares on the cultivation of the jhānas, the realization of the three true knowledges leading to liberation.
Gratification of feelings, drawback of feelings, and escape from it (from MN 13) ↗️ - In this teaching, the Buddha is sharing that the most gratifying feelings are born of seclusion and associated with the four jhānas (also sometimes referred to as absorptions, immersions, samādhis).
Cultivation of the four jhānas (SN 53.1-12) - Cultivation of the four jhānas slants, slopes, and inclines one towards Nibbāna.
The Achievement of Mastery (SN 28.1) - Venerable Sāriputta’s dwelling in the first jhāna is not associated with thoughts related to I-making, mine-making, and conceit.
High and Luxurious Beds the Buddha uses (AN 3.63) - The Buddha describes dwelling in jhānas as one of the high and luxurious beds that he uses while walking, standing, sitting, lying down as much as he wishes, without trouble or difficulty.
Jhānas in the context of the Path to Enlightenment
Attaining the stages of enlightenment is a gradual process, typically observed over several months, a year or a few years. This process involves noticing the arising, decline, or complete absence of the hindrances. When one no longer experiences the hindrances in situations where they previously arose, it is a clear indication of progress. However, it is wise to be cautious in assuming or proclaiming a stage of enlightenment, as it is highly susceptible to delusion (one of the last fetters to drop, the root cause of the arising of the other fetters). Instead, it is more beneficial to focus on the growth of positive mental qualities—such as the arising of joy, peace, steady collectedness, mindfulness, the ability to recollect past events with accuracy.
Tranquility and Insight (AN 2.31) - Cultivation of jhānas (right collectedness) and abiding in them is the practice of cultivation of tranquility (serenity). Reflecting on the impermanence, discontent, and not-self nature of observed phenomena [typically while abiding in jhāna] is the cultivation of insight.
Four Types of Exertions (AN 4.169) - Practice of jhānas leads to final Nibbāna without exertion in this very life if one develops the five faculties strongly, or to final Nibbāna without exertion after the breakup of the body if one develops the five faculties softly.
Four Ways to Arahantship (AN 4.170) - Ways of practicing tranquility (serenity) and insight (discernment). Three of the four ways rely on a gradual cultivation of tranquility.
Understanding Hindrances to the Cultivation of the jhānas
Hindrances aren’t equal at all times. Understanding what fuels them, depriving them of their fuel, and then gradually dwelling in one of the four jhānas (i.e. arising of the mental qualities of the awakening factors) as much as one can is an ideal way to practice for attaining to the stages of enlightenment.
Causes for the arising and expansion of the five hindrances (AN 1.11 - 20) - Short series of teachings on the causes for the arising and expansion of the five hindrances.
Nutriment for Arising of Hindrances and Factors of Awakening (SN 46.51) - The Buddha describes the nutriment and the lack of nutriment for the five hindrances and the seven factors of awakening. [Abiding in the four jhānas is how one gradually cultivates the seven factors of awakening]
5 qualities to abandon to dwell in the first jhāna (AN 5.256) - 1) Stinginess regarding dwellings, 2) stinginess regarding families, 3) stinginess regarding gains, 4) stinginess regarding reputation, and 5) stinginess regarding teachings.
Six Qualities to Abandon To Dwell in the first jhāna (AN 6.73) - 1) Sensual desire, 2) ill-will, 3) complacency (dullness and drowsiness), 4) restlessness (mental agitation), 5) doubt, and 6) a failure to clearly see the true danger in sensual pleasures with correct wisdom.
Six Qualities to Abandon To Dwell in the first jhāna (AN 6.74) - 1) thoughts of sensual desire, 2) thoughts of ill-will, 3) thoughts of harm, 4) perception of sensual desire, 5) perception of ill-will, 6) perception of harm.
The Fever of Sensual Pleasures (from MN 75) - Accused by a hedonist of being too negative, the Buddha recounts the luxury of his upbringing, and his realization of how little value there was in such things. Through renunciation he found a far greater pleasure.