Scott, this was such a great conversation you had with Stephen. Definitely warrants a deeper dive into the concept of the jhanas. Thanks for sharing this.
Really enjoyed this conversation! Very insightful. Great timing as just last night I was discussing with a friend whether and how to pursue jhana meditation again. I never had great success with the concentration-based jhana practices and didn't realise loving-kindness could be a way in! 🤔
Great interview. I recently, unexpectedly, entered the first (or perhaps second) jhana with a traditional concentration method. I had no clue what had happened or even the word jhana, all I knew was that was the moment where I realized I don’t have meditation, meditation now has me. I’ve been able to do it a few times since then and it’s getting, slowly, more achievable. I started reading like a madman and came across a description of the jhanas and realized that’s what had happened. The method I use to enter is somewhat different but the effect is the same, pure flowing joy, peace and bliss. I only have a few hundred hours, so this definitely is not something that takes thousands of hours as your guest pointed out. I’m sure it can be done faster with a guide or mentor. In my reading though, there is some slight risk of becoming a “jhana junkie” so it is good to use these states as a starting point to then further your insight practice and not the end goal. To me they represent more of a starting point than and end point. He does touch upon that. Traditionally, I think one method is to use concentration to enter jhana and then as soon as you leave jhana open up to everything as an insight practice to realize impermanence, suffering and no self, and, because the mind is now primed, perhaps those insights come faster (i think this is what he called “wet insight”). Anyway, I can vouch for their power and it is possible to just stumble into them.
I should add, for me anyway, the state also has quite colorful psychedelic visuals, nimitta, etc. Not sure if that’s due to my method or just comes with the territory.
Scott, this was such a great conversation you had with Stephen. Definitely warrants a deeper dive into the concept of the jhanas. Thanks for sharing this.
Thanks man! I’m very curious as well. Appreciate your support
Really enjoyed this conversation! Very insightful. Great timing as just last night I was discussing with a friend whether and how to pursue jhana meditation again. I never had great success with the concentration-based jhana practices and didn't realise loving-kindness could be a way in! 🤔
Great interview. I recently, unexpectedly, entered the first (or perhaps second) jhana with a traditional concentration method. I had no clue what had happened or even the word jhana, all I knew was that was the moment where I realized I don’t have meditation, meditation now has me. I’ve been able to do it a few times since then and it’s getting, slowly, more achievable. I started reading like a madman and came across a description of the jhanas and realized that’s what had happened. The method I use to enter is somewhat different but the effect is the same, pure flowing joy, peace and bliss. I only have a few hundred hours, so this definitely is not something that takes thousands of hours as your guest pointed out. I’m sure it can be done faster with a guide or mentor. In my reading though, there is some slight risk of becoming a “jhana junkie” so it is good to use these states as a starting point to then further your insight practice and not the end goal. To me they represent more of a starting point than and end point. He does touch upon that. Traditionally, I think one method is to use concentration to enter jhana and then as soon as you leave jhana open up to everything as an insight practice to realize impermanence, suffering and no self, and, because the mind is now primed, perhaps those insights come faster (i think this is what he called “wet insight”). Anyway, I can vouch for their power and it is possible to just stumble into them.
I should add, for me anyway, the state also has quite colorful psychedelic visuals, nimitta, etc. Not sure if that’s due to my method or just comes with the territory.