HOW to KNOW SAMADHI & JHĀNA

MAN GIVES UP EVERYTHING
In 2015, aged 47 an English businessman gave up everything and travelled Asia to find true happiness. Now a Buddhist Monk, living a simple life in Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, he shares the continuing story.
Please SUBSCRIBE and be HAPPY too.
[e-mail]
Phra Dan (Bhante Dhammarakkhita, Bhikkhu) is a Theravada Buddhist Monk who lived in India from 2020, Thailand and now Sri Lanka. Born in Sussex, England in 1967. Educated by French Catholic Monks. A successful businessman in Estate Agency and Financial Services during the 1980's and 90's. Married, now divorced with 3 adult sons. 2000 marked change and travel including South Africa returning to the UK in 2003 to continue different work and business activities until 2012. Gradually materialistic values turned to renunciation, simplicity and meditation, living nomadically in an old Ford Transit van full time for 3 years. Van life and meditation led to Buddhism and a Thai Forest Tradition, Theravada Buddhist Monastery in the UK. During 2015 travelling the Buddhist Holy Sites of India, deep faith reinforced desire for Ordination. In 2020 after 5 years of intensive meditation practice between Thai Forest Monasteries in Thailand and England he was Ordained in India where he lived for 3 years until returning to Thailand in 2023 and now Sri Lanka.
Sabe Satta Sukhi Hontu
#englishmonk

[@MomentsGap]

Dharma and cats This is indeed the worthy life

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@Xaloxulu]

The way you describe it sounds like sillent illumination/just sitting in chan/zen. Thank you for this concise and important dhamma talk, wishing you the best 🙏

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@MacShrike]

Dear sir, I have tremendously enjoyed listening to every word you uttered. Thank you very much. Very auspicious.

[@englishmonk]

You're welcome it's my pleasure. Be happy and stay well

[@limotto9452]

It makes me so happy to see the very first frame master enters the video, the cat joins along. And cat looks so comfortable and calm.

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@borninwashingmachine4582]

The best and simple teaching about meditation as far as l expirence so far. On 20th this month I am going to Amaravanti Monastry for short stay and l going to make dedication it as offering to you my dear Banthe, you are blessed one.

[@englishmonk]

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu. I am happy you have the opportunity to visit Amaravati again. Anumodana Sukhi Hontu

[@TheApatheticGuy]

Thank you Bhante. I enjoyed the talk and found it very meaningful. I don't have many questions anymore, because just like you pointed out in the talk we can read or ask about things but the only way to really know is directly. You'll still have to find out.

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@dipakbarua9838]

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@kartikcaim751]

I don't think what i had experienced was samadhi but still let me tell you my story. I recently started doing meditation and on my 3 or 4 day(i don't exactly remember the day) I did meditation for 10 mins. And nothing special happened everything was normal and then I got busy in doing my work after 2-3 hrs. I suddenly felt that my entire body is filled with joy( i didn't have any reason to be happy) and i also felt that this whole world is a stage and I am standing on a stage and doing acting(part given to me) and this feeling only lasted for a few seconds may be for a minute....but damn that was so great...before I used to think that orga*m is the greatest pleasure a human can experience but after that incident i realised I was so wrong. If i want to compare those two feelings then orga*m is a single dry bread and that feeling is a complete feast.

[@charc8951]

I also entered a state like this while I was mediating at a monastery during Vipassana. However nice and amazing this feeling is, I realised after speaking with my ajahn, this is a state called rapture I believe, and is not the end goal of meditating, it is not the samadhi state or what we are trying to achieve in meditating, it is simply a side effect and actually will help you find out about detachment and how to achieve samadhi better. Not that I can say I have achieved a prolonged or deep state of samadhi but I know the pitfalls on the road to getting there that I have experienced. As I continued to meditate for weeks after, I realised this state came so less frequently and while I got deeper into concentration where I was sitting for over an hour, I can tell this was not the same feeling. It is certainly intriguing how meditation can bring it on and it is common I have heard to experience it, but I had to learn how not to attach with this feeling once it came, even though it was the best feeling ever. You have to acknowledge it, sit with it and watch it go aswell, not to desire to get to this state again, not to wish for it to last longer, or forever, as one of the most important things I realised while meditating is that nothing is permanent, and this helped me deal with negative states and feelings just as well. Thank you for sharing as it has reminded me of the journey I went through a while ago, and something I wish to continue.

[@englishmonk]

Know and let go. Be happy and stay well

[@kstang9441]

Thank you ,master monk. It's very inspiring.

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@ThroughTheSacredGreen]

This is a very helpful point about the breath as a whole vs a single point. 🙏

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@robertcarleo6846]

Thank you for this very clear and direct talk. It is so helpful.

[@englishmonk]

You're welcome it's my pleasure. Be happy and stay well

[@kstang9441]

May you attain enlightenment and meet Buddha.

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@Hamza_12348]

Thank you venerable ❤️🙏🏻

[@englishmonk]

You're welcome it's my pleasure. Be happy and stay well

[@picketytwin]

thank you bhante...

[@englishmonk]

You're welcome it's my pleasure. Be happy and stay well

[@fauvettesor]

Looks like a beautiful painting

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@RenukaJayawardhana]

Dear venerable priest, I am so happy to see you in Sri Lanka and practicing towards nirvana would there be any video, that helps us to overcome the hindrances towards mediation, perhaps what sort of merits we should do. may the triple gem bless you and may you attain nibbana

[@englishmonk]

Thank you for watching and your comments. I will talk about this in a Q&A's video coming soon. kzbin.info/aero/PLiX6s1kV1fRMCQyR6F7b6HxXuBUn9Zgck&si=7nWb2Y5dT2JpZjzj Be happy and stay well.

[@user-pe7jy9ww6v]

Love your commitment

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@jtmag3638]

Thank you so very much for this content. It’s been very helpful for me and my understanding of meditation. I watched this video yesterday, and immediately after watching, I had a wonderful practice. Thank you so very much

[@englishmonk]

You're welcome it's my pleasure. Be happy and stay well

[@fingerprint5511]

Bhante, I'd like to request a Dhamma talk on how how you faced and dealt with hate and anger please. I'm noticing if aversion arises I will pretend that its not mine while choosing from there to act/speak etc instead of seeing the states of anger, hate and not identifying genuinely. I think its this fear from Christian upbringing that told us we are evil and bad so the conditioning tells me I am bad and I should be ashamed which I have noted - feeds itself. How did you see these states arise and not identify and not try to get rid of them and not ignore them or become them being your conditioning also is similar? Thank you very much and blessings!

[@englishmonk]

Thank you for watching and your comments. I will talk about this in a Q&A's video coming soon. kzbin.info/aero/PLiX6s1kV1fRMCQyR6F7b6HxXuBUn9Zgck&si=7nWb2Y5dT2JpZjzj Be happy and stay well.

[@fingerprint5511]

@@englishmonk Thanks so much!

[@stevebelzer4758]

“Once I caught a fleeting glimpse Out of the corner of my eye Like a distant ships smoke on the horizon I tuned my head the dream is Gone .. I have become Comfortably Numb ..

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@1000indunil]

Animal feels your vibration ❤

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@thekaizer666]

so, my life's path has led me to become an uber eats/ doordash moto delivery. and ive been riding bikes for like 20 years and am very skilled, so its truly 2nd nature for me. i can reach states of samadhi while working i.e. piloting the motorcycle and delivering meals, but ironically, when i DO sit down/ zazen (i follow theravada though), its NEAR IMPOSSIBLE!!! its SOOOOO FRUSTRATING lol

[@thekaizer666]

anyways, what had brought me into buddhism many years ago, was that buddha said, "dont just believe me, investigate it and try it out for yourself". so i tried. and failed and failed and failed and failed, and then these rare few times over the years, succeeded. but it wasnt enough for me to reinforce faith and determination/ encouragement to keep continuing, especially due to my severe chronic depression and c-ptsd. but im back again now, and re-picking up the practice, after a really dark last 2-3 years. can i really ask you sincerely? you are CONFIRMING that there are so many more several states ABOVE those levels 0.5 - 1.5 of samadhi, which was somewhat pleasant and nice, but im just like "meh"? you are CONFIRMING, that you ARE able to get to those deeper, upper levels? i need some encouragement, lol.

[@englishmonk]

This is mindfulness, samma sati. Sukhi Hontu

[@teamhswiki4064]

Can we please have a video of an exposition of VIDURA JATAKA please?. I think we can learn a lot from that Jataka story about many frontiers of life. Please can you do it thank you.

[@englishmonk]

Thank you for watching and your comments. I will talk about this in a Q&A's video coming soon. kzbin.info/aero/PLiX6s1kV1fRMCQyR6F7b6HxXuBUn9Zgck&si=7nWb2Y5dT2JpZjzj Be happy and stay well.

[@teamhswiki4064]

@@englishmonk Thank you so much. My friends are from UK and we are really fascinated by Budhdha's wisdom in his past lives. We were told that Vidura is exemplary Jataka story in that regard. Would love to listen to your commentary on that in detail. Will be greatly valuable to our lives. Even though we read it online, we did not fully comprehend the full story. Please can you explain it in detail. Thank you.

[@englishmonk]

I will not be explaining Jataka tales as they are just that, tales, from the commentaries. This I will leave to those who are interested in such things. I was just going to explain that. Be happy and stay well.

[@englishmonk]

The Mangala Sutta is more relevant and well known in chanting.

[@mrkang1154]

The word and the concept of "Samadhi" mainly from "The Patanjali Yoga Sutra", the experiencer of Samadhi is hard to describe intellectually thru words. Is an experience which happen during meditation. When you are Samadhi, you are not aware you in Samadhi, when you known you are Samadhi, mean you are out of Samadhi. The experience of Samadhi is a process of Away from our "intellectual self" and back to the inner self which deep in our consciousness, that is where our intellectual origin.

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@mrkang1154]

@@englishmonk Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

[@ambient72]

Much appreciated frankness and insight from experience! I appreciated the presentation of the experience very deeply. As a person of the sciences, my first inclination is to know what aspects of the neuronal functioning in the brain allows/accounts for, this experience. I feel as though terminology/labels from centuries past, meant to convey these experiences, hampers this understanding…or rather, reliance on these terms, rather than neurological understanding, is somehow antiquated. Do you know what I mean? Thank you for this treasure of expression and insight.

[@englishmonk]

Yes I know what you mean. Experience speaks for it's self. Be happy and stay well

[@denni_isl1894]

All sentiment beings.

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@collinalexbell]

My dog does this when I sit

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@Claudia-murru-33]

I start watching the video because of the cat...

[@sunethsilva2720]

😂. So you got in to jhana

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@sunethsilva2720]

@@englishmonk namo biddhauya bantte really profound teachings thank you

[@dmtjnani9951]

Jai, Dmt ( all else is an attribute of the waking & deep sleep Dream) . Nirguna. Jai, Buddha.

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@niconico4114]

didnt the buddha teach that the formless states , being impermanent, did not lead to nirvana, and that attachment to them was an obstacle?

[@englishmonk]

Yes

[@Mevlinous]

Thank you for this in-depth descriptive talk about the Jannas and meditation. It’s really being quite informative and helpful. In regards to the keeping of the five precepts do you have any suggestions for overcoming that of refraining from sexual pleasure? The most obvious one to me seems to truly see the impermanence of such pleasures, and I feel like some part of me does see that maybe the intellectual part however , the part of myself which seeks these pleasures seems unable to grasp this. Several years ago after discovering mindfulness practices I believe I stumbled upon the Jannas while engaging in daily activities and specifically use mindfulness of the breath initially to come to a place which at the time is described as the observer therefore it was a dualistic kind of detachment from All objects of experience mind and body included. There was much seeing through conditioning as I believe I was coming from the unconditioned place felt as if I was in a protective bubble self-absorption My awareness of conditioned states was like a laser and simply observing them seemed to eradicate them upon them being seen. Over the course of some months seems to fade away, that wisdom, and the drawer of the world seem to return again. It’s like I was being given a taste of what was possible however I feel like there’s something I’m missing in order to fully realise and actualise that potentiality. I don’t and haven’t in the past engaged very much in intentional sitting meditation, all of my practices were and still are done during daily life due to the busyness of my schedule and family obligations. Where I have attempted formal sitting meditation I’ve either fallen into states of oblivion due to me practising in the evenings when I am drained and tired or not being able to fully absorb into Jana. Your suggestions and thoughts would be appreciated as I can sense you know what you’re talking about, from experience. Thank you.

[@englishmonk]

The precept for lay people is to refrain from sexual misconduct not refrain from sexual pleasure. Maybe watch some more of these talks and you will come to understand the importance and necessity of meditation. Be happy and stay well.

[@Mevlinous]

@@englishmonk thank you.

[@stevebelzer4758]

Shariputra Breathing in a long breath he thinks “I am breathing in a long breath “ “Having sensual thoughts He thinks “I am having sensual thoughts “

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@mikedang3613]

Venerable Sir, I wish you health of the mind and body, as always. The following question may be unanswerable, or unnecessary to answer, which I accept entirely if so. I would like to ask, if you may so indulge me, what exactly happens to the consciousness of the enlightened upon the completion of their physical life? As I understand, the enlightened have completed the cycle of reincarnation when their physical life ends. The unenlightened, supposedly, are reincarnated, and thus, despite losing their physical body, their thoughts, and memories of this life, they indeed are reincarnated into another form of life, but maintain some very specific aspect that is the base of their existence as an "invidual," in a way - a piece of their consciousness. From my understanding, there remains an aspect of the "individual" (again, consciousness, I presume) that is placed into the new body. More to the point - I wish to know that when the cycle of reincarnation ends in an enlightened individual, does the "consciousness," or whatever it is that is reincarnated, simply cease to exist? Does it instead go somewhere else? Is this "consciousness" or spirit, or however it may be named, a physical thing - like energy, or purely a concept removed from anything observable? Or is there even, in fact, a "field" of consciousness that we are all connected to, each of us a little light in the web of lights that is consciousness, and when an enlightened individual dies, their one singular light fades and is simply never illuminated again? I understand this question is quite cereberal and verbose. Thank you for your time in helping me to better understand if you so choose to explore this question.

[@englishmonk]

The enlightened are free from suffering in this lifetime and from rebirth. All that remains is that which does not remain. Be happy and stay well

[@RenukaJayawardhana]

hi, i am still also learning, but i will attempt to answer, by how i understand so far, hoping it be of some use, as I understand, people like us, not in robes we are continuously fantasized by sensory perceptions, from eyes, ears, nose, skin and mind, so in our life there is a continuous set of minds arising and dying, in sense, i taste a tasty burger, my mind is focusing on the taste, then i hear a beautiful music, mind changes focus from the tasty burger to the beautiful music, that means a mind has arose and died, and a new mind has arose and so forth, in my understanding this happens since we believe that there is a me, or a self, who experiences this taste and the music and so forth, so we are in a never ending cycle of searching to please our senses. but in the enlighten ones, they understand that there is no self, hence their aim is not to search continuously and go forth, in getting the best tasty food, and most pleasant music. so basically they have finished their never-ending cycle of searching these, meaning they will no longer need a physical body to experience the sensory cravings. i have learned these from many Buddhist monks, specifically these teachers helped me understand this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqHKmKyiataSqsk these teachings say that their is no self, but we all are part of nature, like going through the cause and effect relationship. for an example: who should i be thankful for the plate of my food, is it the farmers who cultivated the food? is it my employer who pays me to buy the food? is it the rain that helps the fruits and vegetables to grow or is it the earth that holds the fruits and vegetables? in this way we can understand that their is no self which exists that is actually separately distinguishable

[@SeemaChanan]

One doesn't have to put themselves in self torture to realise what they are. No need to dress in robes. The path that is like this is designed to eventually make you realise what you seek is within and no matter what you do outside dress, talk, eat, live etc. was never the point

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@ZenPepperClub]

What are you talking about that cat reached samadhi in a few seconds😂😂😂

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@1littlebrainthatcould]

I have an opinion on this subject. One that I deeply believe is true. I hope it makes sense to someone or is worth something to anyone who might read it. Anyhow, here is the opinion: the fact that samdhi can't be described but nonetheless can be entered into or "known directly" or "experienced" can be known to be a true fact only given a model of the mind that explains why this fact must be true. In other words, if we do not have a theory or model that tells us exactly why it must be true for us that we cannot describe the state of samadhi, then we do not and cannot have an understanding of what samadhi is. Any thoughts or feedback are welcome.

[@englishmonk]

Samadhi can be described. Be happy and stay well

[@1littlebrainthatcould]

Okay, but I suspect we are talking across one another. I meant in the same sense in which, as you say, love can not be described. We can, of course, describe what we might call loving activities or behaviours, but the state of love can only be described indirectly or eluded to as the cause of such activity/behaviour. I don't want to be too long-winded here, but one could argue that there is no such singular unified state that is the cause of all loving action; that is to say, love is simplifying concept that does not match up with anything real. Now, if all of this is correct, then we have said why love cannot be described. My opinion on Samadhi is like that: we must say something that explains why we can only point to it in words and not describe it as something observable to all. Let me jump back to the analogy with love to try to make that clear. I cannot observe "love" I can only supposedly observe the activity it motivates. Similarly, I can not observe samadhi...what might I see...just someone sitting in a certain posture perhaps....but that posture is not the samadhi. I hope all of that makes sense and you see what I mean by claiming that samadhi cannot be described. Oh, and I am not tying to suggest as I did with love, that there is no such phenomenon as samadhi. All the best to you.

[@Septemberhello]

37:38 Is not Samadhi only reaching an Alpha state of mind and nothing else or does a person reach a sunya state or supreme consciousness and energy?or dark energy as science says.

[@englishmonk]

Thank you for watching and your comments. I will talk about this in a Q&A's video coming soon. kzbin.info/aero/PLiX6s1kV1fRMCQyR6F7b6HxXuBUn9Zgck&si=7nWb2Y5dT2JpZjzj Be happy and stay well.

[@bobmcbride3550]

Hello and thank you. Does jhanna exist off the cushion? Im a practioner of zen/chan who hasnt had that expierence

[@englishmonk]

Thank you for watching and your comments. I will talk about this in a Q&A's video coming soon. kzbin.info/aero/PLiX6s1kV1fRMCQyR6F7b6HxXuBUn9Zgck&si=7nWb2Y5dT2JpZjzj Be happy and stay well.

[@outsaneoutsane2747]

Bhante, with respect, samadhi is a feature of 2nd jhana onwards, and there is still some sensory awareness albeit with a processless and effortlessly stable mind. Its not correct to say it there is no awareness of sensations. There is, but it is subtle, in the periphery and no longer causes distraction of the mind. Sensory awareness disappears from 5th jhana onwards.

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@outsaneoutsane2747]

@englishmonk if you look at the samadhi bhavana sutta, AN 4.41, the Buddha tells us there in the fourth paragraph that feelings, thoughts and perceptions arise and fall during samadhi, with full mindfulness and clear comprehension

[@MrW781]

This is interesting...and somehow daunting to me. So, you are saying that you use anapanasati but don't use a specific, sustained point of contact with the breath? I reached access concentration only once, and it was through focus on the coming and going of the breath through the nose. Of course, it's been very hard for me to reach that state again. I feel like the air is too intense in the nose. It's like my nostrils are reaching out to touch the air; the air isn't touching my nostrils. Still, I'm worried about using the body of breath. Where do I focus? You're saying it's ok to feel the breath wherever I happen to feel it in that moment? Is that right?

[@englishmonk]

Practice the way that works for you. Use the Anapanasati Sutta as your reference. Be happy and stay well

[@MrW781]

@@englishmonk Thank you. This morning, I practiced with the method you recommended and started researching more about it. Telling myself that if a point in the nose isn't working, I can try this. The Buddha says to experiment, so I've got his permission to do so :P Thanks again.

[@RenukaJayawardhana]

hi i also feel so difficult to identify my breathing, so i tried pulse checking, but then the pulse gets gentle as we progress. then i found that we can use kassina, or lights, like a light bulb, even that is difficult, but i am persistent

[@shauldren75]

How does one use mala beads in your tradition?

[@fingerprint5511]

There is a video in his playlist about it

[@AnnetteAustin-x3u]

I'm sorry, I looked thru the play list to give you a better answer but can't find it or remember myself. Perhaps someone can give you a better answer, or perhaps he will address it.

[@shauldren75]

Thank you. I'm trying to start a daily practice and I wondered if, in his tradition, one recites and particular mantra or chant. I only know the Tibetan way.

[@pagal83]

It's an interesting question. I sometimes feel i want more guidance in using the mala. I grew up with Jewish mother and Christian father, and I today wear a mala and use it for a bunch of reasons. Because it is not a fashion accessory for me, when I wear it, I have respect for the history and widespread use in various religious beliefs across the world and time. I use a mala to calm my mind and heart, bring me closer to a stable mind, draw my attention to my breath and awareness. It can go deeper than that too, and the mala i wear is from a teacher I follow, so it reminds me of his teachings. Sometimes, it's just because I deal with social anxiety, and it can prevent a panic attack. It's a good question, and I'm hoping Phra Dan will respond.

[@shauldren75]

@@pagal83 Thank you for sharing that. I need it to help calm my mind as well.

[@JoyBoy-dj8ei]

Sir how did you become a monk and how can one become a monk and live a Buddhist life I’ve seen its not easy to take this path and stay at home

[@englishmonk]

I talk about this here and in many of the videos on this channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rKKml4Jpm5ymfq8si=qbhiNnwc-BvCS27Y kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2KYhqlpgqukndksi=BF126aFp2NkUnGTS Be happy and stay well

[@JoyBoy-dj8ei]

@@englishmonk thank you I watched it

[@erikagamel9940]

I like the color of your robe

[@englishmonk]

The colour of "dung water". Made by boiling wood from the jackfruit tree common in Asia.

[@erikagamel9940]

@@englishmonk Ha! Never thought of the color of dung water to be so exquisite.

[@donvanevery3235]

My breathlessness, was my first true, indication.. only to find out that there are other forms of samadhi, that precede it... which was funny to me, having the same question, because how do you label nothingness..? Lol. Fun

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@beezee7691]

that's your cat's name

[@englishmonk]

Sabbe Satta Sukhi Hontu

[@JeffDoerr]

Sure dude,sit around squat legged on the floor. Thats a brilliant economic model! Who needs sustainable consumption when you can pray the day away and everything will work out just fine. What an idiotic idea.😢

[@englishmonk]

Not an economic model just a simple wey of life sustained by like minded people who also wish to be happy. There is no praying in Buddhism because there is nothing for or pray to. Be happy and stay well.

[@JeffDoerr]

@@englishmonk Once again the you tube algorithm took down my response to your post so I'll try again. You missed the point entirely oh swami. How will people survive if they're squat legged on the floor contemplating their existence? Will that pay the bills? Is that a sustainable consumption paradigm? Can you meditate enough to figure out how to keep the strong from victimizing the weak? Why are you ascribing meaning to a meaningless world?

[@englishmonk]

Many do.

[@dmtjnani9951]

Know? Kindergarteners

[@englishmonk]

?

[@shroomedup]

You've already missed the point lol, read the Upanishads again.

[@Andre-bi3gq]

What is wrong?

[@englishmonk]

Sukhi Hontu

[@kibaakamaru2354]

Explain

[@englishmonk]

Upanishads are not Buddhist scriptures but late Vedic and the origins of Hinduism.