How to Jhana - with Michael Taft

Jhanas are special states of deep absorption that make a wonderful setup for doing awakening practices. In this video, meditation teacher Michael Taft describes what jhanas are, and clarifies the basic steps for getting into the first jhana.
Jhanas are meant to be enjoyable, and it's very important not to approach jhana in a mood of grasping, tightness, or struggle. Don't try too hard! Instead, approach jhana in a mood of pleasure, joy, gratitude, kindness, and openness.
Learning to do jhana is an excellent way to supercharge your vipassana practice, or to stabilize the mind for nondual awareness practices.
00:03 - Introduction
1:24 - The Setup for Jhana (getting focused, and allowing piti to arise)
9:16 - Entering the First Jhana (moving attention to the piti, then resting until unification occurs)
12:39 - Three Things that Can Happen Next (including going into the second jhana)
16:28 - How Jhana Can Change Your Life
20:49 - Books and other resources
Rob Burbea's Jhana retreat on Dharmaseed audio: dharmaseed.org/retreats/4496/
Here is the transcript: drive.google.com/file/d/1VFtE...
Support the creation of more videos like this contributing on Patreon: / michaeltaft
Michael Taft: deconstructingyourself.com

[@keepitpgbuddy-fm5cl]

Some tips for those who are having trouble: Semen retention and avoiding things which deplete your dopamine unnecessarily will make the jhana much more intense, satisfying, and absorbing. A healthy diet or fasting, and daily exercise help a lot too. As far as jhana specific tips, you can enter jhana with any object like Michael says, but make the initial object as unchanging, sustained, and continuous as possible (ie. see the breath as one continuous object in the present moment, as opposed to stops and restarts every in and out breath, etc.). Also imbue whatever object you observe to enter jhana with, with the same feelings you cultivated before meditation with metta practice or prayer. This last part is so important because it trains you to carry metta from prayer into other things and the sweeter you make the object, the more natural and intense the concentration is (much like with anything else that requires concentration ie. studying, working out, talking with people, etc, the sweeter you find your attention the better.). If you have trouble making that last point work because of the meditation object's inanimate nature, look into mahamudra/dzogchen/any nondual practice, and contemplate on the sense that all is mind and incorporate that into your prayer before. Love addresses nondual prison syndrome (the unique mental condition seekers have when they have an intense attachment to view called nondualism, and see nondualism as inherently separate or more absolute from dualism. The mental struggle to uphold this perception leads to problems like self-denial as opposed to clear natural seeing of no self, addiction, depression, and anxiety instead of liberation). When this nonconceptual merging of nondual and dual love is incorporated and fearlessly seen to be indistinguishable as Mind or Self, the essential nature of whatever you love in prayer will always be mind regardless and this is clearly seen to be the only thing worth loving. Whether it is your individual self or some other or everything as one, only the superficial appearances of mind are changed, not the inherent nature of what you are loving, and equanimous love becomes automatic. One will train themselves to see and love all as God, with or without mental appearances. This attitude will improve and deepen the way you love as everything will be loveable and concentration for meditation/jhana will be greatly enhanced. This takes a little patience, but worth it. The type of mindfulness for the form jhanas must be open relaxed and deliberate, not effortless/innate/immediate/unchanging awareness like what you see with dzogchen and formless jhanas. This is why sweetness needs to accompany your mindfulness. Mindfulness is thickened with love. With the advice I said above about mahamudra, mindfulness will have a greater emphasis on the MIND part and subject object will more easily collapse into a deeper absorption. Also practice your nonattachment and nonreactivity lol

[@freisein6554]

Positively shocking is the realization that there is no „I“ . What a relief, for noone. Thank you for this clear explanation about the first jana. 🙏🏻

[@jpeg204]

I'm a beginner mediator and watched this video out of curiosity because I want to learn more, and I have to say the way you describe everything so clearly is really awesome, great video.

[@chase1671]

Finally some good news in 2020 🙏🌏

[@psychedelico5]

Michael, thanks for this video. I didn’t realize how close I am to first jhana when I get that energized feeling in my hands-I just thought they were falling asleep! Now I’m excited to try to develop that and get into first jhana. 🙏🏼

[@Elmer1953]

I came here from a reddit comment, I’ve been looking for the word for this state it comes around for me a couple times a month. Luckily I find that once I’m in the state I’m sorta locked there until I decide to open my eyes

[@justiceearth9702]

I never knew that state was called Jhana. I’m not Buddhist. But it’s good to know the term. I got there by way of guided meditation from a Guru. He used words like, “be absorbed, allow yourself to feel, sink into yourself, go deeper”. By listening to his words I completely surrendered and just sunk into that state. It was powerful and it felt like ecstasy. It felt like being plugged into an outlet and charged up. I love it. It made me hypersensitive and hyper aware for a few days afterwards.

[@JoeTheis]

This was a game changer! I have been lightly, mostly unsuccessfully practicing meditation on and off for years. And sure it sometimes helped me calm down or improve my mood slightly, with a few occasional glimpses of something unusual here and there, but nothing really obvious. After watching this video and following the most basic instructions it gives, I had an experience that was exactly as described up to Jhana 1. It's amazing how simple it was to get there with this instruction, though maybe those less fruitful years prepared me for it. Thank you so much for this gift! I will be looking to explore it much deeper now.

[@pratikpatil6342]

Absorption is nice word...Jhanas are for happiness..wow.. Straight to the point..thank you.

[@prasannainblr]

This was fantastic - thank you! The description as a light buzzing was helpful to actually realize I could go from metta -> light buzzing in my head/face -> that joy/buzzing as focus object -> mild absorption on it. Phenomenal, thank you so much for this!

[@wesrman]

Crunchy peanut butter is the best!

[@ScenarioCommunities]

Excellent description, Michael, thank you!

[@adelineredford3404]

I accidentally got into a jhana when I was 18. At the time I didn't know about the jhanas and was on a walk in the rain, just paying attention to my body and the many things I saw. I felt that everything I saw became beautiful under the eye of my loving attention, and that I hadn't really looked at things before then. It started with a tingling sensation and built up from there, I was just so happy. Then when I got to the ocean and saw a rainbow (came at just the right time haha) I felt that amazing surge of positive energy through my chest, and then all of a sudden my mind felt like it was opening up, or zipping up to some higher level. Then I felt a sense of overwhelming joy, like the bubble of my consciousness broke open. Then afterwards I felt a sense of deep calmness. For me it was really the beginning of my journey, all I knew was that my loving attention was the key to my awakening. It's only years later that I realized I was entering jhanic states. Thank you for this guide and for the resources you provided 🙏

[@JaneDoherty-mp7co]

That's wonderful. :)

[@blammin9217]

Thank you for making this!

[@ibrahimsky]

Thanks! This (and hopefully more) is very much appreciated! Keep 'em coming, brother!

[@knishiyama]

Fantastic. Thank you Michael

[@sockneman]

Great teaching. Easy to understand. Thank you! 🙏

[@lindabeenau8221]

This is wonderful, Michael! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@voidmoon.]

Thank you so much! Namaste.

[@leonie9248]

Thank you so much for sharing, Michael

[@madogblue]

This explains so much, thank you

[@luisbs9509]

Please keep this series going!!:D

[@cidricola]

Thank you for all these videos, you've helped a lot with my meditation practice :)

[@banjoandlefty]

so helpful. thanks, michael

[@aiden7274]

Thank you Michael, for this great video.

[@gonegoinggone]

This is a great video Michael, thank you!

[@matthewslattery8639]

The description of piti as "body buzz" absolutely connected for me! I've felt this lingering sense of uncertainty surrounding my categorization of piti, because rapture and bliss didn't seem to pinpoint my bodily sensations. Body buzz hits the nail on the head, and I hope other teachers adopt this less abstract (and dare I say less "woo") verbiage. Thanks for the video!

[@MichaelTaft108]

Yes, Matthew. The English translations of piti and sukha tend to make jhana much harder to understand and access than need be. They are really very simple, normal, and easy to access sensations.

[@peiquedq]

@@MichaelTaft108 yes! Might the body buzz be related to oxigenation? I'm getting that on my sessions and the feeling is really similar to the feeling of hyper-oxigenating (that one can get by doing big, thorough, and continuous breathing), the difference being that hyper-oxigenation might make one dizzy if overdone and it's not good to maintain it. This piti I'm getting (the begining of it at least) seems like a more mild but sustainable form of that, where the body feels thoroughly oxigenated and feels light and sorta like a cloud, like it's really spacious and big and fluid, like a gas. It feels floaty like nitrous oxide (kudos to my dentist), which also seems similar to the feeling of being thoroughly oxigenated.

[@bike4aday]

@@peiquedq Although the sensations are similar, I can't imagine that it's oxigination because the breath gets really slow. I think these sensations are always in the body, it's just that we can't feel them normally because more acute sensations overpower them. There's also something that happens in the brain where certain areas reduce in activity where others increase in activity.

[@peiquedq]

@@bike4aday makes sense! Thank you for sharing :)

[@mungojelly]

It's even more concrete & pedestrian than that, really. Every happiness gives you a "body buzz"-- emotions are always experienced in your body. The piti is just normal happiness. But it's very important what it's happiness ABOUT. Just being happy in general doesn't help. And there's no need to just wait around for it, go specifically to the correct type of happiness that works. The happiness you need is happiness about "withdrawing regard for sensations." If you're happy about any particular sensation, the happiness comes & goes with the sensation. If you're happy about not having to give regard to sensations, the coming & going of sensations can't stop you, & you can make an unlimited amount. Entering into jhana should take only one moment once you've practiced. Don't just wait around for it to randomly happen to you.

[@mandala2276]

absolutely legend! thank you so much Micheal!

[@sunflowerbadger]

Thanks Michael. This video is super useful.

[@interestpart260]

Thanks for the instructions Michael, I love the clarity and simplicity 🙏

[@tkduffy22]

Such a fantastic teaching presented in a direct and compelling way. Love this! Thank you, Michael!

[@tobyglynn]

Fantastic instruction 🙏

[@torshops]

refreshingly simple instructions, well understood

[@MultiMb1234]

Wow, this is so helpful, it's unbelievable.

[@philippemadec]

Thank you for your warm sharing of this teaching! I'm happy to have found a focus for my practice! Jhana January approaches! With gratitude, Philippe

[@Wataheo]

Absolutely quality content, precise and clear explanation in the video also. Love the work Michael. I have been going through a slump in my practice but I feel like after watching this video it has picked me back up again. Subscribed!

[@Bodhipallanka]

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu, Micheal for your simple practical guide.

[@nojburns]

Fantastically helpful, Michael. This is one of the clearest descriptions of Jhana I've encountered. Thank you, kindly.

[@spiritboxer]

excellent description and explanation🙏

[@popmajor2621]

Experienced an overwhelming clarity/washing away of hindrances that persisted throughout the day -- very powerful yet subtle feeling at the same time. Thanks for the practical how-to. I'd read a number of articles on the philosophy/theory, but experienced palpable results for the first time from following your description.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks for sharing with the community!

[@899jsu]

i am a long time meditator. Sometime I went thru the states that you described without knowing it. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you and ALL.

[@johnsunrise2140]

I keep coming back to this video. Would love to see more like this on formless jhanas or hard and soft jhanas

[@thomasbeckett1174]

Well dang, Michael, this is just the clearest explanation of Jhana I have yet encountered. It's been months since I've been able to have a long sit, what with sheltering in place with the fam, but now I'm inspired to carve out some time and space and resume. Thanks so much for this.

[@MichaelTaft108]

How's the jhana going, Thomas?

[@thomasbeckett1174]

@@MichaelTaft108 In 2020, Michael, it isn't. My metta is on the daily, however.

[@BarbarraBay]

@@MichaelTaft108 two liars. Thomas & Michael.

[@wildbad]

excellent. this mirrors my own experience precisely. continually dropping the grosser for the finer. knowing what to look for in each stage is very helpful.

[@thelisteningdoctor3369]

Thanks for this video

[@kumogate]

I appreciate this instruction not only because it's clear and practical, but also because it helped me to understand that I have spontaneously experienced this before but did not know what it was called and I felt shifting my attention toward the piti was the right thing to do at that time; so it's nice to know that was the right thing to do :)

[@ckreft]

This is the most clear explanation ever!! Thank you. Wish you would explain the others.

[@sakshibhava7709]

Thank you!!!! That piti is what i was trying to expain but had no words for it, now just need to hold the piti until the jhana🙏🏻

[@stephyg20]

Michael, wow! So much gratitude. Thank you so much for such an in depth explanation. I have been meditating with some bodily sensations, but had no idea. It feels so eye opening to know what is going on and how to refine my meditation. Thanks again and many blessings to you~

[@jojozelaya7203]

Most helpful video I've seen on the jhanas and your "Body Buzz" I will remember forever! Getting back into meditation because of this video--And this time I think I'll enjoy it a lot more.

[@lalalistic]

This video is amazing. So straight forward. I got it the first time, and I never even meditated much. But I have recognised that I have always had an ability to pay very close attention. I feel this is the perfect way for me. More practice and then insight. Thank you so much for making me discover this! lol 🙏🏻

[@messiahsez]

Thank you!

[@hear-and-know]

You emanate such joy and peace on your speech! Thank you very much for this teaching 🙏🏻

[@108mreko]

Thank you for this. Very helpful 😁❤️🙏

[@mpavoreal]

Thank you! 😊 🙏

[@prestonfisher2632]

You are literally a magician of loving and kindness. I am very new to Buddhism, but I love the video!

[@andrewchoco2929]

This is a great intro to Jhana thank you! I've always ignored it. Now i have to check 'Right Concentration' and devote time on mastering the 1st.

[@reverplusgrand]

This introductory video on how to Jhana is so clear and well explained. Thank you for sharing further reading and links to the Dharmaseed retreat I only recently found your work and your channel thanks to Frank linking a recent live meditation you uploaded with his Q&A at the end. I followed that meditation and felt something arise so clearly for the first time during the sitting and was left a little startled. Upon watching this video a few days later. I can only describe it as my first aware encounter of Piti arising ✨ I'm really grateful to have found your work via this Channel and really grateful for Frank linking us to you. Liked and Subscribed and looking forward to more wonderful content

[@antonrodenhauser5257]

You should do a Jhana for non-dual awakening course for Sam Harris' WakingUp app!...

[@mdav30]

I am a 25 year practitioner of kundalini yoga, and this is one of the best descriptions of beginning kundalini practice I've ever heard. Excellent stuff!

[@neoproject1991]

🙏🖤 thanks to Shinzen for his kind diagnosis/pointers and to you for the beautiful succinct intro

[@evanmcdon]

thank you Michael! very helpful. you're a treasure! 💕

[@MichaelTaft108]

☺️

[@cjkell7174]

thank you so much

[@robaire35]

Thank you, Michael, for your teaching. I think this explains an experience I had at the last Vipassana retreat I sat, though Jhana's aren't really mentioned in this particular tradition. They focus more on concentration and body sweeping, at least in my experience of it until that time. So when it happened that Piti arose, there wasn't much help I could get in understanding what happened. Then again, maybe I experienced something else, or I didn't explain myself well enough. It was during an evening Dhamma talk, that I first experienced it. The Piti, at first, felt like warm, almost electrostatic bubbles rising from the base of my belly through the central channel of my body to the crown of my head. It was quite beautiful, in my mind's eye I thought I could perceive the colour blue associated with this sensation. When the Dhamma talk was over, the feeling dissipated as I stood to go back to my room. Once I had laid down to sleep, I closed my eyes to practice Metta meditation, and it came back, at first gently, and then it increased in intensity to a point that I felt my body was almost humming, or buzzing. It wasn't so pleasant anymore. I fell asleep with this feeling. That night I awoke three times, each time after a significant lucid dream. My body was still buzzing as I awoke from each successive dream, and also as I fell asleep again. The feeling had left me by morning. I left the retreat with more questions about the experience than could be answered, and worried that I had broke something inside me. Since then, I haven't experienced it, but now I'm encouraged to allow for the possibility of the experience to happen again. Thank you, for the explanation and your video. I'll make sure to refer to the materials you suggest, as well as your videos. Many thanks. Sadhu.

[@basketballTaco]

Michael, thanks so much for this video! I now understand the use of the word 'absorption' after finally entering 1st jhana the other day. It's distinct, not like the prolonged concentration on the breath leading up to it. When the zhoop! happened, something straightened my posture automatically, my visual field became very still, my breathing became automatic and subtle, and the pain in my legs seemed to disappear. Sitting suddenly felt effortless; it was incredible.

[@blissfulpancake]

VERY insightful !! great video. This week happens to be Rohatsu, and I happened to notice these qualities like Piti come up but didn't have a clear understanding of it. When I go back to sit tomorrow I'll have this knowledge and keep this in mind!

[@1yashyash]

Thank you Sir 💐♥️

[@relaxedguy]

Excellent descriptions of the different aspects of jhana. I've been getting into longer stretches of whispy or no thoughts besides periodically being aware that I'm trying to avoid feelings of boredom. I would love to be able to move through the intense buzzing in the body as my object of attention.

[@OgdenM]

Thanks for such a concise open explanation of the Jhanas. I've seen some other good teachers on KZbin that explain them similarly but in more words. I've also seen a few that say they are bad and addictive. I've seen WAY to many teachers that are frighteningly way to serious about the whole mediation thing and seem to be basically saying that we're supposed to push away ANY pleasure we get from it. I've seen some teachers that are basically, "Uh, whats the problem with becoming addicted to something that is free, always available and in the end, will just benefit you because it puts you on the road to enlightenment. " My take away from all of it is that yes, Jhanas are pleasurable and indeed are supposed to be. But, they aren't the end of the path. They are really just the gateway. At least the first few.

[@__4_9_9__]

What a great video. Thank you 🙏🏽

[@MichaelTaft108]

You're welcome!

[@annabodhi38]

When you said Rob Burbea's name, it broke my heart. I wasn't expecting it.

[@mattshepherd4861]

I've just started reading "Seeing that frees" for the second time. Very in-depth....ive got to go slow.

[@beanfam1743]

Thankyou

[@MrSaigy]

I focus on my hands and fingers. I feel the buzz there first. After that, the buzz spreads over my body, especially arround my heart area. This video helped me understanding it better. And made it easier to enter the Jhana (Nice sensational feelings).

[@westsidesmitty1]

Well! This vid just went from my ''watch latter'' cache to my ''favorites''!! I have Culadassa's book and Ajahn Brahm's and truly appreciate the other sources which I will pursue. Liked and subbed! I once read that the best Suttas make one want to leave aside the text and go to the cushion. THAT is exactly how I feel right now- can't wait for my nightly formal session. Loved the suggestion about Meta practice as Meta just seems like ''rocket fuel'' for my practice! Metta, Bhante!

[@vincegrant3450]

Theruwan Saranai 🙏

[@szymborska]

Lots of helpful information, very clear explanation for a western audience- thanks so much! For some reason it's hard to find talks on Jhana that explain things in detail. The description of the process and work with piti reminds me of Taoist meditation practices and working with Chi. I wonder how many techniques/metaphors for these meditative processes/states have been translated back and forth across Asia.

[@1paulwalsh]

thank you so much Michael… experiencing lovely body buzz :)… thank you for the link to Rob Burbea’s Jhana retreat audio files 🙏🙏💜💜🦋

[@df8150]

Amazing video, thank you very much. The biggest difficulty I find while trying to access the first jhana is that piti doesn't always arise properly while I'm in access concentration. It's common for me that I'm reasonable focused, I feel the piti, but it doesn't build up enough for me to jump into it. It seems that some kind of dopamine detox in daily life is necessary for it to build up properly while I'm sitting. Other times, to hold an intention to specifically build up piti seems to be a good approach. Anyways, it seems that this stuff is kinda hard in the beginning, it does require more than one hour a day of a regular practice and a general good mood in life, what is not always possible to have. Thank you, Michael!

[@ethanschaltegger]

Very much agree that dopamine detoxing seems to be related to the build up of piti. If i've been on youtube for that past 2 hours and begin meditating, no amount of access concentration is going to generate piti.

[@mungojelly]

Your problem is that you're just going in the general location of the piti you've felt before rather than intentionally doing a particular thing. The piti you want is specifically happiness about withdrawing regard for sensations. You make yourself feel happy about it-- piti just means feeling happy-- by bringing your attention to it in THE ORDINARY WAY YOU DO TO ENJOY SOMETHING & BE HAPPY ABOUT IT, but with the thing you're enjoying being the withdrawal of regard from sensations. Do the normal thing you do to enjoy an ice cream cone, except the ice cream cone is: not having to worry about what sensations are happening.

[@leonie9248]

Thank you SO much! Started with this video and then jumped into Rob's Gaia House Jhana retreat. Unbelievable joy - I have never experienced something like this before. O_o Now that I've experienced this, I'm all grasping and wanting it back and just can't because that's exactly the top hindrance. Darn. This is going to be tricky.

[@mungojelly]

It's fine to want it. If you want it so you do something that distracts you, then that distracts you. Nobody judges that you shouldn't have been wanting it, it's just that distraction is distraction. If you want it so you refuse distraction then you can go in that direction also. These instructions with the rope swinging from one meditation object to another makes it harder than it needs to be. Jhana is just what happens when you concentrate on something--- the instructions are warnings what to expect rather than a script you need to act out. Just put your attention on the meditation object. Don't follow this advice to not make any effort-- higher jhanas are relatively effortless, but you can't skip to that, you have to push your mind together for it to enter first jhana. Want it and be motivated to do the right thing, do it well & intensely all at once.

[@Leonard-Mazet]

Your video brought me to jhana 1&2 Michael! Love what you're saying and emmanating, and how picture meditation as a sort of game you can go back to. Loved it, thanks a lot!

[@hartonij]

How long did you meditate to reach Jhana?

[@alexmorefield5573]

Had a few moments with piti were it started to feel like iwas floating out of my body or my body felt non existent but when my focus became to intense or aware I ended up kind of falling back down. It was extremely pleasurable.

[@raresmircea]

I wish Rob Bourbea gets to develop his poetic vision in some realm beyond. He was a beautiful soul

[@jasoncabral8732]

Where is the double like button???🤔

[@jonathanwebb66]

You rule!

[@Zenlina1]

Always thought when doing the chi meditation it was chi but its also piti. I found it easier to get a full body piti by trying to feeling(focusing) out your from your feet and do like a full body scan to the top of your head. Feeling out every sensation (Warmth,cold,itchy,clothes,pressure) from bottom to top and top to bottom afew times and naturally the piti kicks in with that warm(buzzy,static) feeling all over. Then switch to feel the whole body piti like a full body ball of energy. And then, afew things sometimes happen. Your senses start to amplify like you hearing becomes really clear, or you might have a internal POP sound all your 5 senses might explode kind of thing.

[@drsr4560]

21:01 Books: Right Concentration {L. Brasington}; The Mind Illuminated {Culadasa}; Rob Burbea: Jhana Retreat available @ DharmaSeed (& there’s a 457 page transcript too)

[@tramhongtruc3727]

"There is one thing you need to remember from this entire video is 9:20". Your all welcome. PS: Thanks so much for the instruction. It really helps, a lot.

[@ms.mittenz]

So that's what I felt the other day. Nice :) It was a weird feeling when I was vibrating all over. Of course when I moved physically it vanished. I was really confused by what was happening though

[@natasha.ixtlan]

Wow , 9:40 i was so scared of that tingly hands sensations during meditations... i thought i had diabetes hahahhaha like pereferal neuropathy. But it's PT. 😁 Very insightful video! thank you!

[@j2b2man]

Can’t thank you enough. I’d had this strong buzzing sensation sometimes while meditating, around my whole head and then through my spine, but never understood what it was. Thought I was just going crazy haha. Really grateful to know about this path and for your insight. Can’t wait to dig deeper into your stuff.

[@MichaelTaft108]

Let me know how it goes!

[@mdav30]

Stick with it. Over time you'll find that the energy moves up the body and focuses more and more in the head - particularly as you sit for the first 20-30 minutes. Energy focus in the head - in the face, between your eyebrows, and at the top of your head - are all excellent signs and will lead to a lot of insight and progress.

[@royyouness]

its great to watch this video! what is the difference between jhanas and transcendence ?( that the TM movement talk about)

[@899jsu]

Great video for Jhana 1 and 2. Do you have Jhana 3 -8 video's? Thank you.

[@blueharley86]

sādhu👍

[@Samuraistar92]

❤😊

[@MegaMONI45]

THE OVEN MITS!! I FINALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT IS!!!! Thank You so so so so much Michael

[@agentsully]

Me too! I’ve had that experience at different times since I was a kid. I didn’t know it was a thing although I always wondered what that was.

[@MegaMONI45]

@@agentsully Same! I think toddler me was dreaming when it first happened? How has your meditation been going lately K?

[@agentsully]

@@MegaMONI45 I am very much a novice although I think my concentration on an object is pretty good. It does feel like I can get to a pretty quiet mind at times and yet I sense like a background of mind activity that is still there. It’s certainly fun. I don’t know if I would be able to get to the final stage. “Losing the small self” seems conceptually like going over a cliff. But I’m game to walk down this path slowly ... lol kinda like eating a whole cake 1 sliver at a time.

[@MegaMONI45]

@@agentsully Hahaha, it's the only way to get through the whole cake! And certainly makes the cherry on top worth it ;) You have a good attitude! if I'm intimidating where you're at at the moment correctly...The self concepts and talk in this way can be scary at first but trust that somewhere, way down the line (or not), when you have a more thorough understand, you'll see its loss to be beneficial and be willing and able to shake it. I know the background that you're talking about, don't forget that you can't, nor shouldn't attempt, to quieten thought, or the background chatter. It to will quieten down of its own accord in tandem with your progression, one might even say (being a bit cheeky here) that if you're noticing the background, where is your concentration is going ;)? I'm glad that you're enjoying it K, I wish that your path is successful and reaps much magic and love for you

[@agentsully]

@@MegaMONI45 Thank you Noah. I appreciate your guidance and kindness. Warms the heart! Wishing you all the best as well.

[@Oi-mj6dv]

By the way incredible video. Id be massively interested in an explaination of focus aspects of further jhanas, 3, 4 and onwards. Because from my expefience, your explaination of the first two is incredibly on point

[@respectdhamma3645]

Pa Auk Teachers have made major changes to the meditation system. What is wrong? What is correct? Please look at Mistakes of Pa Auk Meditation.

[@MitziLewis007]

🙏🏽❤️

[@MikeB-lm6yw]

Thanks so much, Michael. I really appreciate your straight forward, no nonsense explanation. I often find myself feeling that certain attainments are not for me, but you make me think that these things are achievable. You say that with commitment to the practice, the jahnas can be achieved by most people. I’m just wondering if you have noticed any commonalities with people who cannot. Thanks again!

[@looklikemyles]

I hear you, it's sometimes painful to imagine that goals are far away. For me, I realized that I had an attitude that was preventing me from entering more into these states. Maybe an orientation to practice or certain assumptions I held, like not letting myself relax and enjoy meditation, or wanting to deconstruct every nice thing that passed through my consciousness. Like Michael says, if you can relax and enjoy happiness, it's there.

[@MichaelTaft108]

You're welcome, Mike. The biggest commonality among people who cannot do it is that they have a hard time accessing positive states.

[@junebash]

@@MichaelTaft108 That feels like an incredibly important point with immense possible ramifications! Thank you for sharing, and for putting together this video.

[@BillSikes.]

Just keep practicing, it'll happen inspite of your misgivings, usually when you stop looking for it

[@interestpart260]

I practiced them with Lee Brasington. I wanted so badly to experience deep meditative states, that I knew I had some subtle form of clinging / grasping. The best advice that worked for me was to drop expectations. I first decided / accepted that I was not going to get Jhana on this Ten day retreat, and that I would just work as hard / focused as possible, and keep checking my attitude. I was very surprised when my body started rocking. I think Attitude is everything. Check the mind for Expectation, and what Attitude the mind is in.

[@AlexKellyArtUK]

Interesting take on how to jhana. In the suttas we get some guidance of what jhana is and how to jhana. There is quite a lot we have to work out for ourselves though. I wonder about this method where the attention is transferred to piti/sukha once its stable though. How does it compare to the method where attention is maintained on the breath energy / whole body. This seems to be what is implied in the Anapansati sutta. At any rate I wonder what the difference is in terms of sati and sampajañña?