jhanas

Jhanas, also spelled dhyana, are meditative states described in Buddhism and Hinduism. In Buddhism, particularly in the Pali Canon, they represent progressive stages of mental concentration and absorption achieved through sustained meditation. There are typically eight jhanas, divided into two groups: the four material jhanas (rupa jhanas) and the four immaterial jhanas (arupa jhanas).

The material jhanas are characterized by the presence of subtle physical sensations and mental factors. As one progresses through them, factors like applied thought, sustained thought, rapture, happiness, and equanimity are gradually refined and eventually transcended. The first jhana is entered with the overcoming of hindrances, followed by the development of rapture and happiness. Subsequent jhanas involve a lessening of these factors and an increase in tranquility and one-pointedness of mind.

The immaterial jhanas are entered after the material jhanas have been mastered. They involve meditation on formless objects such as infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, and the sphere of neither perception nor non-perception. These states represent increasingly subtle levels of consciousness and detachment from gross sensory experience.

The practice of cultivating jhanas is a key element of the Buddhist path to liberation, as they are believed to purify the mind and provide a stable foundation for developing wisdom (vipassanā). While often associated with Buddhist teachings, similar concepts of meditative absorption exist in other contemplative traditions, including Hinduism. The attainment of jhana is considered a profound spiritual experience, leading to deep peace and clarity.