Question

Can you please explain what the Jhanas are? Is it important to have them and to recognize them?

Answer

In Buddhism there is a term called Jhana which means very deep absorption levels of concentration, and they have definitions of eight different levels of these Jhanas. It's very strong concentration but it is not wisdom.

Generally what we are doing here is called Vipassana meditation. We don't need super strong concentration, we are going for wisdom straight away, we are going straight forward. Now, as we develop our wisdom, concentration comes as well. It is just automatic. If you let go of anger, if you let go of worry, if you let go of the Five Hindrances, what's the opposite? By definition the hindrances hinder concentration. So if you are able through wisdom to let go of the hindrances, concentration will come automatically. With our practice, we go directly at the hindrances, we let go of them, concentration is worked on at the same time but it comes more and more as the opposite is decreased. That's Vipassana meditation.

Another type of meditation taught within Buddhism is Samatha. Samatha means a practice which is designed to get concentration. Only that's it, it's only concentration. And in specific, it wants to develop these states of concentrated mind called Jhanas. It wants to develop them and enter into that absorbed state of mind which can be very peaceful, very pleasant. It can be so wonderfully peaceful that people don't want to work anymore. It can be a big trap. This is why we don't teach them. If you are going for wisdom, you don't actually need them at all.

They get stuck to the extent that that's all they want to do, it can be that pleasant. Unfortunately, many people who can do them very well, like to be in them so much, that they don't want to be out of them and do the Vipassana work. In that way it is very difficult for them to develop wisdom.

Our apologies if there are any errors in the above text. If anything seems to be wrong or confusing in any way, please feel free to contact the teachers for further clarification.