Jhana

Meaning

Jhana is a state of deep mental concentration, temporarily free from hindrances. It is not a trance or disconnection from reality but the highest degree of clarity and one-pointed attention, achieved through training the mind.

Doctrinal context

Key aspects:

• Removal of hindrances: the weakening of the five obstacles - sensual desire, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and remorse, and doubt.
• Jhana factors - specific phenomena that a meditator can observe in the state of concentration: initial and sustained application of mind to the meditation object (vitakka-vicara), rapture (piti), happiness (sukha), and one-pointedness of mind (ekaggata).
• Levels: four material (rupa) and four immaterial (arupa) jhanas. With each level, the mind becomes increasingly refined and stable.
• A means, not an end: jhana practice develops concentration for further use in vipassana - insight techniques.

Practical significance

Jhana is a natural state accessible through systematic training. Different traditions interpret jhana differently: in some, it is the foundation for insight; in others, a useful but not essential element of the path.