| | Hi Jinxed,
I have a feeling that many of these questions are red herrings, the Buddha's teaching was a pragmatic, practical teaching, he embraced what worked, it was not a metaphysical all-encompassing framework religion. His sole purpose was to alleviate suffering, which for him was both physical and mental, and he saw his path as the direct path that lead to the end of suffering.
I am consequently weary to answer these questions, that's assuming an answer even exists!
However it would be hypocritical of me to answer this question without answering your questions and so here is my attempt:
1) The experience of jhana is not a mental one, it is a physical one, the experience of jhana is deeply physical and is often described in the Pali Canon as a deeply physical experience. All authentic experiences of jhana, according to the Pali Canon are accompanied by 'states' and these states are overall states... in other words they are full on experiences by the meditator of deep physical relaxation, deep mental relaxation, touching the Deathless with the body etc.
The experience of jhana is compounded, i.e created, however I cannot answer as to why it is so pleasurable.
2) Non-duality as I see it... I'm guessing you mean anatta? For me anatta is more of a strategy, instead of a ontological statement, it's a strategy that allows one to let go of painful clinging, it's purely pragmatic, hell if the Buddha thought that letting go of sharp knife blades would lead to less suffering he would have taught that!
And yes, letting go of sharp knife blades leads to less suffering, but I assume that the Buddha never taught that explicitly because he assumed that we all had common sense.
I hope this post makes sense.
Sincerely,
James |