Beoman Beoman:
Anyway. The book mentions how it's necessary to master concentration enough to reach the first jhana to have a good shot at progressing. That got me to thinking that it'd be a good idea to only do concentration practice until I can reach it. In your experience (as I realize every person is different), is that a good idea?
That is an excellent idea. Because in Buddhist meditation, using the techniques and instruction originally taught by the Buddha (which, by the way, actually
do work!
if they are followed), in order to make progress on the noble eightfold path, which is the practice path recommended by the Buddha for the overcoming of sorrow and dissatisfaction (
dukkha), the path leading to awakening, it is imperative that the mind be able to become still and to quiet down so that it is able to concentrate upon various phenomena and how that phenomena interacts with the
Dhamma that was taught. Buddhist meditation is a bit more complicated and exacting than other types of meditation. It therefore requires one to be able to develop a mind like a steel trap — that is, able to fix upon and hold an object or subject in its grasp for examination and inspection so that the truth of its existence/characteristics can be observed.
Beoman Beoman:
I've read other information saying how "if you want to reach the jhanas you won't be able to, you must be free from desires/etc", but after reading the book that seems not true.
Well, it is somewhat true. The mind, in order to attain to absorption, must remain undistracted. In the
Satipatthana Sutta (Majjhima Nikaya 10) we find the following instruction is given: "Here, bhikkhus, a bhikkhu abides contemplating the body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world." The last phrase of this sentence points at the ability of the mind to be free from worldly cares and desires. So, in that sense, it is correct. And when you think about it for a moment, you will agree. If the mind is all roiled up with attachments or concerns for worldly living, it won't be able to settle down and become concentrated on an object of meditation. It will be distracted by its cares and concerns.
In order to achieve absorption, the ability you must have is the ability to be able to overcome the Five Hindrances to meditation concentration. Are you familiar with the five hindrances? (Sensuous lust, ill will, sloth and torpor, restlessness and worry, and skeptical doubt — that is, doubt about the teachings.) When the mind is encapsulated in absorption (jhana), it is incapable of being reached or affected by any of these five hindrances.
Beoman Beoman:
I understand that while I'm sitting, I can't be thinking "o my god!! im gonna reach the first jhana!! it will be awesome so awesome", but should instead be solely focusing on my object of meditation (the breath in my case). But as a general goal, as in what will guide my practice, is it a good idea?
That is correct. Especially if you are practicing to enter absorption for the first few times, as you become familiar with how they are entered as well as with the general landscape of absorption in general. Once you know where you are going and how to get there, the newness and giddiness of the experience will gradually wear off, and you can get down to business. The important thing here is to gain a good idea about what absorption actually is and how it can be used to further your progress in understanding and realization of the
Dhamma.
Beoman Beoman:
Also can you usually tell once you're there?
Don't worry. You'll be able to tell. It should be unmistakable, once you become more familiar with the territory. Your mind will feel at ease, wieldy, unblemished, malleable, established, and unperturbed. It will obey where you send it without any backtalk or disobedience. You will be able to clearly focus it on any object or subject without any trouble.
Beoman Beoman:
Sometimes when I sit (with my eyes closed) and focus on my breath, I feel like the blackness that I "see" since my eyes are closed seems to change and expand in a strange way. But this has also happened when not focusing like that, but trying to notice all sensations that come up. It also doesn't last very long, and I don't think it has the quality of "rapture" or "happiness", more just that it's pretty interesting and that something strange is happening.
Rapture (or "elation," as I like to describe it) and joy/happiness refer to the Pali words, respectively, of
piti and
sukkha. As you may be aware, these are two of the five factors which arise during the first jhana, and persist until the third jhana when
piti is extinguished, and the fourth jhana when
sukkha is extinguished. It can sometimes be difficult to discern these two absorption factors when or as they arise and subside, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't notice them in the beginning. The important thing is to get the "feel," so to speak, of what the absorption experience "feels" like so that you know it when you experience it. It's not that foreign an experience, but it can be a bit difficult to describe.
In athletics, people describe it as "going into the zone" where the mind is completely focused on the goal or endeavor at hand, whatever that may be. If you've ever read a book and become oblivious to the outside world because your mind is
so "absorbed" in reading the book, then this is another way to relate to the experience. It's not that uncommon an experience. You just have to be able to recognize when you are
there.
Beoman Beoman:
Ah also in terms of it being possible - I only meditate 30 mins a day, currently. It used to be 15 but then I realized I could do 30 without much difficulty. I want to go on a retreat but won't be able to for a few months at least.
Just a word of advice here. As you are able to schedule it, you may want to up the amount of times you meditate during the day to, say, two 30 minute sessions. And from there, to up the amount of the sessions themselves to 45 minutes and then to 1 hour each. If you are able to meditate for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, you will be ready to take on the rigors of a retreat. And make no mistake: you
will be "pushed" at a retreat (as it should be, btw).
Hope that helps.
In peace,
Ian