Jhana "Retreat"

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Modus Ponens, modified 11 Years ago at 4/20/12 11:26 PM
Created 11 Years ago at 4/20/12 11:26 PM

Jhana "Retreat"

Posts: 18 Join Date: 7/9/11 Recent Posts
Hello

I'm thinking of doing a period of intensive practice this summer, meditating between 6 and 8 hours a day. It will be no less than 30 days. What I need to know is if more time is necessary to experience all the first 4 jhanas and have some degree of control over them. I can add 15 more days to the "retreat", but only if it's necessary. I will not be in silence, I will listen to music and watch shows. I will go out with my friends. The only thing I will do in the sense restraint area is to abstain from sexual activity. And, of course, I will follow the 5 precepts.

Input would be realy apreciated.

Be well emoticon
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Ian And, modified 11 Years ago at 4/21/12 12:14 PM
Created 11 Years ago at 4/21/12 12:14 PM

RE: Jhana "Retreat"

Posts: 785 Join Date: 8/22/09 Recent Posts
Hi Modus,
Modus Ponens:
I'm thinking of doing a period of intensive practice this summer, meditating between 6 and 8 hours a day. It will be no less than 30 days. What I need to know is if more time is necessary to experience all the first 4 jhanas and have some degree of control over them.

I'm not sure that throwing a whole bunch of meditation time at yourself is a cure-all for anything. You'll have to assess that situation yourself and see what you arrive at. In other words, time spent in meditation alone doesn't necessarily accomplish anything unless you are having difficulty cultivating concentration.

Even on my 3 and 2 year self-imposed retreats, I only meditated at maximum 3 hours a day: one hour in the morning, one hour at or around noontime, and the last one in the late afternoon or early evening. Meditation is only a tool for helping you to calm the mind so that you can "see things as they are." In other words, so that insight about phenomena (and other important issues) has a chance to arise, providing you with real answers to real questions, in addition to allowing you to recondition the mind once reality (as opposed to illusion or delusion) has been recognized.

During my retreats, I didn't spend off cushion time conversing with friends, but rather in seclusion, so that I could watch the mind and how it acts and reacts to stimulus. This is where REAL insight about how your mind works is allowed to shine through. I also wouldn't spend too much time sitting in front of the television tube. It's okay as a change of pace or to keep up with news of the day, but beyond that it's generally not all that helpful.

What I did do was read about the Dhamma and endeavor to "see" (contemplate) as much as I was able the truth that it was pointing toward. In other words, I spent time reflecting on the Dhamma and endeavoring to understand the points being made in various suttas. It was time well spent! Such activities would be more conducive to a successful retreat than other activities which didn't involve self-reflection or reflection on the Dhamma.

If you want the retreat experience, then don't allow yourself to be distracted from this opportunity to spend time watching the mind just because you occasionally become bored or "want" to socialize with others. Not that the latter are bad, they just don't promote the activity that you "say" you would like to experience.

If you're going on retreat, then GO ON RETREAT. And do it right. Don't settle for a half-way intention.

As far as developing the stock description of jhana goes, that's an individual issue that can differ from person to person. For people who are focused, even one hour a day is enough to experience the first four levels of the stock description of jhana and learn about their control. It all depends on the person and how quickly they can perceive how to enter and traverse in this meditative realm. For others, they need to develop their concentration enough to be able induce this stock description of the jhana experience, so in those instances more time might be necessary in meditation developing a stronger level of mental concentration. Yet, these are questions that only YOU might be able to answer, since presumably, you are more aware of your condition and progress than anyone else.

Not sure you're going to like this reply. But that's my honest opinion.

In peace,
Ian
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Modus Ponens, modified 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 9:51 AM
Created 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 9:51 AM

RE: Jhana "Retreat"

Posts: 18 Join Date: 7/9/11 Recent Posts
Hello Ian.

As you predicted, your response wasn't pleasant for me. But I want to thank you for trying to put me on the right track.

The reason I'm not thinking in doing a proper retreat, is because i'm under the stress of having to study; in the summer I have the opportunity to relax the pressure with my friends. A proper retreat could add to the stress of having to do something. Thus, I would most likely fail in doing the proper retreat.

I'm not looking for a cure, although that would be a nice side effect. But it's praticaly impossible, I'm aware of that.

Regarding insight, I'm only interested in jhana at the moment. Only after attaining the jhanas I'm going to start doing insight.

But, even considering all this, I will still consider doing a proper retreat.
Adam , modified 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 10:40 AM
Created 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 10:39 AM

RE: Jhana "Retreat"

Posts: 613 Join Date: 3/20/12 Recent Posts
A proper retreat could add to the stress of having to do something.


you should test out limiting your activities in fulfilling sensual pleasure (and using the free time to meditate), although it might seem like doing so will create stress, you might find that when actually doing it and not just planning/fantasizing it the opposite is true. furthermore, if you are giving yourself the option of all these various sensual pleasures, there's a good chance you won't have the motivation to actually meditate as much as you are planning to. some of the most relaxed days i've had were when i didn't allow myself to do anything other than breath concentration and sutta reading, even though doing so seems daunting when thinking about it, that's not because it actually is difficult, it's because the pleasure of relaxation and clarity simply isn't what we are wired to desire (but which we very much can enjoy). that's why i suggest you test it out, so you have something to compare to.
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Ian And, modified 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 1:28 PM
Created 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 1:28 PM

RE: Jhana "Retreat"

Posts: 785 Join Date: 8/22/09 Recent Posts
Prefatory Note: Whenever I enclose the word "jhana" in quotation marks in the comments that follow, please read it as referring to the "stock description of jhana" as this is found in the suttas.

Okay, Modus, I'm still attempting to better understand what you are asking. You said in the OP the following:
Modus Ponens:
I'm thinking of doing a period of intensive practice this summer, meditating between 6 and 8 hours a day. It will be no less than 30 days. What I need to know is if more time is necessary to experience all the first 4 jhanas and have some degree of control over them.

Which seems to indicate that you will not be studying during the summer, so no stress from that. But then you say below that the "reason I'm not thinking [of] doing a proper retreat is because I'm under the stress of having to study; in the summer I have the opportunity to relax the pressure with my friends. A proper retreat could add to the stress of having to do something. Thus, I would most likely fail in doing the proper retreat."

There's always going to be whatever "stress" you perceive there to be in attempting to dig deeper into the Dhamma and to realize the truth of the concepts that Gotama taught and to be able to see those concepts being played out within the expanse of your own experience. That "pressure" (if you want to call it that) will always be there. No getting away from it, in other words. But all this aside. . .

I applaud your desire to take it one step at a time, so let's start right there, and hopefully gain a better understanding of the achievements that you are endeavoring to accomplish. You state below:
Modus Ponens:

Regarding insight, I'm only interested in jhana at the moment. Only after attaining the jhanas I'm going to start doing insight.

In order to recognize "the stock description of jhana" (i.e. the first four levels as they are described in the discourses) as opposed to the more expansive definition of jhana which only includes the ability to "reflect, conceive and ponder over" (rather than having to characterize it as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th jhana levels), one can become caught up in the perhaps misconception that achieving "jhana" (as in the stock description) is the only way to achieve "jhana." Which it isn't. You can achieve a jhana state in which your ability to "reflect, conceive and ponder over" direct observations becomes heightened, which has more to do with the increase in one's concentration ability than in the fact that they recognize the achievement of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th jhana levels. The jhana state that I am referring to is very similar to what I describe as the fourth level of samatha jhana. My point here is only to point this out. (This is perhaps an observation that only an advanced practitioner might appreciate and not one that a beginner might be able to relate to, so just keep that in mind.)

In other words, you may be able to achieve this state of jhana without being able to identify having achieved 1st, 2nd, and 3rd jhanas. The mind just goes there, for all intents and purposes unbidden and quite to the amazement of the practitioner. It can be somewhat confusing for the practitioner, since his conceptions have been programmed to expect a recognition of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd jhana levels before reaching the 4th. When this doesn't occur, it can be confusing to the practitioner. All I'm saying is, it is possible to experience this kind of jhana state without being able to recognize how you got there!

And while I can concur that achieving this stock definition of "jhana" can be and is very helpful in the effort to retrain the mind to be still and to follow the directions (intentions) given it without venturing off into distracted territory, it is also important to realize that this isn't the only definition of "jhana" that is being discussed in the suttas, and that the ability to "reflect, conceive and ponder over" is just as important if not more so than achieving the stock description definition. All this being said. . .

Even so, it still takes insight into one's own practice in order to recognize the experience of the stock description when it is occurring. So, to say that you will only become interested in performing "insight" AFTER you achieve "jhana" is a bit misspeaking if you understand that insight is not something substantial, but is a fluid process that occurs whenever it occurs, not only when WE want it to occur or think it should occur. It's happening all the time. Saying this, I just don't want you to become too rigid in your thinking or perception about this issue.

The kind of "insight" that you most likely meant to refer to is the insight into the truth of the Dhamma which helps set one free, which needs a heightened level of concentration ability in order to maintain the conceptual picture of what is happening during the process of confirming the truth of what was taught. All I'm saying is that insight comes in all kinds and sizes of packages, big and small, and that it comes whenever it comes whether we are ready to recognize it when it arrives or not.

The question you originally asked ("What I need to know is[:] if more time is necessary to experience all the first 4 jhanas and have some degree of control over them.") has already been answered. As I stated before, it all depends upon the individual as to whether more or less time is necessary. You will have to make that determination YOURSELF (presumably), based on whatever insightful observations you are able to make at that time about your true condition.

The key factors here would seem to be, first, the ability to conceptualize just what the "stock description of jhana" is so that one has an idea of (a good conception of, preferably with some similar previous experience that one can identify with and use as a conceptual model to pursue) what one is attempting to accomplish, and, second, following instruction that will inevitably lead to accomplishing that goal.

When I first began looking into achieving this "stock description" of jhana some dozen years ago, I first wanted to KNOW just what it was that I was being directed to achieve. From the reading I did at the time, I was able to identify a similar experience to those being talked about by Leigh Brasington (in his online descriptions) and the hint given in the Mahasaccaka Sutta (MN 36). It took insight on my part to be able to make these connections, to be able to see what these descriptions were pointing at in terms of my own direct previous experience. Once I had a firm conceptual grasp on what this "jhana" was and how to bring about the first, second, third, and fourth jhanas, I just had to trust in the instruction itself to help bring it about. Your mind will "go there" automatically if you are following something that you can experientially relate to.

This can be somewhat tricky to conceive when just reading about it. So, it is difficult to explain. You just have to apply some real world experience from your own life in order to accurately identify the experience being described. Or, if you are mindful enough when attempting to follow the instruction, you will be able to recognize the arising factors (or at least their effect after they have arisen) enough to be comfortable in confirming the validity of the "jhana" experience that you are having.

So, trying to put a time limitation on this process (as to when it will be achieved) is quite impossible. As I said, it differs from individual to individual. It all depends upon how quickly one realizes that "something significant" is occurring.

You should probably aim at just being able to identify that "jhana" is occurring. Gaining better "control" over the process of their arising is something that develops with time. But four to six weeks (as you have indicated) is plenty of time to be able to experience "jhana," and to begin the process of exerting more control over this meditative state.

I hope that helps.

All the best,
Ian
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Modus Ponens, modified 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 3:26 PM
Created 11 Years ago at 4/22/12 3:26 PM

RE: Jhana "Retreat"

Posts: 18 Join Date: 7/9/11 Recent Posts
Hello Adam. It's not that simple given personal issues that I won't explain publicly. But thanks for your suggestion. emoticon

Ian, I'll send you a PM through Dhamma Wheel, since I can't seem to do it on this forum.

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