The Jhāna Community

Dive into the nuanced world of jhāna practice! Discover how deep absorption and lighter meditative states interweave across various traditions. Explore the captivating strawberry analogy that highlights the spectrum of jhāna qualities. Delve into the significance of eye posture and its correlation with jhāna states. Learn about the balance between intense concentration and everyday life, and how inclusive practices can enhance awareness. Plus, get insights into a novel retreat format that invites personal object choices for meditation!

Leigh Brasington, an experienced jhāna teacher trained by Ayya Khema, provides a practical guide to entering the first jhāna. He shares the importance of pleasant sensations and their role in sustaining deep concentration. The conversation dives into the nuances of access concentration, meditation objects, and the significance of pīti and sukha in jhāna experiences. Leigh underscores avoiding control and the feedback loop of pleasure that enhances mindfulness. He captivates with insights on the neurobiology of reward, linking pleasurable states to dopamine release.

Join meditation practitioner Brian Newman as he explores the depths of 'nut job jhāna,' blending traditional Pa-Auk training with modern spectrum approaches. Brian shares his journey from beginner retreats to intense jhāna mastery in Asia, emphasizing the balance between deep absorption and everyday life. He highlights the importance of pliability in the mind, discusses the role of nimitta in practice, and offers practical tips for accessing jhāna states. Expect insights on the costs of intensive practice and how to maintain jhāna amidst daily routines.