Introduction to Jhana Practice | Open Sangha

You may have experienced states of rupture in your life. For example, standing on top of a mountain, feeling in harmony with a group, or relating with nature. Historical contemplatives, such as Buddhist practitioners, Christian mystics like Teresa of Avila ('Chambers'), and Sufi poets like Rumi, have described remarkably similar phenomenology across traditions. These aren't exotic experiences, but rather trainable skills. Descriptions of these life-altering moments are often very similar with what is known as the Jhanas (Pali) or Dhyanas (Sanskrit).

The Jhanas are systematic states of concentration, which are often easily accessible for advanced practitioners. They induce experiential qualities of well-being, happiness and equanimity, independent of life circumstances. This capacity is important because it fundamentally changes the way we make sense of things. When contentment becomes accessible internally rather than being dependent on external conditions, we develop genuine resilience and self-worth. The practice also opens up the possibility of…