Jhāna

Verified

Grammatical Analysis

Jhāna: [nt.] meditative absorption; deep mental integration. Derived from root jhā (to contemplate, think, meditate) or root jhe (to burn up), because it burns up opposing unwholesome mental states like the five hindrances (nīvaraṇa).

Orthodox Definition

Jhāna refers to states of deep mental absorption achieved through the systematic cultivation of tranquility (samatha). In the Noble Eightfold Path, it forms the explicit definition of Right Concentration (Sammāsamādhi).

The Visuddhimagga outlines four distinct material-sphere jhānas (rūpajhāna), each defined by the abandonment of coarser mental qualities and the presence of specific jhāna factors (jhānaṅga):

1. First Jhāna: Accompanied by applied thought (vitakka), sustained thought (vicāra), rapture (pīti), pleasure (sukha), and unmoving one-pointedness (ekaggatā).
2. Second Jhāna: Devoid of vitakka and vicāra; characterized by inner confidence, pīti, sukha, and ekaggatā.
3. Third Jhāna: Devoid of pīti; characterized by equanimity (upekkhā), mindfulness (sati), clear comprehension (sampajañña), sukha, and ekaggatā.
4. Fourth Jhāna: Devoid of sukha; characterized by pure equanimity, purified mindfulness, and ekaggatā.

Jhānas serve as an exceptionally powerful, purified mind-state that can then be turned toward insight meditation (vipassanā) to achieve the cutting of defilements.

The Abhidhamma, Visuddhimagga and some suttas have slightly different lists of factors that make up the fivefold jhānas. These differences are not contradictory, but rather focus on different aspects of the experience.

Quote

Samādhitikavaṇṇanā
Explanation of three-fold samādhi

Tikesu paṭhamattike paṭiladdhamatto hīno, nātisubhāvito majjhimo, subhāvito vasippatto paṇītoti evaṃ hīnamajjhimapaṇītavasena tividho.
Among the three-fold classifications, in the first triad, samādhi that is merely attained is inferior; that which is not well-developed is medium; that which is well-developed and has reached mastery is superior. Thus, it is three-fold by way of inferior, medium, and superior.

83. Dutiyattike paṭhamajjhānasamādhi saddhiṃ upacārasamādhinā savitakkasavicāro.
In the second triad, the samādhi of the first jhāna, along with access samādhi, is accompanied by initial and sustained application (savitakkasavicāra).

Pañcakanaye dutiyajjhānasamādhi avitakkavicāramatto.
In the five-fold system, the samādhi of the second jhāna is merely accompanied by sustained application (avitakkavicāramatta).

Yo hi vitakkamatteyeva ādīnavaṃ disvā vicāre adisvā kevalaṃ vitakkappahānamattaṃ ākaṅkhamāno paṭhamajjhānaṃ atikkamati, so avitakkavicāramattaṃ samādhiṃ paṭilabhati.
For indeed, the meditator who, seeing only the drawback in initial application and not seeing a drawback in sustained application, desires only the abandonment of initial application and thus transcends the first jhāna, attains samādhi that is merely without initial application but with sustained application.

Taṃ sandhāyetaṃ vuttaṃ.
It is with reference to this that this is stated.

Catukkanaye pana dutiyādīsu pañcakanaye tatiyādīsu tīsu jhānesu ekaggatā avitakkāvicāro samādhīti evaṃ savitakkasavicārādivasena tividho.
In the four-fold system, however, one-pointedness in the second and subsequent two jhānas, and in the five-fold system, in the third and subsequent three jhānas, is samādhi without initial application and without sustained application (avitakkāvicāra). Thus, it is three-fold by way of accompanied by initial and sustained application and so on.

Tatiyattike catukkanaye ādito dvīsu pañcakanaye ca tīsu jhānesu ekaggatā pītisahagato samādhi.
In the third triad, one-pointedness in the first two jhānas in the four-fold system, and in the first three jhānas in the five-fold system, is samādhi accompanied by rapture (pītisahagata).

Tesveva tatiye ca catutthe ca jhāne ekaggatā sukhasahagato samādhi.
One-pointedness in the third and fourth jhānas in those same systems is samādhi accompanied by happiness (sukhasahagata).

Avasāne upekkhāsahagato.
At the end, it is accompanied by equanimity (upekkhāsahagata).

— Visuddhimagga (pa)

Textual References

• Sutta: Anupada Sutta (MN 111) – Step-by-step canonical breakdown of the mental factors running throughout each jhāna attainment.
• Abhidhamma: Vibhaṅga (Jhānavibhaṅga section) – Technical doctrinal classifications.
• Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapters IV and V) – The definitive step-by-step meditation manual for entering these absorptions.