Always a Dead Loss | The Sangha US #56 | 10.1.22

The Sangha look at the nature of the four jhānas and what they tell us about practice. #jhana #sotapan #beinginthemoment 

Suttas mentioned in this discussion

https://suttacentral.net/mn111

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00:00:00 Monks don’t like to talk about jhāna or any kind of attainment

00:07:40 “Vipassana” not used often in the suttas; no distinction from samatha (stability)

00:18:27 Practicing skills in seclusion; cleaning the mind is samatha; recognising hindrances 

00:26:35 The Buddha’s practice; first jhāna is the path; the beginner’s job is to remove the hindrances (MN 111)

00:35:48 Talking ourselves into feeling good; feeling successful 

00:46:25 Fourth jhāna and seeing how the mind works; first jhāna as a basis for life

00:56:56 There are four jhānas; states of the fourth jhāna; paticcasamuppāda

01:03:03 Perceiving things in a wholesome way

01:06:52 Always a dead loss: we don’t attain anything; a sotāpan is someone who is eager; everything is in flux