jhāna
Meditative absorption
[ JHAA-na ]
Seeing it in life
Rūpa-jhānas: 1st (vitakka, vicāra, pīti, sukha, ekaggatā), 2nd drops vitakka-vicāra, 3rd drops pīti, 4th replaces sukha with upekkhā. Arūpa-jhānas refine further.
In short
States of deep unification with five (then fewer) factors.
The analysis
The four rūpa-jhānas are reached by progressively dropping coarser factors: the first has all five (vitakka, vicāra, pīti, sukha, ekaggatā); the second drops vitakka and vicāra; the third drops pīti; the fourth replaces sukha with upekkhā, leaving only equanimity and one-pointedness. Four further arūpa-jhānas refine the object itself — infinite space, infinite consciousness, nothingness, neither-perception-nor-non-perception.
Where it sits
Jhāna is the direct product of samatha meditation and, while not itself insight, provides the stability and suppression of hindrances that supports vipassanā practice.
No casual everyday experience reaches jhāna proper — the texts are specific that these are trained, cultivated states requiring sustained practice.
Commonly mistaken for
Any calm or focused meditative experience. Jhāna names a specific, factor-defined absorption with a precise structure.
The goal of practice in itself. It's generally framed as supportive of insight rather than the final aim.
Abhidhammattha Saṅgaha IX; Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2).
Related terms