Learning about dhyanas

• Experience of the first dhayana
• What are abandoned and what factors are prominent
• 11 skills to master in one dhyana before proceeding to the next dhyana
• Process of going from first dhyana to the second dhyana, second dhyana to the third dhyana and third dhyana to fourth dhyana
• Defects of one dhyana and benefits of the next dhyana
• Factors that are released and factors that become prominent
• Mindfulness, introspective awareness and equanimity
• Mundane mind and supermundane mind
• Using insight to analyze the mental states of meditative absorption

83 Learning About Dhyanas (download)

Contemplation points

1. In the first dhyana, what are we working to seclude ourselves from? What role do purification practice and the creation of merit play in helping us achieve seclusion?
2. Venerable Chodron encourages us to increase joy and bliss by learning to be at peace with ourselves; creating some sense of satisfaction with who we are and what we have. Explore:
   • What are ways in which you feel dissatisfied? What is the role of the five hindrances in your dissatisfaction?
   • What is this body that you’re so attached to and is it worth being attached? When you’re attached to sensual pleasure, what direction does it lead you in your life?
   • Imagine being free of attachment and dissatisfaction. What difference might this make in your life and spiritual practice?
3. There are eleven skills we need to be familiar with in the first dhyana in order to progress to the second. What are these and why are they so important to the process before progressing to the second dhyana?
4. What are the faults and benefits of each dhyana? How does recognizing these help us to progress from one to the next?