JMJM, I tend to agree that insights into the Ttruth are found in samadhi and the jhanic states BUT they are still states of mind. The important thing is to bring those insights into our everyday life. For example, thru insight meditation I have found that it is not that suffering disappears, but the 'me' who suffers that disappears. Such freedom! But this is very hard to maintain in the market place of everyday life. That's why those states (Jhanic) need to be protected thru out the day. To sit on a cushion after a samsaric (is that a word?) day in the world makes it almost impossible to reach the type of concentration required to enter the jhanas/samadhi. It is quite possible to sit on a cushion and count your breath tho ; )
Mike ________________________________ From: 覺妙精明 （JMJM） <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Cc: ED <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, 1 August 2012, 17:03 Subject: Re: [Zen] Zen, samadhi and jhanas, Hi ED, I respect your endless spirit in "learning/understanding." Yet Chan can not be understood, because the truth is in the states of Jhana, or deepest meditative realm. That's what's repeated empathized by my Teachers. JM On 8/1/2012 8:51 AM, ED wrote: > > >Bill, Mike, Joe and all, > >I know of koan practice and shikantaza in zen. Do Zen teachers ever >recommend other types of meditation, or the attainment of jhana states? > >--ED > >
