<p>What holds you back is likely doubt about the method but moreso lack of contemplation.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Even I myself, before my Awakening, when I was still an unawakened
Bodhisatta, thought: 'Renunciation is good. Seclusion is good.' But my
heart didn't leap up at renunciation, didn't grow confident,
steadfast, or firm, seeing it as peace. The thought occurred to me:
'What is the cause, what is the reason, why my heart doesn't leap up
at renunciation, doesn't grow confident, steadfast, or firm, seeing it
as peace?' Then the thought occurred to me: 'I haven't seen the
drawback of sensual pleasures; I haven't pursued [that theme]. I
haven't understood the reward of renunciation; I haven't familiarized
myself with it. That's why my heart doesn't leap up at renunciation,
doesn't grow confident, steadfast, or firm, seeing it as peace.'</p>
<p>[1] &quot;Then the thought occurred to me: 'If, having seen the drawback of
sensual pleasures, I were to pursue that theme; and if, having
understood the reward of renunciation, I were to familiarize myself
with it, there's the possibility that my heart would leap up at
renunciation, grow confident, steadfast, &amp; firm, seeing it as peace.'</p>
<p>&quot;So at a later time, having seen the drawback of sensual pleasures, I
pursued that theme; having understood the reward of renunciation, I
familiarized myself with it. My heart leaped up at renunciation, grew
confident, steadfast, &amp; firm, seeing it as peace. Then, quite
withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful qualities, I
entered &amp; remained in the first jhana: rapture &amp; pleasure born from
withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought &amp; evaluation.
<a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an09/an09.041.than.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an09/an09.041.than.html</a></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-04-14T14:05:19.823Z
2024-04-14T14:05:19.823Z
User643218
<p>Jhana is a superhuman state, resulting in freedom from sensuality. Leigh Brasington's instructions appear not related to the jhana described in the Pali Suttas. If jhana could be attained so easily, why are monks engaged in years of discipline, austerity &amp; training?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-15T02:54:07.840Z
I already attained once before plus had psychic premonition
Saddhā
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-15T03:05:48.663Z
yes but was the mind free from inclination towards sensuality?
Dhamma Dhatu
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-15T05:00:38.593Z
Yes.  It was not something I had experienced before and haven't since. I had no idea at the time what jhana was.   It happened quite by accident and changed my life forever.
Saddhā
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-15T01:56:02.587Z
2024-03-15T01:56:02.587Z
Dhamma Dhatu
<p>Even with a legitimate first, second, third, fourth jhāna, the body conditions are always changing and the sensations (vedana) are not going to feel the same all the time.
Let alone, if you're not even sure you can do a first or second jhāna yet.</p>
<p>For some good general advice, read Thanissaro's article: Jhāna Not by the Numbers</p>
<p><a href="https://lucid24.org/tped/s/samadhi/book/than-breath/index.html#10.2" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://lucid24.org/tped/s/samadhi/book/than-breath/index.html#10.2</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-15T10:15:36.210Z
2024-03-15T10:15:36.210Z
frankk
<p>I've been attempting to follow Leigh Brasington's instructions about entering jhana. However, I never seem to be able to find a pleasant sensation. I mean I feel just kind of warm and comfortable in places and I feel occasional subtle vibration or tingle but not enough to maintain focus on. Anyone have any advice about this?  And before you start to preach about how trying to enter jhanas will ensure you don't, I already know that. I'm just more looking for advise about why I can't seem to notice sensations much. Thanks</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-16T05:13:56.097Z
You don't focus, search for sensation in jhanas. When get closer and closer to jhanas, the sensation just arises inside you. You don't search, try to find it, try to feel it; it just arises inside you and you just feel it. The moment you try to find it, it disappear. That's because, you lose concentration of your mind.
Pycm
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-16T05:17:09.520Z
Jhanas only about absolute concentration. Not feeling, trying to feel anything.
Pycm
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-03-16T05:19:40.597Z
So, it only about, how oneself achieve this concentration. So there are many standard ways to practice this.(40 kasina in Buddhism)
Pycm
<jhana>
Why can't I feel pleasant sensation?
# Why can't I feel pleasant sensation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-14)

I've been attempting to follow Leigh Brasington's instructions about entering jhana. However, I never seem to be able to find a pleasant sensation. I mean I feel just kind of warm and comfortable in places and I feel occasional subtle vibration or tingle but not enough to maintain focus on. Anyone have any advice about this? And before you start to preach about how trying to enter jhanas will ensure you don't, I already know that. I'm just more looking for advise about why I can't seem to notice sensations much. Thanks

**Tags:** jhana

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You don't focus, search for sensation in jhanas. When get closer and closer to jhanas, the sensation just arises inside you. You don't search, try to find it, try to feel it; it just arises inside you and you just feel it. The moment you try to find it, it disappear. That's because, you lose concentration of your mind.  
> **username_1**: Jhanas only about absolute concentration. Not feeling, trying to feel anything.  
> **username_1**: So, it only about, how oneself achieve this concentration. So there are many standard ways to practice this.(40 kasina in Buddhism)  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2024-04-14. Score: 1

What holds you back is likely doubt about the method but moreso lack of contemplation.

> Even I myself, before my Awakening, when I was still an unawakened
> Bodhisatta, thought: 'Renunciation is good. Seclusion is good.' But my
> heart didn't leap up at renunciation, didn't grow confident,
> steadfast, or firm, seeing it as peace. The thought occurred to me:
> 'What is the cause, what is the reason, why my heart doesn't leap up
> at renunciation, doesn't grow confident, steadfast, or firm, seeing it
> as peace?' Then the thought occurred to me: 'I haven't seen the
> drawback of sensual pleasures; I haven't pursued [that theme]. I
> haven't understood the reward of renunciation; I haven't familiarized
> myself with it. That's why my heart doesn't leap up at renunciation,
> doesn't grow confident, steadfast, or firm, seeing it as peace.'
>
> [1] "Then the thought occurred to me: 'If, having seen the drawback of
> sensual pleasures, I were to pursue that theme; and if, having
> understood the reward of renunciation, I were to familiarize myself
> with it, there's the possibility that my heart would leap up at
> renunciation, grow confident, steadfast, & firm, seeing it as peace.'
>
> "So at a later time, having seen the drawback of sensual pleasures, I
> pursued that theme; having understood the reward of renunciation, I
> familiarized myself with it. My heart leaped up at renunciation, grew
> confident, steadfast, & firm, seeing it as peace. Then, quite
> withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful qualities, I
> entered & remained in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from
> withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation.
> <https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an09/an09.041.than.html>


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2024-03-15. Score: 0

Jhana is a superhuman state, resulting in freedom from sensuality. Leigh Brasington's instructions appear not related to the jhana described in the Pali Suttas. If jhana could be attained so easily, why are monks engaged in years of discipline, austerity & training?

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I already attained once before plus had psychic premonition  
> **username_3**: yes but was the mind free from inclination towards sensuality?  
> **username_0**: Yes.  It was not something I had experienced before and haven't since. I had no idea at the time what jhana was.   It happened quite by accident and changed my life forever.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2024-03-15. Score: 0

Even with a legitimate first, second, third, fourth jhāna, the body conditions are always changing and the sensations (vedana) are not going to feel the same all the time.
Let alone, if you're not even sure you can do a first or second jhāna yet.

For some good general advice, read Thanissaro's article: Jhāna Not by the Numbers

<https://lucid24.org/tped/s/samadhi/book/than-breath/index.html#10.2>


---

