<p>I found the following to be very useful:</p>

<p><strong>Books</strong></p>

<ol>
<li><a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0861715608" rel="nofollow">Focused and Fearless: A Meditator's Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity</a></li>
</ol>

<p>Shaila Catherine writes with a precision and clarity that is missing from most texts on the subject. Great meditation manual as well as guide to the Jhanas. Shaila and Ayya Khema mentioned below seem to write from deep personal experience and this is backed up by their personal histories of practice.</p>

<ol start="2">
<li><a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0861711270" rel="nofollow">Who Is My Self?: A Guide to Buddhist Meditation</a></li>
</ol>

<p>Ayya Khema combines clear and concise instructions that are, for the most part, are a commentary on sections of the Potthapada Sutta that expound on the Jhanas.</p>

<p><strong>Articles</strong></p>

<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.dharmaoverground.org/discussion/-/message_boards/message/1191517" rel="nofollow">A General, All Purpose Jhana Thread</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/jhananumbers.html" rel="nofollow">Jhana Not by the Numbers by Thanissaro Bhikkhu</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/janas.html" rel="nofollow">THE JHANAS IN THERAVADAN BUDDHIST MEDITATION by LEIGH BRASINGTON</a></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-05-28T07:42:13.533Z
2015-08-13T16:40:18.237Z
2015-08-13T16:40:18.237Z
Devindra
<p>Have a look at:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.dhammasukha.org/the-teachings.html">Bhante Vimalaramsi</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_index.html">Thanissaro Bhikkhu</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.forestdhamma.org/books/english/">Forest Dhamma</a></li>
<li><a href="http://forestsanghapublications.org/">Forest Sangha Publications</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.buddhistelibrary.org/">Buddhist eLibrary</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh431-p.html">Manual of Mindfulness of Breathing</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-10T04:16:27.917Z
May I also add to this list "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha" by Daniel Ingram which has some very hopeful and practical advice for the modern layman/woman trying to cultivate. Daniel is a doctor who says jhana helped a lot during med school. I interviewed Daniel and he's a real awesome compassionate guy.
Med
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-11T02:26:51.467Z
@Ahmed, at the risk of going off topic, in what context dd you interview Daniel? Was it a public interview, by which I mean, is it available anywhere to listen to or read?
tkp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-11T02:48:44.687Z
It was a year back and i hit record and my recorder malfunctioned. I asked him some really practical questions about "what does enlightenment feel like?" "How to get jhana in the heat of daily life?" Etc Im trying to get another interview with him.. If i do ill let you know..
Med
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-11T08:17:24.447Z
@tkp I got a time slot with him and posted a [reddit](http://redd.it/2s1n3o) to collect questions for him, going to try to interview him on 23rd.
Med
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-08T13:36:50.603Z
2015-01-08T13:36:50.603Z
Suminda Sirinath S. Dharmasena
<p>I have this book by Ajahn Brahm (Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond) which has probably the best description and methods of the topic of Jhana but even better meditation techniques to achieve Jhana. Link below. Hope this helps.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Mindfulness-Bliss-Beyond-Ajahn-Brahm/9780861712755" rel="nofollow">http://www.bookdepository.com/Mindfulness-Bliss-Beyond-Ajahn-Brahm/9780861712755</a></p>

<p>Metta</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-09T06:33:02.307Z
2015-01-09T06:33:02.307Z
jlazz78
<p>Which are the best books and/or articles for practicing the jhanas?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-25T05:23:53.397Z
Please add list of good books from the following arahants:
Mogok Sayadaw U Vimala
Sunlun Sayadaw U Kavi
murali
<reference-request><jhana><samatha>
Best books & articles for practicing jhanas
# Best books & articles for practicing jhanas

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-07)

Which are the best books and/or articles for practicing the jhanas?

**Tags:** reference-request, jhana, samatha

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Please add list of good books from the following arahants: Mogok Sayadaw U Vimala Sunlun Sayadaw U Kavi  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-08. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

Have a look at:

* [Bhante Vimalaramsi](http://www.dhammasukha.org/the-teachings.html)
* [Thanissaro Bhikkhu](http://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_index.html)
* [Forest Dhamma](http://www.forestdhamma.org/books/english/)
* [Forest Sangha Publications](http://forestsanghapublications.org/)
* [Buddhist eLibrary](http://www.buddhistelibrary.org/)
* [Manual of Mindfulness of Breathing](http://www.bps.lk/olib/wh/wh431-p.html)

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: May I also add to this list "Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha" by Daniel Ingram which has some very hopeful and practical advice for the modern layman/woman trying to cultivate. Daniel is a doctor who says jhana helped a lot during med school. I interviewed Daniel and he's a real awesome compassionate guy.  
> **username_5**: @Ahmed, at the risk of going off topic, in what context dd you interview Daniel? Was it a public interview, by which I mean, is it available anywhere to listen to or read?  
> **username_4**: It was a year back and i hit record and my recorder malfunctioned. I asked him some really practical questions about "what does enlightenment feel like?" "How to get jhana in the heat of daily life?" Etc Im trying to get another interview with him.. If i do ill let you know..  
> **username_4**: @username_5 I got a time slot with him and posted a [reddit](http://redd.it/2s1n3o) to collect questions for him, going to try to interview him on 23rd.  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2015-01-09. Score: 4

I have this book by Ajahn Brahm (Mindfulness, Bliss and Beyond) which has probably the best description and methods of the topic of Jhana but even better meditation techniques to achieve Jhana. Link below. Hope this helps.

<http://www.bookdepository.com/Mindfulness-Bliss-Beyond-Ajahn-Brahm/9780861712755>

Metta


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-05-28. Score: 2

I found the following to be very useful:

**Books**

1. [Focused and Fearless: A username_4itator's Guide to States of Deep Joy, Calm, and Clarity](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0861715608)

Shaila Catherine writes with a precision and clarity that is missing from most texts on the subject. Great meditation manual as well as guide to the Jhanas. Shaila and Ayya Khema mentioned below seem to write from deep personal experience and this is backed up by their personal histories of practice.

2. [Who Is My Self?: A Guide to Buddhist username_4itation](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/0861711270)

Ayya Khema combines clear and concise instructions that are, for the most part, are a commentary on sections of the Potthapada Sutta that expound on the Jhanas.

**Articles**

1. [A General, All Purpose Jhana Thread](http://www.dharmaoverground.org/discussion/-/message_boards/message/1191517)
2. [Jhana Not by the Numbers by Thanissaro Bhikkhu](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/jhananumbers.html)
3. [THE JHANAS IN THERAVADAN BUDDHIST MEDITATION by LEIGH BRASINGTON](http://www.angelfire.com/electronic/awakening101/janas.html)


---

