<p>They are different things. Jhana refers to a particular kind of concentrated state of mind, and the word nana simply means knowledge, but in a meditative context, it refers to one of the 16 stages of knowledge which are described in part III of the Visuddhimagga.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-29T21:50:38.250Z
2015-01-29T21:50:38.250Z
Bakmoon
<p>I often hear nanas and jhanas mentioned together as if they are different but related concepts. Is that true are they different or is nanas the exact equivalent of jhanas? Are the different terms used in different traditions perhaps?</p>

<terminology><jhana><nana>
What is the difference between nanas and jhanas?
# What is the difference between nanas and jhanas?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-29)

I often hear nanas and jhanas mentioned together as if they are different but related concepts. Is that true are they different or is nanas the exact equivalent of jhanas? Are the different terms used in different traditions perhaps?

**Tags:** terminology, jhana, nana


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2015-01-29. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

They are different things. Jhana refers to a particular kind of concentrated state of mind, and the word nana simply means knowledge, but in a meditative context, it refers to one of the 16 stages of knowledge which are described in part III of the Visuddhimagga.


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