Dhyana
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| Dhyana | |
|---|---|
| Sanskrit Name | |
| Romanization | Dhyāna |
| Devanāgarī | ध्यान |
| Pali Name | |
| Romanization | Jhāna |
| Devanāgarī | झान |
| Sinhala | ඣාන |
| Chinese Name | |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Chán |
| Wade-Giles | Ch'an |
| Cantonese IPA | sɪm4 |
| Cantonese Jyutping | sim |
| Hanzi | 禪 |
| Jiantizi | 禅 |
| Korean Name | |
| Revised Romanization | Seon |
| McCune-Reischauer | Sŏn |
| Hangul | 선 |
| Hanja | 禪 |
| Japanese Name | |
| Romaji | Zen |
| Kanji | 禅 |
| Vietnamese Name | |
| Quốc ngữ | Thiền |
Dhyāna is a term in Sanskrit which refers to a type or aspect of meditation. It is a key concept in Hinduism and Buddhism. Equivalent terms are jhāna in Pāli, "chán" in Chinese, "seon" in Korean, and "zen" in Japanese.
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Dhyāna in Buddhism
In the Pali Canon the Buddha describes eight progressive states of absorption meditation or Jhana. The first four are connected to the physical realm and the last four only with the mental realm (i.e. there is no experience of the body in the four higher Jhanas). It must be noted that these states are not the final goal that the Buddha taught since they are all still in the field of mind and matter. The final goal of Nibbana (Sanskrit:Nirvana) is the experience beyond mind and matter.
In East Asia, several schools of Buddhism were founded that focused on dhyana, under the names Chan, Zen, and Seon. According to tradition, Bodhidharma brought Dhyana to the Shaolin temple in China, where it came to be transliterated as "chan" ("seon" in Korea, and then "zen" in Japan).
Jhanas are normally described by the way of the mental factors which are present in these states
1. Initial application Vitakka
2. Sustained application Vicara
3. Joy Piti
4. Happiness Sukkha
5. One-pointedness Ekaggata
As the meditator reaches this first Jhana, he can meditate without being disturbed by any thought or desire, though thoughts are still there.
All intellectual processes cease. There is only rapture, happiness, and the object.
Joy disappears.
Even happiness disappears, leading to a state with neither pleasure nor suffering. The Buddha described the Jhanas as "the footsteps of the tathagata".
Traditionally, this fourth Jhana is seen as the beginning of attaining psychic powers.
These four are rupajhanas, material jhanas. An additional four arupajhanas still consist in the two factors of Upekkha and Ekaggata.
Arupajhanas are non-material jhanas and are described by their mental object :
- Fifth Jhana : infinite space
- Sixth Jhana : infinite consciousness
- Seventh Jhana : nothingness
- Eighth Jhana : neither perception nor non-perception
Usually Jhanas are exposed as part of Samatha's practice, as opposed to Vipassana. But Vipassana jhanas are also mentioned. When the awareness of the arising and passing of physical sensations is maintained during the first four Jhanas they are Vipassana Jhanas.
Dhyāna in Hinduism
According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra dhyana is one of the eight methods of Yoga, (the other seven methods are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Samadhi).
In the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali, the stage of meditation preceding dhyāna is called dharana. In Dhyana, the meditator is not conscious of the act of meditation (i.e. is not aware that s/he is meditating) but is only aware that s/he exists (consciousness of being), and aware of the object of meditation. Dhyana is distinct from Dharana in that the meditator becomes one with the object of meditation and is able to maintain this oneness for 144 inhalations and expirations.
The Dhyana Yoga system is specifically described by Sri Krishna in chapter 6 of the famous Bhagavad Gita, wherein He explains the many different Yoga systems to His friend and disciple, Arjuna.
See also
External links
- Explanations of jhana by Pir Vilayat Inayat Khan
- Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest")
- The Buddha's descriptions of the first four states of dhyana in the Pali Canon (Anguttara Nikaya V.28)
- Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi, and Meditation by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
- Jhana, the Joyful Home of the Way by the contemplative recluse monk Sotapanna Jhanananda (Jeffrey S, Brooks)
- Dhammakaya Meditation
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