Practicing the Jhanas: Traditional Concentration Meditation as Presented by the Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw » (Original)

Stephen Snyder began practicing Zen Buddhism in 1976 and has had a daily meditation practice from that time on. He has practiced for twenty years with Western Zen masters. Stephen attended a two-month retreat with Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw in 2005. He attained the eight jhanas (as well as other practices) in the span of the retreat, becoming the first American male to complete this attainment in the lineage of Ven. Pa Auk Sayadaw.

This is a clear and in-depth presentation of the traditional Theravadin concentration meditation known as jhāna practice, from two authors who have practiced the jhānas in retreat under the guidance of one of the great living meditation masters, Pa Auk Sayadaw. The authors describe the techniques and their results, based on their own experience.  

Foreword Pa Auk Sayadaw vii

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

1 History of the Jh&abar;nas 1

2 Samatha Practice: The Purification of Mind 7

3 Foundational Understandings 37

4 Skillful Effort from First Sit to First Jh&abar;na 51

5 Material Jh&abar;nas One through Four and Related Practices 71

6 Immaterial Jh&abar;nas Five through Eight and Related Practices 99

7 The Sublime Abidings and Protective Meditations 115

8 Four Elements Meditation 119

9 The Buddha as Our Role Model 129

Epilogue 131

Progression of Practice Chart 134

Notes 137

Bibliography 140

Index 141

About the Authors 147