The 8 Jhanas: Ancient Meditative States To Escape The Simulation

The eight jhanas of Theravada Buddhism represent the discrete stages of meditation that a practitioner must progress through in order to reach enlightenment. In Therevada Buddhism, this perfected state of being is called Nibbana and is characterized by the end of samsara, meaning the cycle of rebirth, and the elimination of suffering. Due to their significance on the path to liberation and spiritual purity, the eight jhanas are a major focus of study and contemplation for all students of Theravada Buddhism.

Chapter 1: Roots of Theravada Buddhism

History: Theravada Buddhism developed out of the Sthaviravada branch of Buddhism around the third century B.C.E. and is widely accepted as the oldest form of Buddhism. It is also considered to be the most traditional, being that the sect only accepts the teachings of the Pali Canon which is believed to contain the earliest recorded teachings of the Buddha. The practices of Theravada monks are said to be the same as those of the original “sangha”, or monastic community, that the Buddha instructed while he was still alive. This strain of Buddhism evolved and got its moniker in Sri Lanka before eventually spreading throughout the East and becoming dominant in Myanmar and later Cambodia and Laos. The goal of a Theravada Buddhist is to become what they call an “arahant”. An “arahant” is a perfected sage who has attained enlightenment through strict adherence to the Vinaya Pitaka, the monastic rules as determined by the Buddha. This way of life that the Buddha claimed led to Nibbana was called the eightfold path.
These eight necessary elements of Buddhist practice consist of right view, right aspiration, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. It is within this final step of right concentration that the eight jhanas come into focus.

#jhana #theravadabuddhism #vipassana

Script: Milo Reed

Edit: Harsh

Voiceover: Abhinav Banerjee

Score: Original

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