How does the Bhavanga State relate to the Jhanas?
score:3
Jhana is more than just the giving up of the five senses. Each of the jhanas is the result of very strong samadhi, and has specific factors that go along with it. For example, the first jhana has five factors: rapture, pleasure, initial application of mind, sustained application of mind, and oneness of mind. As one goes deeper into the second jhana, one leaves behind initial application and sustained application of mind, and so on.
Bhavanga is very different than this however. Bhavanga is like a blank slate. All it has are the mental factors that are necessary for mind to be there and nothing else. It only occurs in the space between other kinds of mindstate. None of the jhana factors are present at all, and there isn't even any meaningful degree of awareness in it.
Upvote:0
While doing some reading I noticed the following which may shed more light on you question. Pa Auk Sayadaw and Tina Rasmussen teach that returning to bhavanga-consciousness between jhana states allows a review of the jhana factors that were present in the jhana which, according to them, is not possible when absorbed in jhana:
You examine the bhavanga with the wisdom eye after exiting jhana and before entering the next higher jhana to determine which jhana factors are, or were, present. It is impossible to examine the jhana factors or bhavanga while in jhana because in jhana there is no volition or thinking. When you are checking the jhana factors, you are in access concentration, not absorbtion. Practicing the Jhanas by Tina Rasmussen (p.77)
Pa Auk Sayadaw - Mindfulness of Breathing (p.7):
Once one can maintain the first jhana for about two or three hours, one may try to discern the five jhana factors. Whenever one emerges from jhana, one discerns the area in one's heart where the bhavanga-consciousness rests: that is the heart-materiality. The bhavanga-consciousness is bright and luminous, and looks like a mirror in the heart: that is the mind-door. And when one discerns the mind-door, one will see the anapana-patibhaga-nimitta appear there. Then one discerns the five jhana factors.
More post
- π How can I remedy the erratic energy-power that arises from vipassana aka cessation-contemplation meditation so I can feel more in-control?
- π Are the differences between Advaita Vedanta and Buddhism merely semantic/perspective?
- π What is the purpose of using a wand to hit a monk in Zen meditation?
- π Which materials exist on the construction and origin of kΕans?
- π Abhidhamma Pitaka and its relationship with theoretical physics
- π Huayan Buddhism Flower Garland
- π Remembering past lives
- π How to pronounce Ksana?
- π How is the pendulum understood in Buddhism?
- π What are your thoughts on Ajahn Maha Bua?
- π Looking for a quote from Johannes Bronkhorst
- π Why are we "trapped" in cyclic rebirth?
- π Meditation and Mouth breathing
- π Why does MN 117 refer to a dirty defiled (ΰΈΰΈ΄ΰΉΰΈ₯ΰΈͺ) right view of bondage?
- π Abhava versus Vibhava
- π What could I say to someone when they ask me "why do you meditate?"
- π nirodha vs nibbana?
- π How do I let go the ownership of the mind?
- π Is Nirvana eternal?
- π Choosing between contemplative traditions
- π Invalid logic pertaining to karma in sutta AN 5.129?
- π Being more spiritual
- π is language a barrier?
- π Personality and Conditioning?
- π Is it OK to mentally multi-task during vipassana meditation?
- π Can lay people be involved in the weapons business?
- π In Yogacara Buddhism, is discontinuity an illusion, and does change arise?
- π How are there good overweight monks?
- π The four noble truths
- π Why Lord Buddha didn't stay alive till the end of this "Kalpa"
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- π How does the Bhavanga State relate to the Jhanas?
- π How does enlightenment relate to the higher realms of existence?
- π How is the Cognitive Process described according to Buddhism? How does it relate to modern Cognitive Psychology?
- π How does one explain consistency within phenomena if the mind generates phenomena?
- π In terms of reliability of understanding reality, how does the scientific method compare with Buddhist insight practice?
- π How does the first noble truth associate dukkha with each of the five skandhas?
- π How does someone decide from what direction to approach the twelve-NidΔnas?
- π How much does the Bodhisattva way influence Theravadan practices?
- π Does anybody know the composition of the 6th council and how the delegates were chosen?
- π How does a person enter the 1st bhumi
- π How does one practice Buddhism when experience is limited by the 6 senses?
- π How does kamma create a new set of aggregates for a rebirth; how do the mechanics of this process work?
- π How does the force of ones karma determine where the mind stream goes?
- π How does a monk cope with all the bad things happening in the world if the only thing monks do is sitting and meditating?
- π How does Buddhism refute the inherent existence of sub-atomic particles?
- π How does the idea of Bodhisatva in Mahayana mesh with anattΔ?
- π How does the buddhist teachings differentiate between reality and perception?
- π Why does the mind always want to 'do something' and how to cultivate 'non-doing'?
- π How do the stages of insight before stream entry relate to the suttas
- π How does Buddhism explain the creation of everything (universe)
- π How does the Buddha subdue fear in MN4?
- π If i am the result of an aggregate, how does one refer to oneself?
- π How does one develop right view in the space of multiple views?
- π How does the Dhamma reconcile slavery?
- π How does the experience of "realisation of Sunyata" differ from "realisation of Anatta"?
- π How does the 2nd Noble truth explain the cause of suffering-as-suffering (e.g. resulting from a severe burn)?
- π How does the 'Great Doubt' compare to doubt?
- π What are the differences between joy (piti), bliss (sukha) and peace (santi) and how do the qualities relate to Nibbana?
- π How does rebirth fit with the fact that everything is impermanent?
- π How does the path according to Sheng-yen compare with scholastic Buddhism?