Cultivating Absorption (jhana/dhyana) Leads to Cessation (Nibbana)

I have a deep faith in the teachings of the historic Buddha, as revealed in
the Pali canon, because I have direct experience in the efficacy of those
teachings. However, I have found the present level of translation seems to be
rather unskillful, because there are a few key areas that do not reflect the
experiences that I acquired through following the practices that are revealed in
the canon, and therefore those few unskillful translations must be challenged.

Actually, there is no evidence to support a belief that the Buddha ever
taught it took "countless lives" to either arrive at a "pleasant abiding in the
here and now" (jhana), which are the absorption states (jhanas); or their
fruition in cessation (nibbana). He said it was indeed possible to become
enlightened in this very lifetime.

Maha-satipatthana Sutta, DN 22.22
"Now, if anyone would develop these Four Cornerstones of Awareness (frames of
reference, or foundations of mindfulness) in this way for seven years, one of
two fruits can be expected for him: either gnosis (Arahantship) right here &
now, or -- if there be any remnant of clinging-sustenance -- non-return."

I am certain that if you want to become enlightened in this very lifetime,
then all you need do is follow the Noble Eightfold Path to its logical
conclusion, which is cessation. An essential part of that path is right awareness
(samma-sati), which is cultivated through the practice of concentration.
Awareness (Sati) is defined in the Sati suttas as awareness of the breath, body,
senses and mind. These are the four cornerstones of awareness (Sati).

DN 22.21
"And what is right awareness (samma-sati)? There is the case where an
aspirant remains focused on the body in & of itself -- ardent, alert, & aware --
putting aside greed & unhappiness (dukkha) with reference to the world. one
remains focused on feelings in & of themselves ... one remains focused on the mind
in & of itself ... one remains focused on mental qualities in & of themselves
-- ardent, alert, & aware -- putting aside greed & unhappiness (dukkha) with
reference to the world. This is called right awareness (samma-sati)."

Mindfulness is the common translation of the Pali term 'Sati.' I prefer to
use 'awareness' for a translation of the term 'Sati,' because that is what we
are doing when we are practicing Satipatthana, developing awareness. The word
'mindfulness' refers to the mind, which is a rather vague term in the English
language that can also mean the processes of cognition. It is some of these
processes of cognition, (perception, thinking, reasoning and memory) that we
are attempting to bring to cessation while maintaining only the awareness
component of cognition for nibbana to arise.

Awareness is separated out from the aggregate of cognition and developed
through the practice of concentration. The cultivation of awareness is revealed
in the three Sati suttas. The Sati suttas are a series of concentration
exercises that lead to the development of awareness (Sati), which leads to
absorption (jhana), which leads to cessation (nibbana).

The Noble Eight Fold Path requires Right Absorption (sama-samadhi), which is t
he cultivation of absorption states (jhanas) through the development of
awareness (Sati) by practicing the concentration techniques that are revealed in
the three Sati suttas. Right Absorption (sama-samadhi) is defined in terms of
absorption (jhana) in the Maha-satipatthana Sutta (DN 22.21).

DN 22.21
"And what is right {absorption (sama-samadhi)}? There is the case where an
aspirant -- quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful (mental)
qualities -- enters & remains in the first jhana: joy & pleasure born from
withdrawal, accompanied by applied and sustained {concentration (vitakka and
vicára)}. With the stilling of applied and sustained {concentration (vitakka and
vicára)}, one enters & remains in the second jhana: joy & pleasure born of
tranquillity, unification of awareness free from directed applied and sustained
{concentration (vitakka and vicára)} -- internal assurance. With the fading of
exuberance one remains in equanimity, (aware) & alert, physically sensitive of
ecstasy. One enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones
declare, 'Equanimous & (aware), one has a pleasurable abiding.' With the
abandoning of (grasping and aversion for) pleasure & pain -- as with the earlier
disappearance of pleasure & pain -- one enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity
of equanimity & awareness, neither pleasure nor pain. This is called right
absorption."

If you are intent upon enlightenment (nibbana) in this very lifetime, then
cultivating absorption (jhana) should be the most important thing on your mind.
That however does not mean that you have to renounce all of your material
possessions and relationships to arrive at a "pleasant abiding in the here and
now" (jhana). All you need do is follow the Noble Eight Fold Path, which
requires that one develop right awareness (samma-sati) which leads to right
absorption (samma-samadhi), which leads to cessation (nibbana).

What I have found is central to the practice of giving rise to jhana: is
relinquishment of all grasping and aversion; developing a daily contemplative
practice regimen that is "sensitive to the arising of a pleasure that is not of
sense contact;" cultivating moment-to-moment awareness (Sati); giving rise to
tranquillity (calm abiding); and sustaining that awareness and tranquillity
throughout the day.

At each practice session simply sit as though it is your last act in life,
and sit with no intention to end the session. The session will end itself.
Then either begin your day if it is the beginning of your day, or go about your
day if it is the middle of your day, or go to bed, if it is the end of the day.
I know that if you practice as little as 5 minutes three times a day you
will have far more success than the person who attends a 10 day retreat every
year, but never meditates in between.

Many Buddhist traditions seem to reject the cultivation of absorption
(jhana/dhyana). The vipassana community believes there is a method called "dry
insight" that leads to nibbana. I am certain a belief in a "dry insight" practice
is a fiction that is a product of 2 and half Millennia of corruption by a
sangha who has lost the way.

There are only 3 tiny references in the Pali canon that can maybe be
construed to support a belief in a 'dry' practice regimen, however those three lines
in thousands of pages of text that are dedicated to the cultivation of
absorption (jhana) are most probably apocryphal. And, even if the historic Buddha
actual uttered them, why should one throw out 10,000 pages of text that are
dedicated to the cultivation of right absorption (samma-samadhi) in support of
three obscure lines that claim one can avoid one of the steps in the Noble Eight
Fold Path?

Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translations of the above suttas are available at these
URLs:

Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn118.html
Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/majjhima/mn010.html
Maha-satipatthana Sutta (DN. 22)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/canon/sutta/digha/dn22.html

The alternate translations that I used are available at this URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jhanas/files/

May you become enlightened in this very lifetime.

Jeff Brooks