Dear Dieter,

The matter has already been very well researched
and explained by Richard Shankman in his book
"The Experience of Samadhi". Geoff Shatz has also
done a good share of research, presented in
Dhammawheel (by the name Ñana). E.g. Jhana
According to the Pali Nikayas.
http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=5761

As I can tell from their writing, both of them
are experienced meditator. They quote much from
texts to substantiate their view points, but
aren't speaking from mere textual understanding.
They are well qualified to speak on the matter.

kb

Dieter Moeller wrote thus at 12:29 AM 24-01-13:

>Hi Ven.Kumara and Gerard,
>
>I like to suggest to take following essay into
>consideration of our discussion.
>
>Interpretations of the Jhanas http://www.leighb.com/jhanantp.htm
>
>(extract from introduction)
>Although the Jhanas appear very frequently in
>the discourses of the Buddha (suttas), now two
>and a half millenna later there is no generally
>agreed upon interpretation of what exactly these
>states of concentration are. This paper is a
>highly subjective attempt by one Jhana
>practitioner to simply list and categorize the
>various interpretations I have heard of here at
>the beginning of the 21st century. The
>information in this list is quite likely to not
>be totally accurate. ..The first broad
>categorization would be into "Sutta Style
>Jhanas" and "Visuddhimagga Style Jhanas .....
>
>D: I wonder whether the suttatexts allow such a
>variety of interpretations and suppose
>that fitting Pali -English translations must
>be checked within its context. For example the
>question concerning ' absorbtion ' may be
>easier to be answered when we have both ,Jhana
>texts and the interpretations of Jhana practioners, in mind.
>
>with Metta Dieter