Dhyana

Categories: Buddhist meditation | Meditation | Yoga

Dhyana
Chinese Name
Hanyu Pinyin	Chán
Wade-Giles	Ch'an
Cantonese IPA	sɪm4
Cantonese Jyutping	sim
Hanzi	禪
Jiantizi	禅
Korean Name
Revised Romanization	Seon
McCune-Reischauer	Sŏn
Hangul	선
Hanja	禪
Japanese Name
Romaji	Zen
Kanji	禅
Vietnamese Name
Quốc ngữ	Thiền
Sanskrit Name
Sanskrit	ध्यान dhyāna

Dhyāna is a term in Sanskrit which refers to a type or aspect of meditation. It is a key concept in Hinduism and Buddhism. Equivalent terms are jhāna in Pāli, chán in Chinese, and zen in Japanese.

Contents 1 Dhyāna in Buddhism 2 Dhyāna in Hinduism 3 See also 4 External links

Dhyāna in Buddhism

Theravada Buddhism generally recognizes four progressive states of dhyāna, although the Pali Canon contains a scripture in which the Buddha mentions eight states. The reason for this discrepancy is not known. In East Asia, several schools of Buddhism were founded that focused on dhyana, under the names Chan, Zen, and Seon. According to tradition, Bodhidharma brought Dhyana to the Shaolin temple in China, through Tibet, where it came to be known first as chan, and then zen.
Jhanas can be described by the way of "factors", mental processes. First appear Vitakka, attention, then Vicara, then Piti, then Sukkha, both leading to the first Jhana.
Jhanic factors :

• First Jhana : Vitakka, Vicara, Piti, Sukkha, Ekkagata
  

As the meditator reaches this first Jhana, he can meditate without being disturbed by any thought or desire.

• Second Jhana : Piti, Sukkha,Ekkagata
  

All intellectual processes cease. There is only rapture, happiness, and the object. The meditator perceives no Self looking at the object.

• Third Jhana : Sukkha, Ekkagata
  

Joy disappears.

• Fourth Jhana : Upekkha, Ekkagata
  

Even happiness disappears, leading to a state with neither pleasure nor suffering. The Buddha described the Jhanas as "the footsteps of the tathagata".
Traditionally, this fourth Jhana is seen as the beginning of attaining magical powers.

These four are rupajhanas, material jhanas. An additional four arupajhanas, which can be thought of as part of the fourth rupajhana, still consist in the two factors of Upekkha and Ekkagata.
Arupajhanas are non-material jhanas, which seem clear about the object of the first arupajhana. Indeed, arupajhanas can be described considering their object :

• Fifth Jhana : infinite space
  
• Sixth Jhana : infinite consciousness
  
• Seventh Jhana : nothingness
  
• Eighth Jhana : neither perception nor non-perception
  

Usually Jhanas are exposed as part of Samatha's practice, as opposed to Vipassana. But Vipassana jhanas are also mentioned.

Dhyāna in Hinduism

According to the Hindu Yoga Sutra dhyana is one of the eight methods of Yoga, (the other seven methods are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, and Samadhi).

In the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali, the stage of meditation preceding dhyāna is called dharana. In Dhyana, the meditator is not conscious of the act of meditation (i.e. is not aware that s/he is meditating) but is only aware that s/he exists (consciousness of being), and aware of the object of meditation. Dhyana is distinct from Dharana in that the meditator becomes one with the object of meditation and is able to maintain this oneness for 144 inhalations and expirations.

The Dhyana Yoga system is specifically described by Sri Krishna in chapter 6 of the famous Bhagavad Gita, wherein He explains the many different Yoga systems to His friend and disciple, Arjuna.

See also

• Rupajhana
• Arupajhana
• Ashtanga Yoga
• Samadhi
• Bhavana

External links

• Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest")
• The Buddha's descriptions of the first four states of dhyana in the Pali Canon (Anguttara Nikaya V.28)
• Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi, and Meditation by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
• Jhana, the Joyful Home of the Way by the contemplative recluse monk Sotapanna Jhanananda (Jeffrey S, Brooks)

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