Hello, In the Jhana that Beth teach according to the Visudhimaga, there is unbroken awarnes of the object. Which means that there is not a single moment distracted with other thing, including other senses perception, sensations etc.. The meditator entering first jhana would not be able to hear anything (crickets or even biger noise) not having thought, no smell. 5 senses are off. This for a stretch of time 15 minutes or 2 hours or 3 hours, time of absorbtion. So, easy to check if the experience is 1st jhana: meditators can check if there was disturbance or awarness of one of the senses. If hearing something that means the experience was not a jhana absorbtion. Also in the jhana, the pleasant sensation remain in the background as present factors of the jhana experience. But are not be the object, as the mind is continuously knowing just one same object (breath for exemple) end never shift to the pity or sukha.. This is different from some teachings who would instruct to take the bliss as meditation object. Those instructions are great for pleasant joyfull meditation but does not lead to Visudhimaga jhana. Jhana is different, it is keeping focus continuously on the object, not beeing distract by joy bliss or any phenomena 😊 Your description sounds like nice acces concentration experiences. With the Beth guidance pretty sure you can continue smokthly towards jhana :) From acces concentration to full jhana absorbtion it take the time to calm even more the mind and letting go of diversity, training the mind to remain still calm confortable with the very same object for a long time. I hope tis help! Would be nice to follow your progress. With much mettā from a Beth student working in that same stage ;)

@@lecroustillant1 exactly.

That probably is not Jhana. Words can be object of a Jhana. But in that case, meditator is not aware of his body sensation.

So happy that you found it helpful. Wishing you the best with your meditation.

Hello, thank you for the suggestion! I will make a video on this topic in the future.

Happy to hear you found the video helpful!

Hello Robert, the name of the resting consciousness is bhavanga, and I think Bhikkhu Bodhi translates it as "life-continuum" or something like that. You should be able to find it in his translation of the abhidhammatthasangaha.

@Beth Upton Thanks for that. Is it possible just to drop the mind? Or is jhana something like the Zen concept of no-mind?

Hello, Thank you for the suggestion. I will make another video on this topic :-)

Hello, thank you for your question. These kinds of experiences are quite common among meditators. Please feel free to book an appointment with me through my website so that we can discuss your experiences in more detail.

Hello, reaching jhana isn't so rare among meditators who are dedicated to the practice.

Rob's stuff is great, but I think those jhanas are different from the type of jhanas that Beth teaches. Burbea wasn't big on the Visuddhimagga, but Pa-Auk training is based around it. Not entirely sure on that though. Would love to know if she is familiar with Rob Burbea's stuff.

@@nicksyoutubeaccount you’re right, I believe Beth and Burbea are talking about different jhanas

Hello Myo Thein Oo, Lots of people have this problem with anapana. Please feel free to book a zoom appointment with me if you would like to discuss some was to overcome this.

@Beth Upton I would love to book zoom appointment but sadly my English speaking and listening skills are too bad. You have to speak Burmese

@@bethupton1286 I tried to book but you have no spaces available, but in all honesty I wasn’t surprised. It’s rare someone can talk about the jhanas with such descriptive experience and be easily accessible. I do hope to get a chance to talk some day with you

Hello, I think that the Nimitta at some point (when strong and stable) become the object of meditation. It is just a more refine object of meditation that the previous one that lead to it. To be corrected by Beth ;) With mettā

Thank you Sila, yes, I would agreee with your explanation. I have made another video on working with a nimitta. You may also find that video helpful.

Hello, please take a look at my video on working with a nimitta here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/j7x7bKyWzMDHdGw.html

Don't worry, one can function as usual. The problem with Jhana's is that one can get addicted to the very pleasant state of mind. Also, if one doesn't work on one's personality, negative mind aspects can get worse, meaning easier frustrated, angry aso. That is why someone should do Samantha meditation with Vipassana/insight meditation. Also, practicing Jhana's only want lead to enlightenment, Nibbana, the get you liberated.

Lmao forreal…In Leigh Brasington I trust. Ain’t no way Pau Auk has a stamp on “real” jhanas. We look at the suttas and the Buddha goes into jhana under a rose apple tree as a kid. You can’t tell me that’s a vissudhimagga jhana the Buddha went into. Leigh has sutta knowledge to back it up too. 😂😂

:O about what?

both brassington's & this theory of jhana are silly,,,,, sorry :(

@@mungojelly what’s your experience with jhana that you’ve found to be true?

@@VeritableVagabond unfortunately i can't recommend anything comprehensive except for the original pali scriptures,, translations are fine as long as you don't get hung up on the words,, i also found buddhaghosa's commentary helpful,, not sure if anyone's made any really useful contributions the past millenium & a half since then ;)