Originally posted by Dream Seeds:
I've read "Awakening our Sleeping Minds", and "The Earth People". I
found 'The Earth People" a difficult read though and have put that
one aside to be reread at a later date. I've started "Awakening the
Buddha Within". The author mentions a few different reasons why
people are interested in spirituality. The reason most appropriate
for me is a desire to understand myself. I don't need to know
everything. I think thats why "The Earth People" isn't clicking
just yet.
I see... ok 
Its good to know more Jen Chen in English books are in the
pipeline. I look forward to their release.
Venerable Jue Ru is an inspiration. She is such a fantastic
speaker, and a marvellous listener. I could listen to her speak all
day and all night.
Yup... I am also looking forward to the new english books.
Wow... sounds great.. I think she must be very good at that
Her practise must be really great too. Looking
forward to see her again.
I've heard Ajahn Brahmavamso speak a few times. In fact I heard
him speak the Friday before last, just before he went off to Rains
Retreat. He is a good speaker even if his style of meditation
doesn't click with me. Are you able to explain "his path emphasizes
developing Jhanas, which is a form of meditative absorption"
please. Or is mental wandering not permitted on this forum? Im new
here so Im not sure if we are permitted to wander off on tangents
but here goes anyway, I don't understand the term "meditative
absorption".
Well there is no restrictions whatsoever as to what can be
discussed here as long as its related to Buddhism. In fact
regarding the 8 jhanas, if you have the opportunity to listen to
the Chinese audio files by Venerable Shen Kai, you will have heard
about him saying that Jen Chen Buddhists do not need to go through
the path of jhanas, and also described the various jhanas. Jhana is
a form of meditative absorption of deep bliss, meaning the mind is
absorbed in deep meditative joy, each stage characterised by
different forms of meditative joy.
Basically there are 8 jhanas (meditative absorptions),
(notes:
vitakka - thinking; directed thought; initial attention
vicara - pondering; applied thought; sustained attention
piti - delight, rapture, euphoria, ecstasy; interest
sukkha - joy, happiness
ekaggata - one-pointness of mind)
Rupa Jhanas
1. "Quite secluded from sense desires, secluded from unwholesome
states of mind -- one enters and remains in the first Jhana which
is with vitakka and vicara and is filled with piti and sukkha born
of seclusion.
2. "Further, with the stilling of vitakka and vicara, by gaining
inner tranquillity and unification of mind, one enters and remains
in the second Jhana which is free from vitakka and vicara and is
filled with piti and sukkha born of concentration.
3. "Further, with the fading away of piti, remaining imperturbable,
mindful, and clearly aware, one enters the third jhana and
experiences within himself the sukkha of which the Noble Ones
declare, "Happy is he who dwells with equanimity and
mindfulness."
4. "Further, with the abandoning of pleasure and pain -- as with
the earlier disappearance of joy and sorrow -- one enters and
remains in the fourth Jhana which is beyond pleasure and pain; and
purified by equanimity and mindfulness.
Anguttara Nikaya V.28
Arupa Jhanas
5. "With the complete transcending of bodily sensations, with the
disappearance of all sense of resistance, and not heeding
perceptions of diversity, thinking, 'space is infinite,' one enters
and remains in the Sphere of Infinite Space.
6. "With the complete transcending of the Sphere of Infinite Space,
thinking, 'consciousness is infinite,' one enters and remains in
the Sphere of Infinite Consciousness.
7. "With the complete transcending of the Sphere of Infinite
Consciousness, thinking, 'There is no-thing,' one enters and
remains in the Sphere of No-thingness.
8. "With the complete transcending of the Sphere of No-thingness,
one enters and remains in the Sphere of Neither Perception nor
Non-perception."
Digha Nikaya 15
----
There are the 4 Form jhanas and the 4 Formless jhanas, each jhana
linked to an individual celestial/heavenly planes. The first 4
jhanas still have 'physicality'/'forms', the last 4 jhanas is
beyond form, it is formless. But there is still a mental
consciousness existing, we have not transcended Samsara. Below the
jhana heavens, there are also 6 heavens belonging to the Sensual
plane, enjoying sensuous pleasures. Jhana heavens transcend
sensuous pleasures, their joy is a form of meditative absorption as
shown above. Those who is skilled in entering Jhanas in meditation
can at death, be reborn in the Jhana heavens.
However even reaching 8th Jhana does not mean you are liberated
from samsara as a subtle mental consciousness still exist that
binds you towards samsara, and when the karmic seeds ripen, you may
even fall down into the lower realms from there again. Therefore
even the highest heavens are not a safe place for refuge. Although
Jhanas are not the ultimate goal of Theravada, jhanas are used as a
means to attain certain amount of calmness in order for Insights to
develope. However in Ren Cheng, we practise a more direct path that
does not need to go through the various stages of jhanas.
I haven't heard Missionary Chen Ming An's talks. I attended the
Global Conference in Perth last month and heard many brilliant
speakers. And I've heard Lama Zopa Rinpoche and thats it. Some of
the Chinese speakers have translators and I take a little FM radio
along and tune into the translation channel. I shall watch out for
Chen Ming An. Does he have another name? I'm having troubles
googling him.
I see.. interesting. I've also heard about the Global Conference
Was interested to find out the conversations on
certain topics but could not find it on the net, so nevermind.
Missionary Chen Ming An is a Taiwanese teacher in charge of giving
important dharma teachings to Jen Chen disciples around the world,
so in a sense he is the dharma successor of Venerable Shen Kai. I
don't think he has an english name.
Thank you for your time. I'm enjoying this sharing of
information.
Oh welcome.. enjoyed chatting
