How to start a Jhana Meditation group?

[Linda]

How would I go about starting a Jhana Meditation group? What has been your experience Michael?

[jhananda]

Hello Lynda, this is a good question. Basically, if you want to start a jhana oriented meditation group, then I would start with being a member of the local Buddhist meditation groups and/or yoga studios. There, mention you are interested in forming a jhana oriented meditation group. You might find that there is sufficient interest in forming such a group within an existing meditation community. However, if you find there is no interest in a jhana oriented meditation group at any of the local Buddhist groups, then yes, do start your own.

Michael just opened up his doors for a weekly sit in his living room. This is how most meditation groups form. You could announce such a group on FaceBook, and, if you want the GWV's help promoting your group, then we can do so here, on facebook, the Jhana Support Group and elsewhere.

Michael also negotiated the GWV's Meditation Teacher Training Program. You may find completing that program not only useful as a contemplative, but also useful for starting a meditation group. It happens to be a requirement of the program to start such a group, or help form and support one.

Best regards, Jhananda

[Linda]

Thanks Jeffrey.

[Michael Hawkins]

Hi Linda,

For my current meditation group, I tapped into several communities (some online, some local) just to see if anyone would be interested in a contemplative practice that gives rise to ecstasy. When you put it in the context of ecstasy, there's generally going to be a positive response -- who doesn't want self-arising bliss, joy and ecstasy?

So, I posted invitations on Facebook (where I had around 2000 friends in January, when we first started), on Jeffrey's Jhana Support Group, on my various blogs/websites, and on a mailing list derived from my astrology work. One friend in particular invited a few of her friends, one of whom has become a solid "regular." A longtime friend of mine -- from back in my crazier days -- surprised me by wanting to sit with the group, and he's been a valuable participant. I'd say that half a dozen contemplatives have continued their commitment to the group, although it's been pretty sparse as the summer months have drawn folks into travel and other activity.

Basically, I just put the word out there, connected it with some of my articles on ecstatic meditation, and made a personal commitment to hold this space as long as folks continue to come.

Warmly,
Michael

[Linda]

Thx too Michael. One question, how do you deal with all the varieties of experience and background 'practices' that people bring to the group. You really have to know your stuff to be able to negotiate and understand where all these people are coming from. Any advice there Michael or Jeffrey?

BTW: Can you suggest how to approach Kabir and Rumi, what do you recommend starting with? What is it that you particularly like about their work, or how is it different from the others you mentioned?

[jhananda]

Hello Linda, there is good Anthropological and Archaeological evidence that suggests that all cultures from the present to deep into the pre-historic past have had some idea of the sacred. Also, if we examine the major mystics of the major religions we find that they expressed their religious experiences in much the same way, which was clearly ecstatic and charismatic. And, when we examine tribal shamanism we find similar phenomena described. We can thus conclude that no religion has a monopoly on communion with the sacred.

There is also good evidence in every religion that its priesthood has appropriated, subverted, obfuscated and mystified the experience of their progenitor. Thus, I believe every ecstatic meditation group should avoid aligning itself with a single religion, and make an effort to read quotes from the mystics. It is best to start with the major mystics, such as: Teresa of Avila; John of the Cross; Rumi, Kabir, Patanajli, Siddhartha Gautama, Jesus and Mohammed that reveal their ecstatic and charismatic experience, then broaden your reading to include other mystics that describe similar experiences.

Doing such a broad reading should lead to a depth of understanding of the charismatic experience. I can also recommend reading the essays on the GWV website, where we attempt to described the mystic’s experience in the broadest context.

Best regards, Jhananda

[Linda]

Ok thank you Jeffrey, I will do my background reading and ask questions as they arise from that.

Jeffrey, I observe on the Jhana support group and here, and from your journals in the past when living as a mendicant among the homeless, that it really seems to make no difference to you who it is that you associate with, whether it be a homeless personal with disabilities, or more intellectuals on these forums, who come and go, I wonder, how do you remain satisfied with dealing with such an array of people. I suppose normally we think of people who become 'experts' in a particular area of interest, prefer to associate with other like minded individuals, finding what they have in common being a greater value towards furthering their own particular area of interest.

I suppose this ties into my initial question about starting a meditation group, we undoubtably encounter people who go against the grain, or seem to be 'out to lunch', how do you see your relation to other people, the way in which you deal with others? I'm sorry is that clear? Is it simply out of compassion for others, no matter where they are on the path?

[jhananda]

Hello Linda, meditating at the level of the 4th jhana several times a day every day for more than 10 years has produced a profound level of fulfillment, so this is the reason why I can associate with the homeless on a daily basis, as I am doing now. Running forums where I can discuss the ecstasies with those who experience them is also quite fulfilling; however, few people seem to have direct experience with the ecstasies, even on my forums, so at times I think I will go mad living in this dry, dry desert that is for the most part devoid of bliss, joy and ecstasy. Then, I go meditate and saturate myself in bliss, joy and ecstasy, then I can handle living for a while longer in this hell-plane.

Love to all, Jhananda

[Linda]

Jeffrey, I wonder what you think of the arts? Or what it means to have 'talent'. Isn't talent in someway related to the ecstatic states?

That is not to say that people with great talents understand what they have, or what they seem to have been just 'born' with; more often becoming egocentric addicts of some kind, having their talent exploited, or exploiting it themselves, for what it is able to represent, in itself, in the form of an icon (a painting, a composition, a book, etc) as opposed to the potential it holds for self transformation?

So we, as a culture, admire these objects, meditate upon them, allow them to bring us to inner states of awareness; but while always being outside of that awareness, like a spectator - not living or fully embodying the experience that the spontaneity of that talent first held.

[Chris White]

The arts have always been connected with worship of some kind, with the divine, and our connection to that.

I guess that means then that the arts are all about 'continuity', between the material and non-material, not a single absolute experience that each one of us gets a taste of, like getting a sip from the divine cup, but as an experience with the divine within us that each one of us co-creates, uniquely.

And isn't the whole of life a co-creation with the divine?

[jhananda]

Hello Linda, yes I am familiar with the arts. In fact I have a fine art degree and a degree in creative writing. And, yes, I also understand that some people have talents in one area and not in another. For instance I have little talent in drawing; however, I had to take a drawing class to get my art degree. My art talents are in writing and photography.

Yes, I agree that some people have talent when it comes to acquiring the ecstasies; whereas others may have little talent for access to it; however, while I have little talent in drawing, I nonetheless learned to draw with a lot of hard work and training. This means that anyone can acquire the ecstasies; however, it will require hard work for most.

I meditated every day for nearly 40 years. To some that is hard work, but for me, meditation is how I relax. Whereas relaxing in front of a TV seems fruitless waste of time to me.

Best regards, Jhananda

[Chris White]

^{Then, I go meditate and saturate myself in bliss, joy and ecstasy, then I can handle living for a while longer in this hell-plane.}


Jeffrey, is it from 40 years of meditation that you have come to see this as a 'hell-plane', and do you mean that in an objective sense, or as your own experience of it? (Bad day at work?) I don't think i would personally say that this was a 'hell-plane', that's not my experience, but are you suggesting that this is an objective hell-plane for everyone, whether they know it or not?

[jhananda]

Hello Chris, you know when you are in a hell-plane when the expression of bliss, joy and ecstasy is not the norm but the exception.
You know when you are in a hell-plane when most of the beings you encounter think ecstasy is an illegal drug.
You know when you are in a hell-plane when most of the beings you encounter do not even know what bliss, joy and ecstasy is.
You know when you are in a hell-plane when the priesthood are terrified of bliss, joy and ecstasy

You know when you are in a heavenly-plane when you are surrounded by countless beings who radiate bliss, joy and ecstasy
You know when you are in a heavenly-plane when the very means of communication is upon a carrier wave of bliss, joy and ecstasy

Love to all, Jhananda

[Chris White]

I follow you Jeffrey, but what do you mean by 'hell-plane'? And is it specific people's fault for not knowing what bliss joy and ecstasy are? Can we really say this is a 'hell-plane' (however that is defined) because of ignorance?

We could just say they are ignorant, but this seems to be a much 'larger' problem than what we should identify with specific person's 'awareness' (or lack of).

Where did history go wrong and is it our fault that this is the way things are?

What are humans doing here anyways if it is our ultimate goal to transcend this 'plane' into another?

Is the heavenly-plane then the non-material domains? Are those domains the same as when we are dead?

[jhananda]

Hello Chris, this morning a friend sent me a quote, which I believe answers some of your questions.

And I saw the river
Over which every soul must pass
To reach the kingdom of heaven
And the name of the river was suffering –
And I saw the boat
Which carries souls across the river
And the name of that boat was
Love.

---Saint John of the Cross
I have seen that river and its “boat.”
You know when you are in a hell plane when everyone you meet is not completely occupied with bliss, joy and ecstasy.
You know when you are in a hell plane when those who speak of bliss, joy and ecstasy are hated.

Not being completely occupied with bliss, joy and ecstasy is not the fault of any person, or group of people, or historical movement or period; although when humans decided that they were no longer a creature on this earth, and began to behave as though they were lords of this domain, was most certainly a causal decision, which created misery for many.

However, suffering, and the lack of bliss, joy and ecstasy is a product of this domain, which makes it a hell-plane. Thus, there is no other greater service to this domain than to return to living as one of many creatures on this earth and expend every effort in cultivating bliss, joy and ecstasy.

Our purpose here is to leave suffering and anxiety behind and saturate and suffuse ourselves with love, bliss, joy and ecstasy. When we do so, then we will enter the highest heavens. Yes, the highest heavens are the top of the immaterial domains.

Hell is the bottom of the immaterial domains. This domain is a purgatory in between, where angels (devas) and devils (assures) walk on the same street, shop at the same stores, wait in the same lines, and speak to each other every day. After death the angels go back to heaven and the devils go back to hell. Angels love, and are saturated in bliss, joy and ecstasy. Devils hate and are filled with mistrust, suspicion, sadness, anxiety, worry, depression, suffering, and greed.

Love to all, Jhananda