I am one who has gone in and out of what Nick calls Jhana my whole life. Now 67 years old, my first memory of this state is from my fifth year. I can attest to what Nick says, namely, that this ecstatic experience is more pleasurable than sexual orgasm. I can also attest that when one is in Jhana, one can carry on one's regular daily routine, yes, even walk and talk at the same time, except that when one is walking, one floats, and when one talks, the words flow effortlessly.
Those who have not been in Jhana and thus gainsay the actuality of it should realize that it cannot be expressed in words, just as any other experience cannot be expressed in words. For example, if you've never tasted an avocado, it would be impossible for me to describe the taste to you. You just have to taste it yourself. The same with Jhana; you just have to experience it yourself. And I wish that everyone could experience Jhana, as I believe the world would then become a more peaceful and loving place.
This touches on the problem of language. Nick has chosen, and for the sake of this comment I have complied with his choice, the Pali word, Jhana, which is sometimes translated as meditation. In Sanskrit, it is Dhyana, which became Chan in Chinese, Seon in Korean, and Zen in Japanese. It seems that the ancient Indian spiritual practice has given us the most useful vocabulary to try to communicate this blissful, liberating state. Other Indian words attempting to describe this state are Ananda (bliss), Sambhoga (supreme pleasure), Samadhi (concentration), and Advaita (nonduality).
I applaud Nick and Scott for bringing this discussion of this real experience to the foreground and making it a subject to be studied physiologically as well as psychologically. (Sam Harris alluded to this in the closing pages of his book, The End of Faith.) May all be happy, peaceful, and free!
I am one who has gone in and out of what Nick calls Jhana my whole life. Now 67 years old, my first memory of this state is from my fifth year. I can attest to what Nick says, namely, that this ecstatic experience is more pleasurable than sexual orgasm. I can also attest that when one is in Jhana, one can carry on one's regular daily routine, yes, even walk and talk at the same time, except that when one is walking, one floats, and when one talks, the words flow effortlessly.
Those who have not been in Jhana and thus gainsay the actuality of it should realize that it cannot be expressed in words, just as any other experience cannot be expressed in words. For example, if you've never tasted an avocado, it would be impossible for me to describe the taste to you. You just have to taste it yourself. The same with Jhana; you just have to experience it yourself. And I wish that everyone could experience Jhana, as I believe the world would then become a more peaceful and loving place.
This touches on the problem of language. Nick has chosen, and for the sake of this comment I have complied with his choice, the Pali word, Jhana, which is sometimes translated as meditation. In Sanskrit, it is Dhyana, which became Chan in Chinese, Seon in Korean, and Zen in Japanese. It seems that the ancient Indian spiritual practice has given us the most useful vocabulary to try to communicate this blissful, liberating state. Other Indian words attempting to describe this state are Ananda (bliss), Sambhoga (supreme pleasure), Samadhi (concentration), and Advaita (nonduality).
I applaud Nick and Scott for bringing this discussion of this real experience to the foreground and making it a subject to be studied physiologically as well as psychologically. (Sam Harris alluded to this in the closing pages of his book, The End of Faith.) May all be happy, peaceful, and free!