A condition where one is practicing the method of attaining
JhÄna correctly, but energy channels are partially blocked, preventing full onslaught of unhindered jhÄna as described in
AN 5.28.
JhÄna-constipation āš is a newly created term to describe the condition in suttas such as
SN 54.7. The suttas don't give much detail explaining the cause or the workings of that underlying phenomena, just that doing passaddhi
5š and
16š¬ļøš¤ā correctly and long enough fixes it. Detailed explanation of how 16aps steps 3 and 4 and Pacification awakening factor lead from JhÄna-constipation to first JhÄna here:
5š.
Fortunately, š
JhÄna-constipation explained by Qigong Gorilla
offers many techniques to speed up the overcoming of this condition, not discussed in the suttas or
Thera-vÄda in general.
How long is too long to be jhÄna-constipated? Going longer than 3 or more weeks without seeing improvement, you should be evaluating whether you're practicing correctly, and whether you have a correct understanding of
JhÄna as the Buddha defined it, and seek help from experienced meditators.
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EBT explanation of JhÄna constipation and blocked Passaddhi
The physical symptoms as one attains and progresses through the 4 jhÄnas
(note this article is work in progress)
Unlike some of the Taoist and Hindu meditation systems that explain in detail what's happening with subtle energy and resulting physical symptoms as one attains and progresses through the four jhÄnas, in the EBT there's no detail, just some hints and suggestions at what's going on underneath the hood. This article will collect all the known relevant sutta references.
Water in the 4 jhana similes, represents piti and sukha (rapture and pleasure). The force of the water feels hydraulic, like you're sitting under a water fall, or sitting in a jacuzzi right on to of some of the jets of water shooting up your spine.
AN 5.51 simile of river split into 5: describes how the 5 hindrances divert the power of a single mighty river. That is, if the river does not split into 5, the force of the water is much greater.
SN 54.7 Kappina: (name of monk)
no shaking or trembling in body (or mind). When most people are getting close to or experiencing immature first jhana, the energy channels have blockages that cause the strong hydraulic forces of fluid flow to rebound and make various parts of the body vibrate, shake, tremble. This sutta is describing that.
AN 5.28 PaƱcaį¹
gikasamÄdhi [PaƱcaį¹
gika]: (has famous 4 jhana similes) + 5th reviewing sign
1st jhana, water is weak, and requires a person's vitakka and vicara (thought and evaluation) to apply the water to the soap powder and bind it.
2nd jhana, power is strong, feeling is hydraulic, the simile of sitting on a lake fed by a spring, is really accurate. It can feel like jacuzzi jets of water shooting up your spine, the force of the water flow is so strong.
3rd. jhana, the vibrational and flow of the water has smoothed out, it feels like a pond of still water that completely pervades the entire body.
NÄ«varaį¹a (hindrances) Vagga 6
AN 5.51 NÄ«varaį¹a [Ävaraį¹a]: 5 hindrances (+ simile of river split/united in 5)
AN 5.52 AkusalarÄsi
AN 5.53 PadhÄniyaį¹
ga
AN 5.54 Asamayasamaya [Samaya]
AN 5.55 MÄtÄputta
AN 5.56 UpajjhÄya
AN 5.57 į¹¬hÄna [Abhiį¹hapaccavekkhitabbaį¹hÄna]:
AN 5.58 LicchavikumÄra [LicchavikumÄraka]
AN 5.59 Vuįøįøhapabbajita 1
AN 5.60 Vuįøįøhapabbajita 2
AN 5.29 Caį¹
kamÄnisaį¹sa [Caį¹
kama]: 5 benefits of walking meditation
MN 62 is important
MN 62 Itās not explicit and clear about how breath meditation is used with the other meditations in the sutta, whether those other meditations are preliminary, or can be done concurrently with breath meditation. I assume the latter – when in doubt, choose the more versatile and powerful interpretation. And it works in practice. For example, steps 3 and 4 in
16š¬ļøš¤ā really just feels like water element and wind element pushing on the water for 1st and second jhana. Prior to jhana, when body is jhana constipated and tight, parts of the body feel like earth element.
āÆš¦ Qigor tells you what EBT doesnāt
Qigong gorilla explains whatās going on under the jhana hood,
explaining with a simpler method than the very complex Chinese medical theory and taoist yoga meditation.
In this section,
Essential Principles
read the 2 sections on PIE and balancing the 4 elements.
(For now, the rest of qigorās articles on jhana constipation is a loose collection of blog articles linked here, will organize when the ideas percolate and coalesce more)
š
Jhana constipation explained by Qigong Gorilla
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