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Wisdom of the Masters

Ajahn Lee Breath and First Jhana

27 Jul 2022

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What guided meditation techniques does Ajahn Lee emphasize?

10.797 - 38.037 Ajahn Lee

Keeping the Breath in Mind by Ajahn Lee Damodaro

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46.066 - 50.322 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Start out with three long in and out breaths.

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81.014 - 106.077 Ajahn Lee

now take seven long in and out breaths thinking bud with the in-breath and do with the out-breath bud do

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111.524 - 377.46 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

BUD-DO BUD-DO Keep the meditation syllable as long as the breath. Be clearly aware of each in and out breath. Observe the breath as it goes in and out. Noticing whether it's comfortable or uncomfortable. broad or narrow, obstructed or free-flowing, Fast or slow? Short or long? warm or cool.

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401.171 - 495.484 Ajahn Lee

If the breath doesn't feel comfortable, Adjust it until it does. For instance, if breathing in long and out long is uncomfortable, try breathing in short and out short. As soon as you find that your breathing feels comfortable, let this comfortable breath sensation spread to the different parts of the body.

Chapter 2: How can I adjust my breath for comfort during meditation?

520.76 - 585.158 Ajahn Lee

To begin with, inhale the breath sensation at the base of the skull and let it flow all the way down the spine. Then, if you are male, let it spread down your right leg to the sole of your foot, to the ends of your toes and out into the air. Inhale the breath sensation at the base of the skull again and let it spread down your spine.

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down your left leg to the ends of your toes and out into the air. If you are female, begin with the left side first because the male and female nervous systems are different. Then let the breath from the base of the skull spread down over both shoulders, past your elbows and wrists, to the tips of your fingers and out into the air.

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Let the breath at the base of the throat spread down the central nerve at the front of the body, past the lungs and liver, all the way down to the bladder and colon.

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790.186 - 958.399 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Inhale the breath right at the middle of the chest and let it go all the way down to your intestines. let all these breath sensations spread so that they connect and flow together and you will feel a greatly improved sense of well-being Breathe whichever way is most comfortable for you.

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Become acquainted with the bases or focal points for the mind.

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The resting spots of the breath.

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And center your awareness on whichever one seems most comfortable.

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A few of these bases are the tip of the nose, the middle of the head, the palate, the base of the throat, the breastbone or the tip of the sternum and lastly the navel or a point just above it.

Chapter 3: What are the focal points for breath awareness in meditation?

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if you suffer from frequent headaches or nervous problems. Don't focus on any spot above the base of the throat.

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And don't try to force the breath or put yourself into a trance.

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Breathe freely and naturally.

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Let the mind be at ease with the breath, but not to the point where it slips away.

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you you Thank you.

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Spread your awareness, your sense of conscious feeling throughout the entire body.

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Unite the breath sensations throughout the body. Letting them flow together comfortably. Keeping your awareness as broad as possible.

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you you

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Once you're fully aware of the aspects of the breath you already know in your body, you'll come to know all sorts of other aspects as well.

Chapter 4: How do I let breath sensations flow throughout my body?

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Those flowing around and about the nerves. Those spreading from the nerves to every pore.

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and keeping your awareness inside your body. Don't try to imprison it there.

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In other words, don't try to force the mind into a trance.

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1662.539 - 1740.42 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Don't try to force the breath or hold it to the point where you feel uncomfortable or confined. You have to let the mind have its freedom. Simply keep watch over it. to make sure that it stays separate from its thoughts.

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If you try to force the breath and pin the mind down, your body is going to feel restricted and you won't feel at ease in your practice. You'll start hurting here and aching there and your legs may fall asleep.

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So just let the mind be its natural self.

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Keeping watch to make sure that it doesn't slip out after external thoughts.

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you

Chapter 5: What are the five factors of the first level of jhana?

1886.302 - 1905.458 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

cutting off concepts doesn't mean that we stop thinking. It simply means that we bring our thinking inside.

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1911.935 - 1929.505 Ajahn Lee

to put it to good use by observing and evaluating the theme of our meditation.

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1952.485 - 1954.449 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The field here is our body.

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1966.17 - 1975.827 Ajahn Lee

If we put a lot of thought and evaluation into our breathing, the four properties of the body will be balanced and at peace.

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1987.467 - 2004.582 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

The body will be healthy and strong. The mind relaxed and wide open. Free from hindrances.

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Thank you.

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Now we will summarize the methods of breath meditation under the heading of jhana. Jhana means to be absorbed or focused in a single object or preoccupation as when we deal with the breath.

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The first level of Jhana has five factors.

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One, directed thought. Think of the breath until you can keep it in mind without getting distracted.

Chapter 6: How do joy and pleasure manifest in the first jhana?

2168.379 - 2170.041 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Keep the mind with the breath.

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Don't let it stray after other concepts or preoccupations. Watch over your thoughts so that they deal only with the breath to the point where the breath becomes comfortable. The mind becomes one at rest with the breath.

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Three, evaluation.

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The mind is focused exclusively on issues connected with the breath. Gain a sense of how to let this comfortable breath sensation spread and connect with the other breath sensations in the body.

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2322.949 - 2333.948 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Let these breath sensations spread. until they're interconnected all over the body.

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Once the body has been soothed by the breath, feelings of pain will grow calm.

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The body will be filled with good breath energy.

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Thank you.

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These three qualities must be brought together to bear on the same stream of breathing for the first level of jhana to arise. Directed thought, singleness of preoccupation, evaluation. These act as the causes.

Chapter 7: What are the causes and results of the first level of jhana?

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When the causes are fully ripe, results will appear. The fourth factor of joy or rapture will appear. A compelling sense of fullness and refreshment for body and mind.

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2539.285 - 2601.743 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Going straight to the heart. independent of all else. And the fifth factor to arise will be pleasure.

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Physical ease arising from the body's being still and unperturbed. Mental contentment arising from the mind's being at ease on its own.

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2637.146 - 2653.105 Thanissaro Bhikkhu

Undistracted. Unperturbed. Serene. And exultant.

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The factors of the first level of jhāna thus come down simply to two sorts, causes and results.

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Joy and pleasure are the results.

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Thanks for watching!

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