difference between samadhi, jhana, vipassana, samatha, etc.

[marc108]

this is worth reading if you're interested in a canonical understanding:

http://santipada.org/aswiftpairofmessengers/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

chapter 2:

The pre­cise deno­ta­tion of samatha and vipas­sanā in the con­text of med­i­ta­tion can be derived from a pas­sage quoted more fully below. Samatha is the steady­ing of the mind, its set­tling, uni­fy­ing, and con­cen­trat­ing in samādhi. It is there­fore sim­i­lar in mean­ing to one-pointedness of mind, the most dis­tinc­tive men­tal qual­ity of jhāna or samādhi.4 Vipas­sanā is the see­ing and explor­ing of activ­i­ties. It there­fore refers to wis­dom in its refined mode of inves­ti­ga­tion into the nature of real­ity as experience.

[Bakmoon]

are jhana and samadhi one and the same?

jhana being absorptions and samadhi meaning "concentration" is there any time samadhi means it's own separate thing?

vipassana i believe is insight which is looking at things with the mind and developing insight into them.

samatha is calm? so a jhanic factor?

i know many of these terms are likely used for describing a progression, as in metta can be samatha but then lead into jhana and so on.

so how many types are there once you get up the ladder (ie: past the method and into a different state of consciousness?

just jhana and vipassana?

Let me give it my best shot.

Samadhi means something like focus or concentration, although personally I prefer the translation "collectedness." It refers to a certain strength and stability of mind which can be developed through meditation.

Jhana refers to certain states of mind which have very strong Samadhi, the mind is free from the five hinderances, and various Jhanic factors are present (The exact factors depend on which Jhana you are talking about).

Samatha refers to tranquility and peace in the mind that is developed in meditation.

Vipassana refers to the quality of the mind to clearly and truly see its mental objects. It is a certain kind of mental clarity that is very important in meditation.

I hope that is a good and simple answer for you.

[alan...]

are jhana and samadhi one and the same?

jhana being absorptions and samadhi meaning "concentration" is there any time samadhi means it's own separate thing?

vipassana i believe is insight which is looking at things with the mind and developing insight into them.

samatha is calm? so a jhanic factor?

i know many of these terms are likely used for describing a progression, as in metta can be samatha but then lead into jhana and so on.

so how many types are there once you get up the ladder (ie: past the method and into a different state of consciousness?

just jhana and vipassana?

Let me give it my best shot.

Samadhi means something like focus or concentration, although personally I prefer the translation "collectedness." It refers to a certain strength and stability of mind which can be developed through meditation.

Jhana refers to certain states of mind which have very strong Samadhi, the mind is free from the five hinderances, and various Jhanic factors are present (The exact factors depend on which Jhana you are talking about).

Samatha refers to tranquility and peace in the mind that is developed in meditation.

Vipassana refers to the quality of the mind to clearly and truly see its mental objects. It is a certain kind of mental clarity that is very important in meditation.

I hope that is a good and simple answer for you.

great thanks!

[alan...]

I never said jhana--->samadhi. The words "practice of" is incorrectly omitted.

if you're talking about me i copied and pasted your words, nothing is omitted. copy what i wrote and hit "ctrl+f" and then paste what i wrote in the box and hit "next" it will bring you to your own words which were identical, i just did it.

EDIT: looking closer i see you were talking to polarbuddha or daverupa as our conversation had already ended and the omitted words you're referencing aren't even in the post i quoted but are in a later one that dave and polar talked about but did not directly quote using the quote tool thingy.

[SarathW]

Good link if you have time to read it:

http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/printguna.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[SarathW]

My understanding is that he learned some formless attainments from his two teachers, then set that all aside in order to pursue the jhanas - the first one of which he had discovered on his own as a youth, and he was able to pursue and develop and master all four at Uruvela. Jhana was, in fact, the missing piece of the puzzle.

"Jhana was, in fact, the missing piece of the puzzle."

This is the first time I heard this. Interesting.