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Ajahn Brahm's junk-o-rāma, vs. Billionaire playground kāma-rāma, which one would you rather go to?

 To illustrate the difference between Ajahn Brahm's interpretation of kāmehi in first jhāna as "any objects of the 5 senses" (sights, sounds, smells, tastes...)

and a correct EBT interpretation of kāmehi as "desire for 5 cords of sensual pleasure which are pleasing, enticing..."

here is a simile:


There are two pleasure parks (ārāma)

1. Junk-o-rāma:  Ajahn Brahm owns a junk yard full of anything than can be constructed with rūpa (4 elements), so long as it's of no use, not alluring, not pleasing or desirable to anyone.

2. Kāma-rāma: Billionaire playboy Tony Stark owns a pleasure playground fully equipped with anything one can desire to please the 5 senses, beautiful women, the best food, the best music, the best shows, the best video games, the best gambling casinos, etc. Open 24 hours a day, all you can eat, etc.


Suppose there are 7 billion people on the planet who never practiced meditation seriously before.

They go on a retreat to learn first jhāna.

According to Ajahn Brahm, people will have trouble attaining first jhāna, because they long to be in his junk-o-rāma junkyard. 

Because of the longing and craving for junk, they find the only escape from junk (any objects of the 5 senses), is to enter a disembodied frozen stupor meditation where they can no longer hear sounds, see things, feel mosquito bites, etc.

Does that make any sense to you?


Or does this make more sense:

1. Billionaire playboy Tony Stark offered free passes to his Kāma-rāma pleasure playground for anyone who wants to go there instead of going on the first jhāna meditation retreat.


So out of the 7 billion people going on their first jhāna retreat, what % of them think Ajahn's Junk-o-rāma is what the Buddh'as first jhāna is referring to, as the primary threat to their entry into first jhāna?

Or do you think they find Kāma-rāma pleasure palace the real threat to distract and prevent them from entering first jhāna?


If you know the answer to that question, then you know what kāmehi in the Buddha's first jhāna formula is referring to.






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