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Difference between Buddha's Jhāna, and Vism. + Ajahn Brahm redefinition of Jhāna explained in 15 seconds of video

 Reading the sutta passages on jhāna, and putting those instructions into practice is like this:

with Vism. + Ajahn Brahm redefinition of Jhāna

Using a crooked dictionary where "verbal linguistic thoughts" are redefined as "no thinking is possible because mind is in a frozen stupor",

and (physical) "body", is redefined as "body of only mental factors, physical senses are shut off". 


Notice at the end of that video clip, the guy is living in denial and insists, "Hey! That [bumpy ride] smoothed right out!"

Just like Ajahn Brahm and Vism. apologists insist all that dictionary rewriting is smooth, coherent, and makes perfect sense.


Buddha's Jhāna

Using an honest dictionary




Ajahn Brahm and his followers stubbornly insist 

that an automobile with four square wheels is "real jhāna" raft that crosses the ocean of suffering and takes you to the island of nirvana





Forum discussion


Re: Difference between Buddha's Jhāna, and Vism. + Ajahn Brahm redefinition of Jhāna explained in 15 seconds of video

Post by frank k » 

Pondera wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2024 6:32 pm
frank k wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2024 2:12 amhttps://notesonthedhamma.blogspot.com/2 ... a-and.html
I will neither agree nor disagree, because I’ve had success with kasina nimitta style jhanas and they are exactly as the Ajahns claim them to be. They’re extremely difficult to cultivate, harder to enter, and even harder to remain in - however their doctrine (Brahm and Buddhaghosa) represent a very old lineage of teaching which originated in what are some of the only real Theravada Buddhist countries that exist on the earth. So, why not show a little respect? Is it because of the translations?
Taoist, other religions have similar techniques that work also.
The difference is, they don't call it the authentic Buddha's sutta teachings,
and they don't redefine words in the suttas to try to pretend it's the Buddha's words.

They (people who corrupt the buddha's teachings) don't deserve respect because they don't act honorably and honestly.
If they were honest about it,
that their system is derivative, or not even Buddhist, but that it is possible to use it as a samādhi on an authentic Buddhist path,
then they would be deserving of respect.

Some criminals steal money, white collar criminals get away with it all the time.
"They've had success with their methods."
Do they deserve your respect?

Donald Trump is a racist, misogynist, insurrectionist, rapist, etc.
Somehow he's not in jail, and even being allowed to run for President.
Seems to be working for him.
Does he deserve your respect? He is "having some success" with his methods.

Burning witches, saints, famous scientists in history who were thought to be crazy but proven correct,
is also an ancient tradition that has had some success.
Do those methods deserve your respect?



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