[Cogebrego]

Ajahn Sumedho teaches that the Jhanic states are natural when we are truly mindful


This morning I was talking to Venerable Subbato and he was saying he never has developed anapanasati, mindfulness of the breath. So I said, 'Can you be mindful of one inhalation?' And he said, 'Oh yes.' 'And of one exhalation?' And he said, 'Yes.' And I said, 'Got it!'

There's nothing more to it than that. However, one tends to expect to develop some special kind of ability to go into some special state. And because we don't do that, then we think we can't do it.

But the way of the spiritual life is through renunciation, relinquishment, letting go not through attaining or acquiring. Even the jhanas [1] are relinquishments rather than attainments. If we relinquish more and more, letting go more and more, then the jhanic states are natural. http://www.pathandfruit.com/Articles...One_Breath.htm



As far as I can see we practice morality in order to have a more "balanced" mind less caged by sensual infatuation etc. This then leads to easier development of mindfulness. This then leads to the abandoning of the hindrances, since during sati you dont hold or repel and to abandon something you dont get rid of it or hold it but just notice it then let it go.

Once the hindrances are abandoned then the Jhanic states arises naturally, since they are defined as arising when the hindrances are let go off. This then leads to more powerful concentration and apprehension of the way it is, namely anicca, dukkha and anatta which then leads to an understanding of the four noble truths, this insight then leads to dis-passion in regard to dhammas and then non-attachment, nibbana

In essence they are a natural outcome of the practice of letting go


thats my understanding anyway


metta