Bodhipaksa on Dhyana as Insight Practice

We will explore dhyana not as an end in itself, and not as a mere preparation for insight practice, but as a state in which we can cultivate insight — which is how the Buddha taught it.

Perhaps the main reason dhyana is elusive for many people is that we are not taught a systematic method for experiencing it. To remedy that, I'll outline a simple, three-stage approach that I’ve been evolving for almost 30 years. Having done that, I’ll discuss how within the experience of dhyana our entire being is perceived in terms of vibrant, spacious calmness; a flowing, shimmering, tingling sense of physical aliveness; and a soft, radiant joy. This is an ideal vehicle for appreciating the un-owned, insubstantial, impermanent nature of our being.

Finally, we’ll see how the relationship between dhyana and insight is a two-way street: Dhyana supports insight, but insight also helps to stabilize and intensify meditative absorption.