Correct concentration

The jhanas are eight extraordinary stages of consciousness aroused by concentration, each stage requiring more concentration than the last. As part of the eightfold path, the Buddha equated "correct concentration" with the practice of the jhanas. Jhana is not the same as enlightenment, but it is ideally suited for concentrating the mind and preparing it for liberating insight. Practicing jhana is not only for those who have chosen a monastic life, but also for serious laymen.

In this book, Leigh Brasington takes away the veils that have covered the practice of jhana over time. He gives clear instructions in clear and accessible language on how to reach these stages of concentrated attention. He points out the pitfalls you may encounter along the way and offers a wealth of material on the theory of jhana practice – all geared towards practical practice.

Leigh Brasington was born in 1949 and grew up in Leland, Mississippi. He attended Rhodes College in Memphis and received a BA in Mathematics in 1971. With this, he embarked on a 35-year career of 'paid computer games'. He began meditating in 1985 and became the oldest North American student of Buddhist teacher Ayya Khema. He received her teaching authorization and started guiding retreats in 1997. He has since been teaching the jha¯nas and developing insight in over a hundred retreats.