WHAT IS THE TRUE PURPOSE OR REASON FOR DEVELOPING THE JHANAS? - Dhamma Q&A

<p><strong>Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.</strong></p> <p>In this Dhamma session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19): &nbsp;</p> <p><em><strong>"Meditators seem to fall into two baskets with the jhānas – (1) you really need them and can get intoxicated with them, or (2) you don’t need them and ignore them entirely. So, this might be a silly question, but I respectfully ask anyway, what’s the deal with the jhānas? We know the Buddha taught them in a lot of suttas and encouraged them, but what is the true purpose or reason for developing the jhānas?" &nbsp;</strong></em></p> <p>To answer this question, we look specifically at the Buddha's references to the four jhānas in selected suttas (**please note this answer does not mix references to teachings from other traditions or practices, solely the Buddha's Noble Path to Liberation**). &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk:&nbsp;</p> <ul> <li>— Vijjā Sutta (AN 10.105)&nbsp;</li> <li>— Paṭhamasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.89)&nbsp;</li> <li>— Mahāsāropama Sutta (MN 29)&nbsp;</li> <li>— Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN 53) &nbsp;</li> <li>— Nagaropama Sutta (AN 7.67) &nbsp;</li> <li>— Āvijja Sutta (AN 10.61) &nbsp;</li> <li>— Upakkilesa Sutta (AN 5.23) &nbsp;</li> <li>— Vitthata Sutta (AN 5.14)&nbsp;</li> <li>— Dutiyavibhaṅga Sutta (SN 48.10) &nbsp;</li> <li>— Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33)&nbsp;</li> <li>— Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9) &nbsp;</li> <li>— Mahāmoggallānasutta (AN 4.167)&nbsp;</li> <li>— Sāriputtasutta (AN 4.168)&nbsp;</li> <li>— Gaṅgāpeyyālavagga (SN 53.1-12) &nbsp;</li> <li>— Oghavagga (SN 53.45-54) &nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><em>Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who asked this question.</em></p> <p><strong>The video of this Extract has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel -&nbsp;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq8TWmgrue0</strong></p> <p>Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai</p> <p>To find the YT Sutta Meditation