Right Concentration Quotes

“These four preliminary practices of keeping the precepts, guarding the senses, maintaining mindfulness, and being content with little are “off-the-cushion” practices that you need to make the four cornerstones of your basic way of life. Without the support of these practices, meditation “on the cushion” usually proceeds in fits and starts, if it proceeds at all. For learning jhānas, it really is necessary to have a quality daily on-the-cushion meditation practice worthy of the word daily, hopefully of at least forty-five minutes and preferably an hour or more. These four practices go a long way to making that possible.”
― Leigh Brasington, Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas

“We can now construct the following table: abandoning the hindrances—access concentration gladness (pāmojja)—focusing on the pleasant sensation rapture (pīti)—first and second jhānas bodily tranquility (passaddhakāya)—second and third jhānas happiness (sukha)—third jhāna (the pīti is gone since passaddhakāya precedes this; therefore, third jhāna only) concentration (samādhi)—fourth jhāna”
― Leigh Brasington, Right Concentration: A Practical Guide to the Jhanas