The first four jhanas are called the Fine Material Jhanas. The sensations and experiences in these stages of jhanas are sensations we experience in our daily physical lives, except that they are more profound and intense during meditation.

The subsequent stages of jhanas have sensations that are less familiar to us as they pertain to the formless realms.

1. First Jhana
   • Vitaka (initial attention)
   • Vicara (sustained attention)
   • Piti (rapture)
   • Sukha (bliss)
   • Ekagatta (one-pointedness)

   The prerequisites for the attainment of jhanas are to be "secluded from sense desires" and "secluded from unwholesome states of mind". This requires a strong moral foundation.

   Entering the first jhana requires initial as well as sustained attention to the object of meditation. With adequate sustained attention, one enters the first jhana and experience piti, sukha and ekagatta.

   Piti is a pleasant physical sensation that courses throughout the entire body, penetrating all the way to the cells. Sukha is a pleasant emotional sensation that is often described as blissful or joy. In the presence of all these experiences is ekagatta or one-pointedness of the mind.

   
   

2. Second Jhana
   • Piti (rapture)
   • Sukha (bliss)
   • Ekagatta (one-pointedness)

   In the second jhana, vitaka and vicara slip into the background as the pleasurable physical sensation of piti becomes the dominant experience.

   
   

3. Third Jhana
   • Sukha (bliss)
   • Ekagatta (one-pointedness)

   The third jhana sees the slipping away of the bodily sensation as the pleasant emotional sensation of bliss or sukha takes dominant position.

   
   

4. Fourth Jhana
   • Ekagatta (one-pointedness)

   Finally, in the fourth jhana, all material sensations disappear, leaving behind only the experience of ekagatta or one-pointedness of mind. This is the sense of stillness in the mind that continues to grow in prominence and intensity.

   
   

5. Fifth Jhana
   • The sphere of boundless space
6. Sixth Jhana
   • The sphere of boundless consciousness
7. Seven Jhana
   • The sphere of nothingness
8. Eight Jhana
   • The sphere of neither perception or non-perception

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