Jhana Meditation, Abhinna, Non-dual Awareness | Jhana8 - Meditation tips to help meditators reach Jhana, Abhinna, and non-dual awareness states of mind.

What helps in meditation? What doesn't help?

Are You On the Right Path in Meditation? (What Helps, What Doesn’t)

Vern 0 Comments buddhism, meditation practice, meditative path, no religion, path, thailand meditation, thailand retreats, Thailand temples

If you’re wondering whether you’re on the right path… if you’re wondering whether you need to move to Thailand or

Girls enjoying running meditation down a large hill at sunset.

meditation ideas

Running Meditation – How Deep Should You Go?

Vern 0 Comments meditation, meditation with running, running meditation, should I meditate while I run?

I started out with running long before meditation. Actually, I have been incredibly physically active over my lifetime (and not

Woman meditating at sunset at night looking at mountains.

meditation tips

Meditation at Night vs Morning – Which Is Better?

Vern 0 Comments meditation at night, meditation in evening, meditation in morning, morning or night, when is best time to meditate?

It depends on you! That’s the short answer. I’ve meditated both at night and in the morning and at all

Buddhist art at Suan Mokkhabalaram temple in Surat Thani province in Thailand's south.

no thought

What Are We Really?

Vern 0 Comments what are we?, what is the I?, where is the I?, who am i?, who are we?

It’s obvious that the only Vern here is held in the memory which is quickly recalled as needed. Climbing up

Meditation center in Ang Thong province, north of Bangkok, Thailand.

life meditation journal mind stopped

2021 A New Year… Meditation and Life

Vern 3 Comments ang thong, flat mind, flatline mind, meditation, sayadaw

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I’ve done little with meditation this year.

meditation book odd experiences

101 Curious and Bizarre Meditation Experiences

Vern 0 Comments 101 curious and bizarre meditation experiences, book, curious experiences, experiences, odd, weird

I’m in the final stages of editing my new book, 101 Curious and Bizarre Meditation Experiences! This book describes many

meditation for pain

Can Meditation Help Relieve Pain? Chronic Pain?

Vern 0 Comments chronic pain and meditation, meditation for pain relief, pain and meditation

This is an email I sent to a reader requesting some information about whether my meditation books would be good

meditation ideas

The Real Problem with Reaching Nirvana Through Meditation

Vern 5 Comments buddhism, Buddhist monks, buddhist nirvana, Buddhists, meditation problems, nibbana, problem reaching nirvana, reaching nirvana

[Last updated: 28 February 2020] Do you know anyone who is enlightened? Buddha showed us that it wasn’t all that

meditation tips photos

Suan Mokkh Buddhist Temple, Chaiya, Thailand

Vern 0 Comments buddhist temples in thailand, meditation retreat temple, photos buddhist temples, photos suan mokkh, suan mokkh temple, Thailand forest temple, thailand meditation retreats

I wouldn’t consider myself a Buddhist, but I do love visiting the Buddhist temples around Thailand. Just the other week

meditation tips

Meditation Catch-22

Vern 0 Comments craving during meditation, desiring during meditating, grasping during meditation, meditation catch-22, meditation issues, meditation problem, problem with meditation

Meditation Catch-22 – Don’t Want the Experiences I was lucky when I began meditating. I didn’t have any illusion about

Buddhist wheel of becoming at Suan Mokkh Buddhist temple in Surat, Thailand.

meditation journal

Meditation and Numbness, No Body, No Self | 1998

Vern 0 Comments body disappears, meditation numbness, no body meditation, no self during meditation, numb during meditation, wheel of becoming

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation, Numbness, No body, No Self I

meditation journal

Meditation Re-Starts Journal Day 1 | 1998

Vern 0 Comments meditating peace, meditation, meditation and society

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation Journal 1998 This morning at maybe

meditation journal

Day 10 – Intensive Meditation Experience

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation practice, mediation experiences, meditation, mindfulness meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 10

meditation journal

Day 9 – Intensive Meditation Experience

Vern 0 Comments add adhd, adhd, attention deficit disorder, meditation experience, meditation journal

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 9

meditation journal

Day 18 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation, meditation practice

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 18

meditation journal

Day 3 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation, meditation practice

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 3

meditation journal

Day 7 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation practice, meditation practice

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. After yesterday I didn’t know what to

meditation journal

Body Dying Dream

Vern 0 Comments body dying dream, dying in dream, I am dying dream

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. This occurred in about 1997. I wake

Rain clouds coming at Wat Tham Seua Buddhist temple in Krabi, Thailand.

meditation journal

Day 2 – Intensive Practice

Vern 0 Comments intense concentration, intense meditation, intensive meditation practice, intensive practice, meditation exercise

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation Journal Today began with rain, ended

meditation video

Fatness or Expansion of Body – Video 4

Vern 59 Comments body expanding feeling, body growing feeling, expansion feeling, fatness feeling, getting fatter in the mind, growing feeling, meditation experiences

[Page updated: 2 July 2021] This is the 4th video in the series of meditation experiences videos. The topic of

Monk walks at Wat Pah Nanachat temple in Ubon Ratchathani.

meditation journal

Various Meditation – Outside, Walking, Mirror

Vern 1 Comment mirror meditation, outside meditation, walking meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Walking, Outside, Mirror Meditation – 1998 Sitting

Theravada Buddhist Monks walking at a forest temple called Wat Suan Mokkh (Mokkhabalaram) in Chaiya, Thailand. This is an Ajahn Buddhadasa temple.

meditation journal

Meditation at Suan Mokkh Temple and Thoughts on Reality

Vern 1 Comment Buddhadasa Bhikku, Buddhist monks in Thailand, Garden of Liberation, meditation in thailand, Suan Mokkh art, Suan Mokkh Buddhist temple, Suan Mokkhabalaram temple Chaiya

Featured image above: Two monks walking to breakfast down a dirt path at Suan Mokkh Buddhist Temple in Chaiya province,

One of my favorite places in the world - Wat Nong Pah Pong in Warin Chamrap, Ubon Ratchathani province, Thailand.

meditation journal

Mountain Climb, Flat Mind, and a Question

Vern 0 Comments abhinna, clear mind, concentration, flat mind, flatline mind, high level meditation, jhana, samadhi, suan mokkh, thoughtless mind, what am I?, who am i?

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Featured image above: One of my favorite

meditation journal

Pre-Jhana Level Experience of Physical Nimitta

Vern 1 Comment meditation 1998, meditation experiences, nimitta, physical nimitta, pre-jhana meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I found this post on an old

Human Skeletons Suan Mokkh temple in Chaiya subdistrict of Surat Thani, Thailand.

meditation benefits

Does Enlightenment (Nirvana) Give You Mastery Over Emotions?

Vern 1 Comment benefits of meditation, enlightenment, master of emotions, mastery of emotions, meditation benefit, nirvana experiences

Featured image above: Human Skeletons Suan Mokkh temple in Chaiya, Surat Thani province… southern Thailand. If you’ve been following this

What am I? Am I body and blood, muscle and bone?

meditation journal

The Feeling of “Me”

Vern 0 Comments what is me, what is the ego?, where is the me, who am I, who are you

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Alan Watts, one of my favorite speakers,

Author Vern Lovic at mountain top in Krabi, Thailand.

meditation journal

Is 2014 the Year I Meditate Again?

Vern 0 Comments beginning meditation, meditation practice, starting meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. This past year, 2013, has been rather

Buddha statues - art photo from Thailand

mind changes

UG Krishnamurti and the Calamity Experience (Info + Video)

Vern 4 Comments The Calamity, U.G. Krishnamurti, UG Krishnamurti awakening, ug krishnamurti video

Years ago I found UG Krishnamurti’s books alongside Jiddu Krishnamurti’s books at the bookstore. I started reading and was immediately

A Buddhist monk's hut or kuti in southern Thailand at Wat Suan Mokkh in Chaiya province.

mind stopped

Is Silence Next? (Meditation mind changes)

Vern 8 Comments broken mind, enlightened mind, inactive mind, mind stopped silence, thought stopped

Updated: 4 July 2021 September 2013 My mind isn’t ready to do anything. It’s like I’ve been broken. I have

The silence of my mind resembles the quietness of the Thailand countryside.

meditation journal

Meditation State – I Am the Noise

Vern 0 Comments as one, at peace with everything, dissociative consciousness, everything is one, i am the noise, mediatation experiences, meditation state, meditative states, state of mind, states of meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Note – This is an old journal

meditation video

Breath Slowing, and Mind Stopping – Video 3

Vern 2 Comments brain stops thinking, breathe slowing, meditating experiences, meditation experiences, mind not thinking, mind stopping, mind stops

This is the third video in the series covering various experiences that happen during meditation as you become concentrated and

Divine eye abhinna transmission from Buddha to meditators at Suan Mokkh temple in Chaiya, Surat Thani, Southern Thailand.

meditation tips

Meditation Tips for Advanced Students

Vern 3 Comments advanced meditation tips, advanced student meditating tips, meditation tips, tips for meditators

There are a number of things advanced meditation students are doing that are impeding their progress. Assuming you want to

Toad at Wat Suan Mokkh, a Theravada Buddhist temple in Chaiya, Thailand.

meditation journal

Mind Shift While Rollerblading – Shifted Consciousness

Vern 0 Comments consciousness shift, mind shift

Mindfulness While Rollerblading… Mind Shift While rollerblading with Fern I noticed that when I looked down at the pavement there

meditation journal

A Meditation Poem

Vern 0 Comments meditation poem, Poems

“Endless Mind…” Let me sit a while body mass dissipates leaves sponge-like empty form fingers, arms & legs all gone

Thai girl showing seamless nature of reality, nothing is separate, all is one.

meditation ideas

The Word ‘Seamlessness’ Describes the Underlying Reality

Vern 0 Comments all experience is one, everything is one, meditation and seamlessness, seamless consciousness, seamless reality, seamlessness, the world is one

An online friend of mine whom I’ve never met came up with this word to describe a state of mind

meditation ideas

Buddha – What He Did… Who He Is

Vern 0 Comments buddha info, what did buddha do, who was buddha

Buddha – what he did, who he is… and my own experiences… [Some free-thinking on the buddha, meditation, vipassana, buddhism,

A white elephant by Buddha meditating in a Buddhist temple in Thailand.

meditation journal

The White Elephant in my Head

Vern 0 Comments jhana, jhana changes, jhana mind, meditation and jhana, white elephant

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts.You know the saying, there is a white

The mountain changed form while meditating. Odd experience during meditation.

meditation journal

The World is Illusion

Vern 0 Comments meditation visual field changes, mind illusion, visual illusion meditation, visual input interpretation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. This occurred on Dec 2, 2011 at

Attention Deficit Disorder Treatment with Meditation by counselor Vern Lovic, M.A.

meditation benefits

Meditation and ADHD – ADD

Vern 0 Comments adhd add, ADHD cure, meditation adhd

This was originally posted 30 Nov 2009. [Updated 8 July 2021] My mind has slowed down quite a bit from

meditation journal

Short Dream: I’m in the Way

Vern 0 Comments dream, force, i am in the way, power, strange dream

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I just remembered this dream last night,

meditation journal

Layers of Reality 6-21-09

Vern 0 Comments layered reality, layers of reality, mind affected by meditation, mind altered, mind changes in meditation, mind shift

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Today I went to one of my

Purple lotus at meditation center in Thailand.

meditation journal

What Am I Looking At? 5-31-09

Vern 0 Comments balanced mind, empty mind, equanimity, non duality, non-dualism, silent mind

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Over the last few months 6? 8?

A headless Buddha as the sun sets in Thailand.

meditation journal

Nibbana, Nirvana, or Hypnotic State? 5-23-09

Vern 0 Comments all is one, at one with everything, hypnosis, meditation state, nirvana, satori, strange state

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Sat 23 May 09 Without writing a

Men's dormitory - second floor - shows sleeping arrangements at Buddhist temple, Wat Suan Mokkh, in Southern Thailand's province of Chaiya.

meditation journal

Constant Stillness 5-16-09

Vern 2 Comments empty mind, mind not thinking, mind stillness, mind stopped, no thought, stillness of mind, total stillness

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Over the last few months, there has

meditation journal

Glowing Head | Strange Dream

Vern 0 Comments dreams, end of suffering, enlightenment, glowing head, gratitude, head dream, meditation dream, nirvana, strange dream

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. This dream occurred on 5-1-2008. [This page

Krabi Thailand Buddha at a Buddhist temple.

meditation journal

Buddhism | The Truth of It

Vern 1 Comment Ajahn Brahm, Ajahn Brahmavamso, buddhism, buddhist belief

I wrote this on April 23, 2009. [This text last updated on 8 March 2019] I’m not Buddhist per se.

meditation journal

Meditation Experiences Timeline 4-21-08

Vern 8 Comments enlightenment, krishnamurti, meditation experiences, meditation journal, meditation states, The Calamity, the process

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I was just thinking that it would

meditation journal meditation video

No Mind – Perception Shift 4-11-09

Vern 1 Comment mind shifts, no mind, perception shift, reality shift

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I sat the other evening (4/11). It

Siddhartha Gautama Buddha in anorexic state during meditation. This statue is from Suan Mokkh (Mokkhabalaram) in Chaiya province of southern Thailand.

meditation journal

Mind Stops… Hiccups Too! 4-9-08

Vern 0 Comments controlling hiccups, hiccups cure, how to stop hiccuping, meditation, meditation states, meditation stops hiccups, no thought, stopping hiccups

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. This morning I was anxious to eat

meditation journal

Layers of Reality 3-16-08

Vern 3 Comments dimensions of reality, levels of reality, meditation experiences, no time, odd meditation experience, reality, what happens when meditating?

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Last night an odd experience came to

Girl walking at sunrise in meditation on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand's south.

meditation journal

Unsettled Feeling 3-7-08

Vern 0 Comments close to enlightenment, meditative journey, meditative path, nibbana, nirvana, point of meditation, what is point of meditating, whats the point of enlightenment

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Finish the Journey, or Not? I’ve gone

Monkey at Buddhist temple in Krabi, Thailand.

meditation audio meditation journal meditation video

What is the Point of Nirvana? 9-27-07

Vern 3 Comments enlightenment, meditation, nibbana, nirvana, why enlightenment, why meditate, why nirvana

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. 9-27-07 Today I climbed the steps at

Buddhist nuns (magee) at Suan Mokkh temple in Surat, Thailand.

meditation journal meditation video

Test of Meditation 9-23-07

Vern 0 Comments distractions while meditating, meditating with noise, meditation experiment, meditation in noisy environment, meditation test, noisy environment meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Anapanasati at top of Wat Tum Sua

Walking meditation path in northeast Thailand.

meditation journal

Enlightenment, Jhana Levels – Comments 9-11-07

Vern 0 Comments enlightenment, jhana levels, nibbana, nirvana

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I haven’t read many accounts of Jhana

meditation journal meditation video

No Me to Focus on Breathing 9-3-07

Vern 0 Comments concentrated mind, equanimity, meditation, meditation journal, meditation state, peace of mind, stable mind

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I was at Wat Tum Sua again

Mountain in Krabi, Thailand at a Buddhist temple where I had a unique meditation experience.

meditation journal meditation video

3 Dimensions Turn Into 2 Dimensions 9-2-07

Vern 0 Comments 2 dimensions, 3d to 2d, meditation experiences, reality changed to 2 dimensional

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I meditated at the top of the

meditation journal meditation video

Meditating in Loud, Distracting Environments 8-28-09

Vern 0 Comments meditating places, meditation environment, meditation state, places to meditate

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. In this video, I went over what

A meditation spot at Wat Mahathat temple in Nakhon Si Thammarat in southern Thailand.

meditation journal

My Experience with Meditating

Vern 7 Comments meditation experiences, meditation history, meditation journal, meditation practice

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Here is something I posted in a

mindfulness

My Friend Sent this on the Simplicity of Life…

Vern 0 Comments in the now, inspiration, just being, just this, mindfulness, point of life, suchness

I got this very interesting message from my very intuitive friend, Maitland Kalton, on messenger this morning after I viewed

meditation tips

Is there a Phrase (Mantra) I should Repeat when Meditating?

Vern 0 Comments how to meditate, mantras, meditation preparation, meditation tools, prhase, repeating mantra, thich nhat hanh

Should I repeat a Phrase while Meditating? (Mantra) This is a good question. The main goal of meditation as you

meditation journal

Meditation – Numbness – Stillness – Peace

Vern 0 Comments meditation numbness, meditation stillness, peaceful mind, stillness of mind

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation Journal Entry from 1999 one just

meditation tips

New Sitting Meditation Position | 1998

Vern 0 Comments meditation positions, new sitting meditation position, sitting positions during meditation

Meditation Journal Entry – Sitting Position during Meditation I found that meditation by sitting in a chair and putting my

life

The World is in a Bind | Pain

Vern 0 Comments escaping pain, lifes pain, pain of life, relief of pain

There is currently nothing that offers total relief from the pain of the world. I mean, there are promises of

meditation journal

Frustration While Meditating | 2005?

Vern 0 Comments Frustration while meditating, meditating and emotion, meditation problems, poor concentration during meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation Journal Entry – Frustration while Meditating

meditation tips

Breathing Meditation Phrases that Help | 1998

Vern 0 Comments attention during meditation, breathing meditation, meditating, meditation tips

Breathing In and Out Phrases to Help Attention and Numbness I’ve made a commitment to dedicate some time to meditation

meditation journal

Fatness Feeling During Meditation | 1998

Vern 0 Comments blowing up like balloon feeling, body expansion, body growing feeling, fatness feeling meditation, growing feeling, meditation expansion, meditation growing feeling

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation Journal Entry about the Fatness Feeling

meditation journal

Disenchantment Wipes Out All Attachment | 1998

Vern 0 Comments disenchantment, disenchantment meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Disenchantment / Non-Attachment Arises Over the past

meditation journal

Changing States of Consciousness While Meditating | 1998

Vern 0 Comments consciousness shift, meditation and consciousness, mind shift

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation Journal Entry from 1998 Mind Shift…

meditation journal

Emotions, Spontaneous Mindfulness | 1997

Vern 0 Comments mindful, mindfulness and meditation, spontaneous mindfulness

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. Meditation Journal Entry – 1997 Meditation tonight.

meditation journal

Numbness, Missing Body Parts | 1998

Vern 0 Comments body numbness meditation, meditating numbness, numbness of body

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. 1998 Meditation Journal entry The numbness is

meditation journal

Meditation Journal Entry 25 | 1998

Vern 0 Comments meditating, meditation, meditation journal, sitting meditation

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. I just meditated for 25-40 mins. In

meditation journal

Day 4 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation practice, meditation exercises

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 4

meditation audio

Day 5 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation practice, meditation exercises

May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 5 Today I woke up feeling well. There was some left over peacefulness from

meditation journal

Day 6 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation practice, meditation exercises

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 6

meditation journal

Day 8 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments meditation, meditation experience

This is part of my Meditation Journal (click) which includes dozens of posts. May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 8

meditation journal

Day 11 – Intensive Meditation Practice

Vern 0 Comments intensive meditation experience, meditating, meditation practice

May 2009 Intensive Meditation | Day 11 Today started out with rain, ended with rain and had lots of rain

abhinna

Divine Eye Abhinna – Experiences | Anybody Have? Yes.

Vern 4 Comments 4th dimension experiences, abhinna, abhinna experiences, Buddhist states, divine eye, Theravada Buddhism

Something struck me the other week, and I forgot about it for a while. I just had the same experience

meditation journal

New Articles Section

Vern 0 Comments

I added a new ARTICLES section on the lower right side of every page in the sidebar. It looks like

odd experiences

Staring Into Mirrors Meditation

Vern 0 Comments hallucinations while meditating, mirror meditation, staring at self meditation

I’ve mentioned this a number of times here on this site. For a couple of meditation sessions, I sat staring

Meditation without religion at jhana8.com

meditation journal

Mirror Meditation – Looking at Self as Meditating

Vern 1 Comment disappearing body meditation, disappearing head, headless meditation, meditation with mirror, mirror meditation

Meditating on the spa in the garage today in the morning 7:30. There was an instant calmness and emptiness that

A monk deep in meditation in Jhana realm at the top of a local Theravada Buddhist temple in Krabi, Thailand.

meditation tips

Where Should the Tongue Be During Meditation? (seriously!)

Vern 4 Comments meditating tongue, meditation and tongue, meditation FAQ, meditation questions, meditation tips, practicing meditation

Some new meditators must be wondering, ‘Where should the tongue be during meditation?’ Should it just stick to the top

odd experiences

Odd Dream – Getting in Sync

Vern 0 Comments odd dream, vibrating in sync, weird dream

I’m a bit ill at the moment and took a nap after lunch. As I was falling asleep a picture

other sites

Awakening from Gary Weber’s Perspective

Vern 0 Comments gary weber, what is awakening, what is nibbana

I’ve been in contact with a researcher that runs MRI’s on people’s brains that are high level meditators. He suggested,

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