[Great Western Vehicle] [Events] [Supporting the GWV]
[Pali & Buddhist Studies] [Tipitaka Index] [Buddhist Timeline] [Pali-English Dictionary] [Sanskrit & Vedic Studies] [Ecstatic Meditation Archive]
Jeffrey S. Brooks
(Jhananda)
Great Western Vehicle
PO Box 41795
Tucson, AZ 85717-1795
Email: Jhananda@greatwesternvehicle.org
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Founder of the Great Western Vehicle, an ecumenical ecstatic contemplative tradition.
Counselor to ecstatic contemplatives.
Webmaster of oldest and largest website that is dedicated to the ecstatic contemplative, Ecstatic Buddhism, and the largest website of early Pali literature and English translations.
Meditation master of the spiritual ecstasies
Author of many essays describing the ecstatic contemplative experience.
Self trained scholar and translator of early Pali and Sanskrit literature
Accomplished ecstatic contemplative
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 2003
Bachelor of Arts Creative Writing. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 2003
Bachelor of Arts Anthropology, minor American Indian Studies. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 2003
COUNSELING AND TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Dhamma_Teacher A site for peer-level Dharma Teacher training and ordination
Discourses_of_the_Buddha A sutta study group
Ecstatic Buddhism A newsletter for Ecstatic Buddhists
Hollow Reed listserve for ecstatic and contemplative poetry
Jhana Support Group A dialog support group for ecstatic Buddhist
Kasina A dialog group for the study and practice of the visual meditation object
Kundaliniheat A dialog support group for the ecstatic experience in a Yoga and Shamanic context
Shiva_Shakti A support group for the loved ones of people going through kundalini
Maintained a daily meditation practice that was informed by the religious ecstasies for over 30 years.
Sat more than 50 meditation retreats
Spent at least 2 weeks each year in contemplation in the wilderness for over 30 years
Completed two 3-year retreats. The first was 1974-1977, the second was 2003-2006
MAJOR FIELDS OF STUDY
The Discourses of the Buddha, Sanskrit and the Pali languages, the writing of Christian, Sufi, Kabbalist and Hindu mystics, as well as Shamanism from Aborigine to Zuni
COURSES TAUGHT
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The Philosophy of Buddhism |
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A Critical Analysis of Buddhism |
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The Literature of Enlightenment |
HIGHLIGHTS OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Constructed the website "See for yourself, What did the Buddha Really Teach?" 2006
Constructed the Great Western Vehicle Web site, 2005
Founded the Great Western Vehicle, Tucson, AZ, 2004
Founded the Jhana Support Group, 2003
Began publishing the Tucson Dharma News, 2003
Founded the University of Arizona Meditation Club, 2002
Began publishing the Southwest Insight E'letter, 2001
Secretary for the Tucson Community Meditation Center, 2001
SELECTED RECENT eZINE AND WEB-BASED ARTICLES
What is Jhana? Jhana as defined in the Buddha's Discourses (October 13, 2005)
What is Ecstatic Buddhism? (September 19, 2004)
The Fruits (Phala) of the Contemplative Life (September 13, 2004)
The characteristic manifestations of absorption, Jhana-Nimitta (October 1, 2004)
Recognizing the Absorption States (jhana) (October 16, 2004)
Commitment as a Refuge, Dark Night of the Soul in Buddhism (January 1, 2003)
Some Answers to questions regarding The Personal Experience of Ecstasy (Jhana) (October 2, 2004)
The Experience of Meditation (July 23, 2004)
The Proto-Contemplative Life, Lucid Dreams and Out-of-Body Travel (August 1, 2004)
Purification within a Buddhist Context
Abandoning the Five Hindrances (nivarana) and the 10 Fetters (samyojana)
The Language of Gnosis (October 15, 04)
A Proposed Unifying Theory for the Experience of Gnosis
Understanding the Unwholesome States, The Darkness of the Dark Night
Virtue, Understanding What is a Wholesome State
Jhana and the Houses of God, Flooding the Dark Night of the Soul with Wholesome States
the GWV P A L I Language Resource Guide for the Study of the, Tipitaka, P A L I Language and Literature
The GWV Contemplative's Pali-to-English Dictionary
Sila, Understanding Ethics In Buddhism
Understanding Dependent Origination (paticca samuppada)
Understanding the Pali terms, 'vitakka' and 'vicára' (October 10, 2004)
SELECTED TRANSLATIONS
Ahara Sutta (SN XLVI.51) "Food" (for the Factors for Awakening)
Anapanasati Sutta (MN 118) "Mindfulness of the breath"
Aneñja-sappaya Sutta (MN 106) "Conducive to the Imperturbable" Arupa Jhana Practice Paths
Bahiya Sutta (U 1.10) "Relinquishing Cognition"
Ganakamoggallana Sutta (MN 107) Training Strategy
Gopaka Moggallana Sutta (MN 108) Ten Qualities Inspiring Confidence
Kayagata-sati Sutta (MN 119) "Mindfulness of the Body"
Magga-vibhanga Sutta (SN XLV.8), "Analysis of the Path"
Mahaasaccaka sutta (MN 36), On the pleasure of meditation (jhana), the fruits (phala) of the contemplative life, the Dark Night of the Soul, the Buddha's attainment of jhana and his night of enlightenment.
Maha-nidana Sutta (DN-15) "The Larger Discourse on Causation, Dependent Origination (paticca samuppada), Seven Stations of Cognition, Eight Emancipations"
Mahàsàropama sutta (MN 3. 9) "The Major Discourse on Heartwood" Translated from the Pali by Sister Upalavanna. Edited for readability and sensitivity for the language of gnosis and cognition, August 21, 2005 by Jhanananda.
Maha-satipatthana Sutta (DN 22), "Larger Discourse on the Four Paths of Mindfulness" updated 10-27-04
Samadhanga Sutta (AN V. 28) "The Factors of Absorption"
Samadhi Sutta (AN IV.41) The Discourse on Absorption
Samana-Mundika Sutta (MN 78) "Mundika, the Contemplative"
Samaññaphala Sutta (DN 2) "The Discourse on the Fruits of the Contemplative Life"
Samugatta Sutta (AN III.100 xi-xv) "Arising" or Nimitta Sutta
Satipatthana Sutta (MN 10) "Larger Discourse on the Four Paths of Mindfulness"
Satipatthana Samyutta (SN 8) (8) "The Competent Cook," a Discourse on the signs of absorption (Jhana-nimitta).
PEER-REVIEW ESSAYS
The Importance of Critical Analysis
The Emergence of Western Teachers of Buddhism
The Failure of Antinomianism Understanding Ethic in Buddhism
Was the Buddha an Atheist, Nihilist or a Stoic?
Dispelling the Myth of Access Concentration (upacara-samadhi)
The Lack of Evidence In Support of a 'Dry' Insight Practice
The Language of Gnosis (October 15, 04)
How to determine an authentic enlightened teacher
The Cha'an, Son and Zen Concept of Makyo the "ghost" or "devil's cave" as evidence of the subversion of the Buddha Dhamma.
The Emperor Has No Clothes, A Critique of neo-Advaitanism and Adyashanti
Dispelling Common Misconceptions Regarding Insight (vipassana) and Absorption (Jhana/dhyana)
A Critique of Western Research on Meditation as revealed in the article "The Lama in the Lab"
Exposing translator bias in the translation of the Pali Canon and other Asian literature (updated 11-10-04)
Six Classes of Religious Expression
MAGAZINES AND NEWSLETTERS
BOOKS
Communion, a 112 page book-length collection of poetry and photography with 14 images and 28 poems.
Rain, a 41 page chapbook collection of the poetry and photography on the subject of rain, with images front and back and 17 poems.
A Stone Worn to Sand, a 133 page book-length collection of 67 poems
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Meditation and the study of the phenomena of meditation and meditative absorption.
Case Studies of ecstatic contemplatives
The Dark Night of the Soul and Meditation Induced neuroses
Meditation Induced pathologies
Religious and Social Ethics
COMMUNITY SERVICE
4th_wheel Dialog on the emergence of a Western Vehicle of Buddhism
Dhamma_Teacher A site for peer-level Dharma Teacher empowerment and ordination
Discourses_of_the_Buddha A dialog group dedicated to the Discourses of the Buddha
Ecstatic Buddhism A newsletter for ecstatic Buddhists
Great_Western_Vehicle The home for this emerging 4th Wheel Buddhist tradition
Hollow Reed A place to post for contemporary ecstatic and contemplative poets
Jhanananda-s_Journal Jhanananda's personal biweekly contemplative journal
Jhana Support Group A dialog support group for ecstatic contemplatives in a Buddhist context
Kasina A dialog group for the study and practice of the visual meditation object
Kundaliniheat A dialog support group for the ecstatic experience in a Yoga and Shamanic context
Shiva_Shakti A support group for the loved ones of people going through kundalini
Southwest Insight E'letter A monthly newsletter for contemplatives in the Southwestern USA
Tucson Dharma News An event calendar for contemplatives in Tucson, AZ. USA
Wilderness_Retreats supporting those who meditate in the wilderness
TEACHERS, RETREATS and INFLUENCES
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5-12, 2005 |
completed 232-day solo wilderness retreat in the Inyo National Forests. |
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5-12, 2005 |
completed 232-day solo wilderness retreat in the Inyo National Forests. |
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2, 2005 |
Began Great Western Vehicle Web site. |
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9, 2004 |
Self-ordained as Jhanananda. |
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5, 2004 |
Left the householder's life and began a 150-day solo wilderness retreat in the Inyo, Kaibab and Coconino National Forests. |
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2, 2004 |
Attended 9-day Vipassana retreat led by Bhante Gunaratana, Riverside, CA |
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11, 2003 |
Attended and recorded weekend teachings for Dharma Kirti College |
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9, 2003 |
Attended and recorded weekend teachings for Dharma Kirti College |
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7-8, 2003 |
Attended and recorded 28-day summer teaching retreat at Garchen Institute |
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6, 2003 |
Attended ten-day Jhana retreat led by Leigh Brassington in Chupadero, NM |
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5, 2003 |
Began 3 year retreat, led daily meditation sit at the Little Chapel for the UofA Meditation club until 5/2004 |
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4-2002 |
Attended and recorded 5-day spring teaching retreat at Garchen Institute |
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4, 2003 |
Began a series of Yahoo groups in service of contemplatives |
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12-2002 |
Attended and recorded 10-day Mahamudra teaching retreat led by Gyalpo Rinpoche at Garchen Institute |
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7, 2002 |
Attended a 10-day Goenka assistant led vipassana meditation retreat |
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2002 |
Founded the University of Arizona Meditation Club, through which I gained access to valuable university facilities where I led daily meditation sits, weekly dharma talks and a Pali canon study group, and monthly one-day meditation retreats, as well as making these facilities available for the dharma talks of visiting teachers. |
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2001-2003 |
Began an audio engineering and recording business in service of the dhamma. Designed a recording system for Garchen Institute & Dharma Kirti College, where I recorded numerous teaching retreats on Mahamudra and Dzogchen. |
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2000-2003 |
Renewed involvement with the Tucson Community Meditation Center. Elected to the board. |
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3, 2000 |
Took up the discipline of celibacy |
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1995-1996 |
Attended annual Shared Heart workshops led by Joyce and Barry Vissel |
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1993-2000 |
In weekly therapy with Dr. Edward Muller, a Riekian Therapist |
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1991 |
Attended a 10-day Vipassana retreat led by Shinzen Young, and continued my involvement with the Tucson Community Meditation Center. |
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1990-2000 |
Studied Celtic, Native American and African Shamanic practices including observing the Equinox and Solstice cycles, sweat lodge ceremony and African Drumming and Dance |
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1990 |
Attended a 10-day Vipassana retreat led by Shinzen Young. Became actively involved with the Tucson Community Meditation Center. |
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1985-1990 |
Studied with Robert and Dianna Van Arsdale doing the Beloved Work of Yo |
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1976-1986 |
Entered into a ten-year discipleship with Swami Amar Jyoti, from whom Advaita Vedanta and related meditation practices were studied. During this period began attending one 10-day retreat and three 3-5 day retreats each year. |
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1975-1977 |
Worked with Roger Davis, a North American herbalist and Shaman on OOBs, and healing studies in bodywork, herbal medicine and Astrology. |
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2, 1975 |
Attended first 10-day Vipassana retreat, which was led by Robert Hover. From this point on attended at least one 10-day meditation retreat per year. |
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1-2, 1975 |
Lived Sri Ram Ashram and studied Hatha Yoga and meditation from various teachers |
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1974-1975 |
Took the beginning and advanced Silva Mind control Training from Jose Silva and his assistant teachers. |
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1974 |
Studied meditation, homeopathy out-of-body with Francis Grow, an initiated disciple of Hammed Bey of the Coptic Fellowship |
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3-6, 1974 |
Lived 3 months in a 3HO Ashram and studied Kundalini Yoga, Sikhism from Yogi Bajan and his assistant teachers. |
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1973 |
Began a daily meditation practice of sitting 2 to 3 times a day, which is still maintained. |
More about Jhanananda
Jhanananda's Contemplative Life
Jhanananda's Meditation Experience
The Ecstatic Poetry and Photography of Jhanananda
Jhanananda's articles on Ecstatic Buddhism