Jhana
/ˈdʒɑː.nə/noun
A state of deep meditative absorption in Buddhist practice.
Did you know?The Sanskrit form dhyāna traveled through Buddhist languages into Chinese chán and eventually became Japanese Zen, linking jhana to the word Zen.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰyeh₂-
“To look at, contemplate, or consider; a proposed ancestral root connected with meditative attention.”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
dhyāna
“Meditation, contemplation, or sustained mental absorption.”
Early Buddhist Sanskrit
Buddhist Sanskrit
dhyāna
“A technical term for progressively deep states of meditative concentration.”
Ancient Pali
Pali
jhāna
“Meditative absorption; the Pali form used extensively in Theravāda Buddhist texts.”
Medieval Chinese
Chinese
chán
“A transliteration of Buddhist dhyāna, referring to meditation and contemplative practice.”
Modern English
English
jhana
“A Buddhist meditative absorption or state of profound concentration.”