Jhanic Adept
The Jhanic Adept is one who has trained themselves to become fluid and fluent in the effortless concentration, bliss, joy and equanimity. They turn the power of their mind to uncovering the most subtle truths of human experience. Through this training, they come to completeness in their own being – and this changes the world.
Dan Rotnem
This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.’
Jhana Sutta: Mental Absorption AN 9.36
Thus, as far as the perception-attainments go, that is as far as gnosis-penetration goes. As for these two dimensions — the attainment of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception & the attainment of the cessation of feeling & perception — I tell you that they are to be rightly explained by those monks who are meditators, skilled in attaining, skilled in attaining & emerging, who have attained & emerged in dependence on them.
The practice of jhana is what is said to have ultimately led to the Buddha’s awakening. While the system itself pre-dates Siddhartha Gautama, he is credited with adding sati (mindfulness) to jhanas and thoroughly investigating the experience. He is also said to have identified the 8th jhana, its experience beyond cessation, and the resulting insight, paving the way for a new religious movement.
Jhana is a rigorous and demanding method that radically transforms our lives. The Jhanic Adept intensive training period and community are here to support “regular” people in taking up the practices necessary to master it. This program approaches jhana training through the investigation of direct experience. The clear “landmarks” of state shifts have proven an effective way for meditators of all skill levels to deepen their capacity for concentration meditation. In many cases, this proficiency has led to transformational insights that have profoundly impacted participants’ lives long after the training period concludes.
The next training period begins January 11, 2026.
This practice period includes commitments to:
- At least 1-hour/day of jhana practice.
- Actively engaging as a supportive member of the cohort.
- 7, 90-minute training calls (every other Sunday @ 1 pm eastern)
- January 11 – Orientation & Access Concentration
- January 25 – Embodied Absorption & Agitated Bliss
- February 8 – Contentment & Equanimity
- February 22 – Infinite Space & Infinite Consciousness
- March 8 – Voidness & Neither Perception/Non-Perception
- March 22 – Cessation & Illumination
- April 5 – Closing Call
There are also optional opportunities to access:
- a Discord group chat facilitated by Dan for ongoing support.
- The Divine Posture training platform.
- 1:1 check-ins with Dan (not included).
- The Divine Posture training material.
In addition, Jhanic Adepts will have lifetime access to:
- The Jhanic Adept training platform is constantly evolving to support Jhanic Adepts in:
- coming to a deep understanding of jhana practice.
- developing a clear map of the jhanic states.
- establishing common sources and language for Jhanic Adepts to use in discussing practice.
- providing clear instructions for entering each jhana.
- This platform includes:
- Preparatory practices supporting jhana work.
- Overview content that frames jhana practice and what to expect.
- Video lessons describing the experience of each jhana and when/how to shift between the states.
- Excerpts from suttas that support our understanding of the jhanas.
- Excerpts from the publicly available jhana instructions of multiple renowned teachers.
*Available anytime. Does not include registration for a training period.
NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you are familiar with the foundational practice of Divine Posture and Eight Brocades
Registration Options
*Please contact Dan (dan@yourturnml.com) if you are interested in this training and require alternative financial arrangements.
*If you are a returning Jhananaut or practice with Open Door Zen, Impossible Zen, ZendoME, Smiling Heart Zen, Camino de Rose, or another affiliated community, please contact umi@opendoorzen.org for information on how to register.