Vipassana jhanas

Vipassana jhanas are steps that describe the evolution of Vipassana's practice. They contrast with samatha's jhanas.

Although this expression is not used by this author, different levels of knowledge are described by Buddhaghosa in the Visuddhimagga, which lists five stage of purity.

• The meditator first explores his body, then his mind, discovering the three characteristics. The first jhana consist in seeing these points and in the presence of vitakka and vicara. Phenomena reveal themselves as appearing and ceasing.
• In the second Jhana, the practice seems quite automatic. Vitaka and vicara both disapear.
• In the third Jhana, piti, the joy, disappears too: there is only happiness and concentration.
• Then the practice leads to knowledge. The comfort disappears because the disparition seems the only phenomenon; this step is known as bhanga nupassana. The practice will become very difficult, showing every phenomenon as terrible, dangerous, disenchanting. The desire of freedom will take place.Upekkha, equanimity, will emerge, as the state of mind of an arahant.

The only further steps are the knowledge of attaining Nirvana.