[krazemon]

Out of curiosity, which jhani states have you reached and what specific anapanasati technique do you use (focus on breath at nostrils, breath throughout the body, kasina, etc). I'm working to achieve first Khama currently, but getting a bit stuck in access concentration.

[fierycatnet]

I've used Shaila Catherine books for guidance and instructions. It's hard to say which jhanic states exactly because I practice alone with no teachers. I would guess from first to third but not for long periods of time. I have experienced piti and after that entered 'equanimity' jhanic state, subtle but alert and content concentration.

I highly recommend the book Focused and Fearless, I haven't seen such clarity on meditation anywhere else, except maybe Buddhist texts but they can be cryptic and poorly translated.

My technique is comfortable freestyle sitting (as opposite to lotus that gives me pain and takes away from concentration) and breath counting from 1 to 10 and 10 to 1 until I reach more relaxed breathing, then I switch to counting 1-1 on inhale, 1-1 on exhale, repeat until 10 and backwards, this reduced mental activity and keeps me on a) breath at nostrils and b) concentration with counting. After 15-20 minutes I usually start hitting Jhanic states with piti coming in first and then going away to enter more subtle higher absorption.

But yeah, get the above book, I am not much of a guide, I was actually lucky to hit piti within several days of Anapanasati meditation and Jhanic states within a week. I hear that some people struggle for months.