Inside the Jhourney
Research, stories, and guidance from the team behind Jhourney's transformative retreats.
How to Practice the Jhanas: The Basic Technique and Common Mistakes
A practical guide to jhana meditation technique, including how to find a feeling, sustain it, deepen it, and avoid the most common mistakes.
Strategies for Learning the Jhanas
Three viable strategies for learning jhana -- retreat-first, daily practice, and periodic intensives -- with honest timelines and trade-offs for each.
The Science of Jhana: What Research Shows
A comprehensive review of jhana neuroscience research, from foundational fMRI studies to the latest findings from Harvard and McGill.
Why There Are Two Definitions of Jhana
How a medieval commentary reshaped Buddhist meditation, and why the original suttas present jhana as central to the path -- not optional.
Jhourney's "super secret" master plan
Jhourney isn't just a retreats company -- it's an applied research company aspiring to change the lives of tens of millions through superwellbeing.
Overconfidence and the importance of cultivating a learner's mindset
Pre-retreat survey data reveals that moderate self-assessment -- not extreme confidence -- may predict jhana access, suggesting the importance of a learner's mindset.
Lessons from Designing for Safety
How Jhourney approaches meditation safety, including screening, monitoring, expert collaboration, and format innovations that minimize risk while maximizing transformative outcomes.
Why Aren't the Jhanas More Popular?
The combination of pleasurable yet non-addictive qualities of jhanas raises a legitimate question about their limited mainstream adoption.
Life in HD: An Investigation of the Jhanas' Impact on Jhourney Retreat Attendees
We surveyed and interviewed our retreat alumni to understand how the jhanas have impacted their lives, using a survey and followup interviews.
Are Online Retreats as Good as In-Person?
We compare and contrast our in-person and online retreats, including how the results compare, so you can choose which is best for you.
Jhourney In-Person Retreats 101: What to Expect & How to Prepare
Whether you're new to retreats or have been on many, knowing what to expect and how to prepare can help you get the most out of the experience.
Challenges with Sparking a Positive Sensation in the Body
We surveyed and interviewed retreat participants to better understand why some people have different experiences in their jhana practice, with a focus on the challenge of sparking a pleasant sensation.
Navigating paradox: meditation can and should have goals
At Jhourney we believe there is always a goal to meditation. We explain why teachers say otherwise, and why the skill of releasing mental tension matters so much.
Planning Your Jhourney: Online Retreat Schedules Across Time Zones
This article outlines a typical day on a Jhourney online meditation retreat, providing a clear picture of what to expect across different time zones.
Our Approach to Innovation
How Jhourney achieves life-changing results through pioneering teaching techniques and a commitment to safety in meditation instruction.
A response to ACX's "Nick Cammarata and Jhana" post
The founder of Jhourney responds to Scott Alexander's post about jhanas with personal observations on their pleasurable-but-not-addictive nature, therapeutic value, and accessibility.
H2 2023 Update
Our H2 2023 recap: 70% of novice retreat participants reached jhana, generating strong word-of-mouth, revenue, and plans to scale in 2024.
H1 2023 update: progress and plans
A detailed look at our approach, progress collecting the largest EEG jhana dataset in the world, and plans for building biofeedback to make jhanas accessible.
Jhourney March 2023 data collection retreat
A recap of our March 2023 retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains, where we collected nearly 40 hours of EEG jhana data from expert meditators.
Get our intro to jhana series
The jhanas are meditative states that bring extraordinary pleasure, like the opposite of a panic attack. Learning to cultivate openhearted joy on tap makes it easier to be the person you aspire to be.