Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.
In this Dhamma session, we look at a question that has been asked on the Dvedhāvitakka Sutta (MN 19):  
"Meditators seem to fall into two baskets with the jhānas – (1) you really need them and can get intoxicated with them, or (2) you don’t need them and ignore them entirely. So, this might be a silly question, but I respectfully ask anyway, what’s the deal with the jhānas? We know the Buddha taught them in a lot of suttas and encouraged them, but what is the true purpose or reason for developing the jhānas?"  
To answer this question, we look specifically at the Buddha's references to the four jhānas in selected suttas (**please note this answer does not mix references to teachings from other traditions or practices, solely the Buddha's Noble Path to Liberation**).   
Other suttas that are mentioned directly or indirectly in this talk: 

— Vijjā Sutta (AN 10.105) 
— Paṭhamasikkhattaya Sutta (AN 3.89) 
— Mahāsāropama Sutta (MN 29) 
— Sekha-pāṭipada Sutta (MN 53)  
— Nagaropama Sutta (AN 7.67)  
— Āvijja Sutta (AN 10.61)  
— Upakkilesa Sutta (AN 5.23)  
— Vitthata Sutta (AN 5.14) 
— Dutiyavibhaṅga Sutta (SN 48.10)  
— Saṅgīti Sutta (DN 33) 
— Suttavebhaṅgiya (Pe 9)  
— Mahāmoggallānasutta (AN 4.167) 
— Sāriputtasutta (AN 4.168) 
— Gaṅgāpeyyālavagga (SN 53.1-12)  
— Oghavagga (SN 53.45-54)   

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the person who asked this question.
The video of this Extract has also been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq8TWmgrue0
Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai
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