A Critical Analysis of the Jhanas in Theravada Meditation
This work, by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana, provides an analytical study of the Jhanas, as they are an important set of meditative attainments in the contemplative discipline of Theravada Buddhism. Despite their frequent appearance in the texts, the exact role of the Jhanas in the Buddhist path has not been settled with unanimity by Theravada scholars, who are still divided over the question as to whether they are necessary for attaining Nibbana.