Advanced concentrative absorption meditation, such as the jhanas, involves volitional mental absorption that can be scientifically studied. This paper argues that these states represent a distinct category of meditative experience characterized by deep, effortless focus and profound well-being. It proposes a scientific framework for understanding these measurable states of consciousness, drawing on existing research to outline how absorption, concentration, and positive outcomes like well-being can be systematically investigated. The authors suggest that developing a rigorous scientific approach to jhana and similar practices could bridge contemplative traditions and consciousness research, offering new insights into the nature of deep meditative states and their potential benefits.
Computational models of advanced meditation, particularly those using Active Inference, increasingly point to precision weighting—the confidence assigned to different model parameters—as a shared mechanism that shapes shifts in experience. Early models emphasize top-down attentional modulation toward interoception or specific objects, while later models focus on layer-specific precision re-weighting within the meditator's hierarchical generative model to target more specific phenomenology. Despite progress, minimal phenomenal experiences such as nonduality and cessations remain largely unaddressed. Few models account for increased cognitive flexibility or learning from meditation, and mechanisms behind informal practice, affective processes, and compassion traditions are underexplored.