You will not travel far into Anapanasati before the Jhanas attract your attention. They are discussed as a matter of course by all authors on Anapanasati, but Snyder and Rasmussen dedicates a full manual specifically to attaining Jhanas. This is the manual to guide you.
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From River’s Amazon review:
Although I’ve had a meditation practice for years, I can see clearly after reading this book that my efforts have been minimal and without adequate direction. Have you ever gone to Disney World without doing some research first on how to approach the parks? You can spend an exhausting day like a salmon swimming upstream. Yet if you come prepared and follow the advice from a good guidebook, you can navigate and time the attractions at the parks in an efficient manner and have a really good experience. This book is like having a detailed road-map that has been highlighted by someone who intimately knows the area. The optimal path has been clearly marked by the authors and they’ve included obvious recognizable trail-markers along the way. They kindly point out common misconceptions that one might have and miss-steps that one might take that could hinder meditation progress. Skillfully chosen examples and similes are provided to help the reader connect with descriptions of experiences and practices that may otherwise seem foreign if you have not personally experienced the jhanas.
The authors speak with confidence resulting from personal experience. The tone of the book is inviting and refreshing. Instead of feeling demoralized by the relative lack of progress in my personal meditation practice to date, I feel inspired by the authors to take up this practice systematically. They have shown what lies ahead and made it clear that with proper effort it is attainable. This book is such a gift!
Practicing the Jhanas takes the beginning meditator from the first sit all the way through to what I consider very advanced meditation. But the authors haven’t stopped there. They provide a bridge to the teachings of Venerable Pa Auk Sayadaw which will facilitate the meditator’s continued progress beyond the scope of this book. I feel gratitude to the authors for sharing their knowledge and experience of this ancient yet vibrant path to liberation.
Ulf Wolf