user12857: Is it me or is it incredibly difficult to find resources on the 4 (or 8, with the arupas) jhānas and how to reach them in the mahāyāna/vajrayāna literature? Apart from vague references to samādhi in general, I can't find anything. 
Edit: In addition to the suttas, theravādins also have commentaries and books on jhānas, for example the one by Ajahn Brahm... I was looking for a mahāyāna equivalent, too bad :(
Edit 2: I've found my happiness: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393254
Thanks y'all!

user-1: You're right - jhanas are deemphasized (and for good reason as far as I'm concerned), but don't forget that most Mahayana schools use the Chinese Agamas as a part of their canonical literature.  The Agamas do contain, more or less, the original Sutta-pitaka along with the vinaya, abhidhamma, etc.  You're not finding anything in the newer Mahayana literature because the Mahayanists are just using a Chinese translation of the same texts a Theravadan might refer to.    

user43: Check out part 2 of this book, it goes over exactly what you are looking for:  https://www.amazon.com/Meditative-States-Tibetan-Buddhism-Rinpoche/dp/086171119X
Also, this one, although this may be too difficult: https://www.amazon.com/Mahamudra-Moonlight-Quintessence-Mind-Meditation/dp/0861712994
This one I did not read, but it is written by the most respected lineage holder: https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Tranquillity-Insight-Buddhist-Meditation/dp/1559391065
Also, this: https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Abiding-Special-Insight-Transformation/dp/1559391103

12857: <p>Is it me or is it incredibly difficult to find resources <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhy%C4%81na_in_Buddhism#The_jh%C4%81nas" rel="nofollow noreferrer">on the 4 (or 8, with the arupas) jhānas</a> and how to reach them in the mahāyāna/vajrayāna literature? Apart from vague references to samādhi in general, I can't find anything. </p>

<p><strong>Edit:</strong> In addition to the suttas, theravādins also have commentaries and books on jhānas, for example the one by Ajahn Brahm... I was looking for a mahāyāna equivalent, too bad :(</p>

<p><strong>Edit 2:</strong> I've found my happiness: <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/1559393254" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393254</a></p>

<p>Thanks y'all!</p>
 -1: <p>You're right - jhanas are deemphasized (and for good reason as far as I'm concerned), but don't forget that most Mahayana schools use the Chinese Agamas as a part of their canonical literature.  The Agamas do contain, more or less, the original Sutta-pitaka along with the vinaya, abhidhamma, etc.  You're not finding anything in the newer Mahayana literature because the Mahayanists are just using a Chinese translation of the same texts a Theravadan might refer to.    </p>
 43: <p>Check out part 2 of this book, it goes over exactly what you are looking for:  <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/086171119X" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/Meditative-States-Tibetan-Buddhism-Rinpoche/dp/086171119X</a></p>

<p>Also, this one, although this may be too difficult: <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/0861712994" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/Mahamudra-Moonlight-Quintessence-Mind-Meditation/dp/0861712994</a></p>

<p>This one I did not read, but it is written by the most respected lineage holder: <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/1559391065" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/Practice-Tranquillity-Insight-Buddhist-Meditation/dp/1559391065</a></p>

<p>Also, this: <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/1559391103" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/Calm-Abiding-Special-Insight-Transformation/dp/1559391103</a></p>
