Through the Processes of Jhana does it have a Permanent effect or temporary effect on your life

Is Jhana like a meditative absorption state? I've come across this term. Is Jhana like a barrier, once broken, you go onto the next barrier, and so on and so on. Is this process a permanent effect on the mind or a temporary effect of the mind? Do you basically start over from stage 1 every time, does your body ever become accustomed to it, and do you have to constantly renew the Jhana over and over in order to progress?