Thank you guys for your time.
fivebells .:
What happens when you practice with typical pointing-out instructions?
Well, even though I had formal empowerment I have never experienced rigpa if this is what you are referring to. Additionally it is my understanding that unless many-year rigorous training has been undertaken before the empowerment under close companionship with the guru, rigpa realization during an empowerment very rarely happens. I could be wrong of course...
fivebells .:
If you want to go further with the MCTB practices, the next stage would be observing the three characteristics (dukha, nonself, impermanence) in the phenomena you note.
Well, I am just reading again Daniel's book to get acquainted with the techniques...
fivebells .:
You probably don't need to worry too much about the jhanas, at least for now, as your concentration is so stable.
I do want to go further with the jhanas and their experience even if only for the experience itself.
However I am not sure if what I described is a deep concentration indeed. If it was, I would expect that the altered states would be apparent, no ?
fivebells .:
If you want to go further with the jhanas, cultivate metta.
If by metta you mean love/kindness you will not find a kinder person in the world

Seriously, I don't understand how this can help in Jhanas...
. Jake .:
So it seems like there is a fundamental difference between no thoughts arising and when thoughts arise?
Yes, Jake, I know the theory but at my level or according to how I experience things the empty mind does differ to the state where a thought is present.
. Jake .:
If you can remain without thoughts for that long, and your senses are clear, have you tried applying the method for lacktong as described in Roaring Silence?
If so, what happens?
Yes. Unfortunately nothing happens. I mean if a thought appears then it always appear in ‘the mind’ of a thinker who produces them. I cannot seem to get the lhatong experience – where there appears to be no thinker.
. Jake .:
In other words, are thoughts/emotions/intentions automatically interpreted as distractions, as opposed to the sensations of the five outer senses? If so, you may be holding an unconscious view about the nature of what is to be cultivated that is blocking your progress.
That might be very well true. In fact everything (including the sensations of the five outer senses) are considered distractions by me at this stage. That is why I strive to reach the higher Jhanas (at least first)
where there is nothing but the mind merged with the object. Everything else (inner as well as outer) is supposed to be cut off.
. Jake .:
As for the visualization part of it, in Norbu's teaching at least (and generally in the 'anu-yoga style' approach to Tantra that is offered by radical Dzogchen teachers such as you seem attracted to) being able to literally visualize is not important as getting the 'feel' of the deity/mandala. But that pertains to tantric practice, not jhanna cultivation.
You are right again Jake. Yet this "feeling" of the yidam is something that eludes me too...
. Jake .:
Why do you want to cultivate jhanna, out of curiosity?
Not having experienced any deep altered states before, I do consider it important psychologically for my progress. I really need to
experience that I am progressing. I also need the concentration for other practices that I do (martial arts).