| | First, I generally assume that most who are poking around hardcore websites like this are already above the A&P, meaning Dark Nighters, and that would probably include you. Generally, with few exceptions, people are not into this level of stuff unless they are already half-way in.
That said, each time we re-cross the A&P, there is a period after it when the Dark Night tends to be more freshly intense, though some here say that with AYP (advance yoga practice) one can mitigate some of this: maybe.
Thus, from a strategic point of view, there is something to be said to for not re-crossing the A&P if one really needs to be all into one's daily life job/relationship/studies/etc. thing, and thus something to be said for not doing insight practices, or any other meditative anything that may cause that. That said, some people just can't help but re-cross it even if they do nothing (I crossed it at least 6 times in daily life before my first retreat over those 10 years or so, and I know many others in the same boat).
While Trent is currently not in as much of an insight-advocacy mood, and is more in to the AF thing now, or at least was the last time I talked to him, he currently holds the honorable reputation of most accomplished DhO guy at figuring out how to make fast and powerful progress while holding down a hard job, though I believe his quest did have some relationship consequences. Regardless, I would ask him for advice, which, if I understand it, could be summarized: "Really engage with what the core teachings of vipassana mean and practice every single spare second you have," though I would confirm this with him.
My thoughts as they come to me at the end of this long night shift. Good luck figuring out how to play this. Realize that the Dharma may have other plans... |