| | A&P stuff can arise extremely quickly in those who have encountered A&P before (such as dark night yogis), however it can also arise pretty quickly with correct technique even in people who've never chanced on Mind and Body and don't have particularly strong concentration.
You're absolutely right that low levels of concentration can cause less prominent expressions of the characteristics of the various nanas. The opposite side of that coin is that strong concentration with low levels of investigation can solidify certain nanas into shamatha jhanas. Concentration, in general, tends to prolong nanas when there's too much correct concentration relative to the level of correct investigation/energy. At least, that's the way it has happened to me.
A&P stuff tends to be incredibly striking during retreats where concentration is generally pretty strong. Even outside of a retreat, the strengthening of concentration that occurs during the A&P might make that state rather distinctly noticeable. Contrast that to a lazy eyes-open half-distracted noting session where the only sign of passing through the A&P nana might be a change in attention where vibrations (which in the first 3 nanas required applied and sustained attention to notice) seem to effortlessly show themselves for a few moments, followed by a return to difficulty noticing the vibrations as the shift to Dissolution occurs and attention switches to a different mode yet again. That's all very mild, and it may not even resemble the dramatic descriptions of bright shining lights, out of body experiences, and laserlike precision of mind. The reason it's A&P is how the vibrations and the attention is working, not the content or intensity of the experiences. Just like jhanas, nanas can be hit soft, hard, or anywhere in between.
Is any of that useful to you? |