Eric G:
It would seem I somehow miraculously (i.e. with very little practice) got a peek at second jhana
well, if i remember correctly, dan ingram got his peek by merely dreaming about trying to not bump into planets (that is, with no formal practice).
Eric G:
(this seems increasingly clear the more descriptions I read), then went straight back to my normal self and stayed there. I do have the faraway knowledge that suffering is an illusion, but it's just a memory.
which is why crossing the a&p isn't sufficient for making permanent progress, and the knowledge, though there, remains 'faraway'.
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triplethink:
As you didn't describe any insight into the momentary arising and passing of consciousness it doesn't sound like an insight into the A&P.
this sounds like a typical insight which might arise in a&p territory:
Eric G:
Absolute knowledge that suffering is made up, that there never was any suffering nor could there ever be.
and this sounds like a typical after-effect of having been in a&p territory:
Eric G:
Came out of this experience and returned, unfortunately, to normal. Spent some time depressed, in the sense that I was very aware that I was living far below that unprecedented level. Spent some time meditating like crazy, trying to get back to that state. Has taken a while to let go of striving for that, realizing that it was an experience that came and went.
not everyone hits the a&p with insight into the minutae of momentary arising and passing consciousness like i am guessing you are thinking of, nor is it a necessary condition of crossing the a&p (if they did, or if it was, there would be a lot more stream-enterers around and significantly fewer dark night yogis).
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Dan K:
It's not clear what the deal is with the pure land jhanas. I don't agree that only certain people can experience them, and I see no reason why any old person couldn't fluke it under special circumstances.
i, more or less, agree - and yet eric's description does not sound like any of the pure land jhanas i have known (though i am far from an expert on them).
Dan K:
Your description of it as extremely stable is interesting. 2nd jhana is not very stable. It's easy to maintain if one is so inclined, but it's not like rock steady or anything. 2nd jhana is a pretty ordinary state, like being drawn to something beautiful in everyday life. It's not so profound.
for people with significant concentration abilities, or anyone who finds themselves in a strong concentration zone, 2nd jhana can be very stable - rock steady, if cultivated with that intent in mind.
tarin