Robin Woods:
My working assumption then is that Ian didn't suffer as much as he took a more concentration heavy approach?
That assumption, then, would be faulty, by which is meant that there is no basis (no substantive, known evidence that has been disclosed) upon which one may arrive at such an assumption. In other words, it is speculative, and thereby faulty. My only point is that I resist using labels such as "dark night" (or any shortcut conceptual modern novation of a label at all) as it can encourage people to experience such and to label it as such ("Oh, woe
is me, I'm in the
dark night.") Now, you've just created (conceptualized) a problem (d
ukkha) for yourself! Boy, that was smart, wasn't it.
Robin Woods:
Is it possible to try and focus on jhanas post SE without further activating the process of insight?
Can you be more specific about what you are asking? What is it that you mean by "without further activating the process of insight"? Do you not understand that insight is an ongoing process as soon as you gain consciousness in this world?