| | Hey,
Practically speaking, ignoring all the theory that could otherwise be thrown in: your samatha seems fine. As long as you're able to access the 4th, you've got what it takes. Maybe do a bit of samatha practice at the start of each sit and then switch to a vigorous, all-inclusive vipassana approach. If you're really on the ball with vipassana, you'll access soft forms of the samatha jhanas through momentary concentration; it just might not seem that you're in them.
Make sure you're aligning the emotional & practice qualities Dan mentions in MCTB. He clearly spells out which lessons need to be learned, what will prevent progress, etc. His discussions are not just fleeting suggestions! So, for instance, if you're in re-observation right now, read up on that chapter and while you read it, try to line up the mind-set he discusses. Then go do your sit while keeping his instruction in mind. To demonstrate just how useful this approach is, I use to just read the entire section on insight anytime I couldn't figure out where I was. When I'd read, I would just "assume" I was in the stage I was reading and did what he said. I'd eventually read through the stage that I was actually in, and could tell that because reality would begin to react to what I was reading.
Shattering reality takes a lot of deep down heart. If it's not more important than anything else, then it's taking a back seat to something your self values. It can still happen, of course, but the more you want it and know you can get it, the more likely it is to happen.
If using vipassana, you want to attempt to note every vibration that exists. Every single one. If you can do that while looking at the lights, then that's great. If the lights distract you in a way or keep you from noting better, then focus on your attention itself rather than the lights.
Peace, Trent |