Robin Woods:
Just got SE a week ago and my mind is a million times more powerful than before in terms of samatha. I'd been mistaking access concentration for the first jhana the whole time!....
However, I have serious problems with depression and really scared of future dark nights and how I might react to further dissolving of the self. Is it possible to use the first four jhanas (can't figure out which is which yet!) to mitigate post path DN symptoms?
Best done with the guidance of an experienced friend or teacher, jhanas is always a good idea. Joy is a factor for awakening according to ancient texts, and I have to agree, the inability to fabricate at will refined mind states that are most conducive for discernment can mean slow and rough progress. Do you have access to jhanas, in particular the 4th? If so, then most defintiely try and spend all your practice time in it as it will provide fertile soil for 'equanimity/insight' to be cultivaed as I talked of in your other thread.
Addressing the 'serious problems with depression', what are you doing/have done about such tendencies? Are you able to talk about such occurences with anyone? Or is the DhO your only outlet?
Nick