Daniel M. Ingram:
Alright, what term would you suggest?
I don't really have an answer for that question, at least not right now. Perhaps we could revisit the characteristics of this phenomenon and go from there.
Though, since the experience you describe as seeing formations is only perceived in the Equanimity stage, particularly High Equanimity, why assign a special term at all? Why not just say, "One clue as to whether one is experiencing the High Equanimity stage is that they may perceive sensate phenomena (via all six sense doors) as one cohesive, fluctuating, interdependent, nearly indistinguishable field of experience." -- or something like that. I'm not sure what value there is in giving the experience any special label other than "High Equanimity" or "4th Vipassana Jhana".
Also, part of the problem in explaining this phenomenon is that it is more of a verb than a noun -- more of an active happening than an isolated thing. I think is part of why people are always asking, "Was that a formation?" For, what's special about the experience is the way in which reality is perceived, not necessarily what is being perceived. It's more like switching a lens than adding something new under then lens, if that makes sense.
I don't know. What do you think?
~Jackson