| | @ngakpakonchuknorbu:
I'll do my best to answer your questions.
1.) The standard theory, if I understand it correctly, is that there's only one "crossing of the A&P" per insight cycle. That said, there were times in my practice after first attaining to 11th nana (equanimity) where I recognized what appeared to be a cycling from 1st through 11th nana. This only happened for a couple days, and I remember to experiences that could very well have been A&P crossings if they were in a different context. After that I was hanging out in either 10th or 11th nana until I attained Fruition. After first crossing the A&P, it took me around 7 months to attain Fruition. But that's after about 5 years of meditation.
2.) There's no simple answer to this, because the Dark Night is a sequence of dukkha nanas (5th - 9th nana, and maybe 10th, depending on who you ask). These stages are distinct if one pays attention, so what one may need to do in order to get through it could be different at each stage. Plus, there isn't just one thing. There could be lots of lessons to learn at each stage. There's a general framework for the progress of insight, but it doesn't unfold exactly the same for everyone.
Is there a particular stage you're having difficulty with? If so, feel free to share it. There are a lot of experienced practitioners in this forum who have traversed many a Dark Night and would be happy to give you some tips.
Jackson |