I understand.
At the core of these queries is a certain interpretation of what AF (the end result) is in relation to any of the paths and also the journey to it (i.e. AF). An interpretation I'm fully open to have challenged - I'm no expert on this.
I understand AF (the end result) as a certain mutation (change) in the brain, of the brain, that has a very distinct and predictable effect that is experienced by the whole mind/body.
I understand that there are generally two ideals within the schools of Buddhism.
I speculate that maybe AF is the ideal of what is called the
Hīnayāna.
I understand that
rigpa is a "tool" of the mind.
I speculate that maybe rigpa, together with several other "tools of the mind", when mastered to a certain degree and combined with the other "tools of the mind" in one human, is the ideal of what is called the
Mahāyāna.
I speculate that the overall, rough development trajectory of these ideals and also their not-yet-fully idealized, lesser versions (e.g. 3rd path) are similar to such a degree that they have been and will get frequently mixed up.
I speculate that the Hīnayāna ideal does not experienced the world the same way that the Mahāyāna ideal does. The state of the Hīnayāna ideal, speculated by me to be AF, is irreversible and removes certain aspects of human experience that are criterions of the Mahāyāna ideal.
I speculate that the Hīnayāna ideal will technically experience no "stress". The Mahāyāna ideal will not technically experience no stress, but should not be said to "suffer" at all.
I speculate that the Mahāyāna ideal have a broader range of possible experiences available at any time, more so than
any other human being and development, but attaining to this ideal is the stuff of several lifetimes.
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What worries me is to what extent human experience is limited for someone who attains AF. Not necessarily made impossible, but severely improbable (someone actually free will lose several kinds of motivations to do certain things, effectively limiting their experience of life).
I think that both the Hīnayāna ideal and the Mahāyāna ideal are attainable from the platform of MCTB 4th path, but once you attain AF/the Hīnayāna ideal, you have permanently disabled the route to the Mahāyāna ideal and certain parts of human experience. What exactly those certain parts are and what exactly the Mahāyāna ideal comprises, I don't know.
(I do know, second hand, that jhana is not experienced pleasurably in AF and I speculate that the "space-travelling" that one can do in the 4th jhana (the malleability of a highly concentrated and one pointed mind combined with strong will of mind/intent and imagination) is either effectively disabled (by lack of motivation, etc.), severely diminished or actually disabled).
These are not statements of fact but my own personal interpretation of things that currently interests me. Treat them as such.
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In this thread what I'm looking for is someone who are actually free and at least
were able to do physioenergetic development to try and see if they can still do things that would indicate that physioenergetic development is not disabled for them and share that here