That is indeed, a nice clear description. I’ve taken a recent interest in your fine site Buddhist Geeks, along with the work of Daniel Ingram. I can see that my own practice would have benefited from the clarity and clear staging offered by you and Daniel.

What I’d like to know is how to comment on Buddhist Geek podcasts. Mention is often made of comments, however, I can see no way to do so.

Cheers….

Yes, it’s a great map of the same territory. I definitely enjoyed reading it.

Also, I’d just add that I don’t think it’d be hard at all, to find several stream-winners (or higher) who have mastered the jhanas to contribute in a scientific study mapping the correlates of shamatha and vipassana jhanas to brain states. There are many of them around that are interested in such things, and there are some very good reasons to do such studies.

http://theravadin.wordpress.com/2008/03/20/vipassana-knowledge-and-the-path-to-nibbana/

Great questions. If you don’t mind I was thinking of answering them in a blog post, as I think each one of them has an extended answer.

In this model the “spontaneous awakening” that people describe (including those without previous practice) is almost always a reference to the Arising and Passing Event–or what Jack Kornfield calls pseudo-nirvana. The problem is the dark night quickly follows and for those without a formal practice it’s very difficult to make it through that territory and to the 1st stage of enlightenment.

Do you have any insights in whether these phases are common also for those using different practices? For instance, Christian mystics who rely on prayer, or even those who have a spontaneous awakening without prior practice? Would be interesting to explore the similarities and differences.