more durable this effect will be. Thus, I would not recommend attaining this immediately before entering into situations that require high-speed decisions or actions. The texts say that one inclines to solitude or quiet after attaining this state, and in general I agree.

I mention this attainment because it is one more of those things that is found today but has often been relegated to the realm of myth and legend or has been forgotten entirely. It is not that Nirodha is necessary, but it definitely is a good and useful thing to be able to attain. In fact, I have not yet spoken with anyone who had attained it who didn’t consider it among the absolute King Daddy of meditation attainments other than arahatship, as the depth of its afterglow never fails to impress and amaze. Hopefully, mentioning it will raise the standard to which people feel they can reasonably aspire, which is basically the whole goal of this book.

One more little morsel for you brave adventurers… I have noticed that the easiest time to attain Nirodha is usually a few weeks after attaining a path, when the vipassana jhana aspect of the progress of insight is becoming clear and a nice degree of mastery has been attained in that Review phase. However, it has this nice/nasty habit of helping to precipitate a new progress cycle, as the level of clarity gained in its wake is impressive. Thus, one may go from the best highs of a Review phase and Nirodha’s glorious afterglow to the 3rd ñana, A&P and the Dark Night quickly. In fact, this seems to be a very natural part of many cycles of anagamis who also know the samatha jhanas and formless realms.

Best of luck and practice well,

Daniel

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Index

INDEX

1.A&P Event..........................................238

of the unfinished operation..............201

as minimum attainment for teaching

the boulder and the hill......................69

....................................................344

anaolgy.........................................................

difficulty obtaining Fruition after.....255

of Agean Stables...............................126

mimicking enlightenment................248

angels...........................................................

sorting out from Fruition.................240

visions of..........................................145

A&P/A&P Event....................................179

anger......................................................120

abandonment...............................................

compassion in..................................121

of altered states...................................12

arahat.....................................219, 329, 353

of morality..........................................12

arahat...........................................................

absorption..............................................133

and ego.............................................276

acceptance....................................................

below buddhahood..........................329

exploration with.................................21