MCTB - Mastering the Core Teaching of the Buddha - which is a fairly hardcore "path" towards enlightenment has these phases well charted out. http://www.dharma

MCTB - Mastering the Core Teaching of the Buddha - which is a fairly hardcore "path" towards enlightenment has these phases well charted out. http://www.dharmaoverground.org/web/guest/dharma-wiki/-/wiki/Main/MCTB+5.+Dissolution,+Entrance+to+the+Dark+Night http://www.dharmaoverground.org/web/guest/dharma-wiki/-/wiki... Once one has crossed the Arising and Passing Event, one will enter the Dark Night regardless of whether one wants to or not. It doesn’t matter if you practice from this point on; once you cross the A&P you are in the Dark Night to some degree (i.e. are a Dark Night Yogi) until you figure out how to get through it, and if you do get through it without getting to the first stage of enlightenment, you will have to go through it again and again until you do. I mean this in the most absolute terms These are a well understood steps in the journey towards enlightenment and comes with necessary warnings. For most people, they will not step this far and this point is moot. For hardcore practitioners of meditation, it's a necessary step. What I think has happened is that meditation has become classified as "infinitely benevolent" : you can go down that path, as far as you can, and all will be good. Meditation like weightlifting, needs guidance and care. You can hurt yourself if you don't respect the barbell.