In general, yes. All the details I cared to investigate match up, though the exact extend of some of these stages (especially emotional side-effects) varies a bit. Personally, I’d prefer to use a somewhat different lingo and different organization of the map[1], but that’s more of a different perspective than an actual disagreement.
Also, these stages matched the experiences for all the people I know well enough and who practiced similar techniques, regardless of what tradition they came from (be it Zen, idiosyncratic drug use or Carlos Castaneda’s stuff). I only learned of the Theravada maps once I was already way in and past lots of the exciting stuff. I stick with them because they are so accurate.
[1] Specifically, I’d stress the fractal nature of the progression. There are many self-similar patterns within the stages. Also, I’d divide it more, but this is an introduction, not a comprehensive account.
In detail? You recognize these stages as having happened, and have had similar experiences? Would you describe anything differently?
In general, yes. All the details I cared to investigate match up, though the exact extend of some of these stages (especially emotional side-effects) varies a bit. Personally, I’d prefer to use a somewhat different lingo and different organization of the map[1], but that’s more of a different perspective than an actual disagreement.
Also, these stages matched the experiences for all the people I know well enough and who practiced similar techniques, regardless of what tradition they came from (be it Zen, idiosyncratic drug use or Carlos Castaneda’s stuff). I only learned of the Theravada maps once I was already way in and past lots of the exciting stuff. I stick with them because they are so accurate.
[1] Specifically, I’d stress the fractal nature of the progression. There are many self-similar patterns within the stages. Also, I’d divide it more, but this is an introduction, not a comprehensive account.