The default instructions “focus on your breath and observe your mind, gently letting go of distractions” are based on Vipassana — the same Vipassana that is bound to produce the Dark Night if you do it.
It’s based on Vipassana, but as you say yourself at the beginning of the post, it isn’t the authentic experience. What makes you think that focusing on your breath and observing your mind is capable of producing the same effect as full Vipassana practice? To me it feels like that would require much more effort and/or experience than just “being mindful” for an hour a day.
It’s based on Vipassana, but as you say yourself at the beginning of the post, it isn’t the authentic experience. What makes you think that focusing on your breath and observing your mind is capable of producing the same effect as full Vipassana practice? To me it feels like that would require much more effort and/or experience than just “being mindful” for an hour a day.