r> Could we clarify this. Am I right in reading that you now accept that
r> the sukkhavipassaka is without mundane jhana?
The connection of distinction between lokiya and lokuttara jhanas and
the discussed passage in Visuddhimagga is somewhat hypothetical. So it
seems that this passage is ambiguous and may the elders' point of view.
I accept that in the works of Ven. Buddhaghosa and subcommentaries
'sukkhavipassaka' is one who does not develop jhana, but only kha.nikasamaadhi:
Ye pana kha.nikasamaadhimatte .thatvaa vipassana.m pa.t.thapetvaa
adhigata-aggamaggaa, te aadito antarantaraa ca samaadhijena
jhaana'ngena vipassanaabbhantara.m pa.tisandhaanaana.m abhaavaa
sukkhaa vipassanaa etesanti sukkhavipassakaa naama.
Yet this is a purely commentarial term. When describing one who is
released through wisdom Buddha clearly told about jhana. So the
question of how this term relates to suttas remains open.
At least it seems that this term is sometimes used as an excuse for
non-practice of jhana, whereas Buddha repeatedly urged to develop
jhana. Moreover, in Dutiya-Agaarava sutta (AN 3.15)
it is said that the full development of wisdom is impossible without
the development of samadhi. Jhana factors are deeply imbedded in the
factors of Awakening. So one following the Buddha's words would better
practice jhanas as the inherent eight's limb of the Noble Eightfold
Path.
Another question is what is jhana, some non-perception trance of
narrowed attention or something better, yet it is another story for
another discussion.