--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Stephen Hodge" <s.hodge@...> wrote:

> Dear Robert,
>
> > It is perhaps worth pointing out that someone can imagine an

unusual

> > state of mind to be genuine jhana.
> Of course, I am well aware of that. It depends whether you have a

bona fide

> teacher who can guide you and verify the experience.
>
> > Your descriptions sound unlikely to me.
> Nicely ambiguous ! Unlikely to be imagined or unlikely to be

genuine ?

> > ===========

Dear Stephen,
For instance you wrote that:

>>>"Autopsies are also very bad news. Actually, in that respect
> it is fortunate that most people get reborn quite soon after
> death, but some remain in the antaraabhava state for several
>>> weeks"

These are descriptions I find unlikely and sounds like animistic
ideas about death. Sri Lanka- where Theravada is dominant- is the
country that donates the most corneas for eye surgey . Taken from
immediately dead. Because no imaginations about antaabhavas (sp?)
floating around, hoping in and out of dead bodies.
=========

Stephen: "Either way, your opinion does not carry much weight but,
out of curiosity,

> please tell me what your personal qualifications are for

determining

> either ""

=========
My only qualification is respect for the sasana of the Buddha. I
hope I won't become so deluded as to claim special powers and
attainments.
Dutthatthaka (Corrupted)Sutta
"Whoever boasts to others, unasked,
of his practices, precepts,
is, say the skilled,
ignoble by nature""
Robertk