Bhante Pesala,

Thank you for the quotation.

> "Katamo ca, bhikkhave, puggalo paññävimutto? Idha, bhikkhave, ekacco
> puggalo ye te santaa vimokkhaa atikkamma rüpe äruppä te na käyena
> phusitvä viharati, paññäya cassa disvä äsavä parikkhïnä honti. Ayam
> vuccati, bhikkhave, puggalo paññävimutto." (M.i.477 ¶ 182 CSCD
> Tipitaka)

> This passage clearly states that one who does not abide in those
> liberations that are peaceful and immaterial, transcending forms
> (jhaanas) can gain liberation by seeing with wisdom. It is hard to see
> why the controversy continues unabated when this passage is so
> categorical.

This passage from Kitagiri sutta
http://metta.lk/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima2/070-kitagiri-e1.htm
clearly refers to the attainment of arupa-jhanas, and not to the
attainment of jhanas per se.

Mettena cittena, Dmytro