--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, "Bhikkhu Pesala" <pesala@...> wrote:

> > If one thinks that jhaana is essential, as several teachers claim,

one

> may cultivate it for a year or two first. I don't see any harm in

that,

> unless one dies before finishing the meditation course. I am sure

that

> insight will come much more easily if one has already gained jhaana
> previously. However adept one becomes in jhaana, one may fail to gain
> magga and phala if one's perfections are not yet ripe, or if one

fails

> to find the appropriate guidance.
>
> ++++

Dear venerable Pesala,
It is often said that attaining jhana makes vipassana easier. However
while all kusala is supportive of insight I do not see this as being
so clearcut.
The ones who could use jhana as basis for insight had mastery of jhana,
something beyond the capacity of beings of this time. Someone could
strive for years to attain jhana and not succeed, or take some pleasant
or strange concentration experience to be jhana. The ancient
commentaries suggest that at this late stage in the sasana that
sukkavipassaka is the most viable.
Robertk