The next stage of the purification process is often subdivided, as illustrated in the graph above. As the previous stage matures past the attractive self-states, the ability to notice arising and passing away becomes much more frequent and effortless, and thoughts are momentary, arising and passing away with extreme rapidity. It’s possible that at this stage to lose the ability to convincingly “know” what the contents of the thoughts are, because they arise and pass away so rapidly. It is reported that once this stage becomes quite familiar, the practice takes on a very different tone, analogous to what the Christian mystics might call “the dark night of the soul”. Some commentators state that at this point the “real” practice of vipassana matures, that is, clear, immediate awareness of impermanence, dissatisfaction and non-self is known with increasing frequency and confidence.

Contemplation of Rise and Fall: of Rise and Fall: As the ability to notice impermanence becomes more routine, it also may be more vivid in awareness—breath awareness, followed by a briefly different focus of attention, then back to the breath, perhaps in less than a second. It may happen whether one intends that insight to occur or not. This stage may persist for an extended time, perhaps for days or even years, or it may be fairly quickly transited through. Currently, I’ve become more frequently aware of arising and passing away in this manner. My experience is the thoughts are fleeting, “transparent” and incomplete; they seem to “shred” or dissolve very quickly.

Contemplation of Dissolution: of Dissolution: As the previous stage matures, the ability to track impermanence becomes so persistent and intense that the process of “selfing” seems to collapse, sometimes without intending for that to happen. I was on a retreat many years ago and had the experience of thoughts collapsing before I could really grasp them. It seemed as if my mind was trying to get “traction” regarding meaning making, but the “ground” was too slippery, and the sense of an enduring self just falling apart. This experience was quite brief, but quite impactful-- my mind recoiled away from it reflexively, and I realized, by inference as well as having previously read about it, that this is a fundamental phenomenon of cognition—the binding together of thought moments that craving and clinging sustain was not happening. It startled and shocked me. I sat and wept for quite a while, realizing that this characteristic had always been operating in my life in the past, and would be for the rest of my life! This is the onset of “the dark night of the soul” phase of practice. Obviously, it can be quite daunting, especially when the person experiencing it doesn’t have Dharma concepts to support understanding the experience. Fortunately, I was well-informed enough and had enough confidence in the eightfold path that I didn’t hesitate in continuing my practice.

Contemplation of the Fearful: of the Fearful: Continuing the practice at this point is quite important because direct experience of the transience of selfing moments shows that the whole sense of self is a fabrication. The fictional quality doesn’t deny the reality of life, however. What is does accomplish is a direct knowing of this phenomenon as impermanent and not indicative of a self. Once again, it is very important to have conceptual and personal support while coming to terms with this experience. I only had that experience one time, but, by inference, it validated, then and now, the truth of the teachings. I would be OK with experiencing it again in the future, but, according to the teachings, being able to confront the knowing awareness again may not be necessary.

Knowledge of Desire for Deliverance: of Desire for Deliverance: As the knowing of the dissolution of self-states is assured and there’s enough equanimity to investigate the experience, the opportunity is there to know the characteristics of impermanence, dissatisfaction and non-self at the most useful level. The fear of losing the assurance of an enduring self is the problem, not the awareness of impermanence! This will become clearer through knowing the next stage.

Knowledge in Reflecting Contemplation: in Reflecting Contemplation: With the full development of the seven awakening factors, that is, mindfulness, investigation of mental phenomena, energy/effort, joy/engaged interest, tranquility, concentration/stability of attention and equanimity/internal balance, there is direct knowledge of the nature of craving and clinging. Reflecting upon how craving and clinging seem to require an enduring self for lived experience to be “real”, seeing through that misperception by directly knowing the dissolution of self states creates conditions sufficient to ultimately understand what the Buddha taught in the most deeply personal way.