well if you want to sincerely discuss it i can make an exception as i have the expertise and have some time so i ask you first to consider the full context of the selections you outline the aurobindo letter begins all these experiences are of the same nature and what applies to one applies to another apart from some experiences of a personal character the rest are either idea truths such as pour down into the consciousness from above when one gets into touch with certain planes of being or strong formations from the larger mental and vital worlds which when one is directly open to these worlds rush in and want to use the sadhak for their fulfilment these things when they pour down or come in present themselves with a great force a vivid sense of inspiration or illumination much sensation of light and joy an impression of widening and power the sadhak feels himself freed from the normal limits projected into a wonderful new world of experience filled and enlarged and exalted what comes associates itself besides with his aspirations ambitions notions of spiritual fulfilment and yogic siddhi it is represented even as itself that realisation and fulfillment in short they are talking about planes of consciousness basically astral and mental planes which more experienced occultists are familiar with as actual realms ancient occult lore is true that there are stages of awakening to these planes which is what is meant but the danger is in not being able to handle the energies and conscious influences archetypal forms and beings there so that one becomes more of an intermediate zone medium a sad state some of us have actually observed which is why kazlev popularized the concept this becomes clearer once you read the full text of paul brunton's chapter on the intermediate zone here brunton's beginning point is that the pathway of the mystical goal is strewn with human wreckage why several reasons would be needed to give a complete answer but one of the most important is this between the state of ordinary man and the state of the matured mystic there lies a perilous and deceptive psychological region which has been given various names in mystical literature it has been called the astral plane the intermediate zone the hall of illusion and so on the early efforts of all aspirants in concentration meditation self conquest and study bring them into this region but once here their egoism becomes stimulated by the subtle forces they have evoked their emotional nature becomes more sensitive and more fluid their imaginative power becomes more active and is less restrained the consequence of failure to negotiate these changes properly is swollen vanity superstitious credulity emotions run riot and imagination gone wild the safeguards against all this are first submission to the philosophic discipline and second submission to competent guidance i appreciate that you have more of a buddhist orientation in your views while the sources use hindu based concepts in this case to say that the iz is similar to a buddhist concept of a spiritual bypass which is a tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues psychological wounds and unfinished developmental tasks is sufficiently related to the iz concepts of aurobindo and brunton to justify combining rather than cross referencing them is to miss the import of the iz concept you would be familiar with the buddhist wheel of life with its different realms of being a more buddhist way to look at it would be that you have to pass the tests of illusion and influences of certain beings of each realm up to and including mara to truly get through the iz and free of the wheel and it is too dangerous without a proper guide while buddha or for that matter any enlightened being is fully awake and present on every level of the wheel the aspirant is only awakening slowly from the dream and can be easily confused even highly practiced relatively balanced and well meaning spiritual people can and do fail to pass through the iz the spiritual bypass is a concept far too psychological to express the broader meaning of the iz so i think your idea has some merit and certainly the article can and should be improved but a better solution would be to improved the cross referencing and not just force an integration of the terms i hope you take the time to thoroughly review aurobindo and brunton's full exposition of the concept before pushing ahead i have no difficulty with you taking over lead on the article in that case all i ask is that editors be thorough and give some weight to those with expertise on a specific topic