And don’t forget that being in a state of jhana, you are still in duality. Jhanas are experiences, and not and end, right.

I’m not sure what you mean – done these practices “before”. Before when? If you’re referring to some previous life – I don’t believe in that at the present – as I’ve had nothing to suggest that such things are possible. On the path – many things that were heard and remembered manifest in the experiences. Indians have experiences that resemble what their gurus had. Thai buddhists – what their respected monks had… Some have Kundalini – i’ve had little of that. Some follow chakras type experiences… I’ve not – as far as I know – haven’t read much about them.

Whether there are past lives or not is something that I don’t think CAN be revealed during this life experience. One might get a feeling that a past life existed – but that wouldn’t prove it. There’s no way to prove a past life – so, even if I have such a feeling or knowledge one day – it doesn’t mean it’s truth. It doesn’t make sense to call it truth if it can’t be shown to disbelievers objectively – and have others accept it based on facts – not my feelings about the topic.

Truth is phenomenological – specific to one’s self. If that truth can’t be generalized to all people – it’s not really truth for everyone.

2nd part of your comment – only the first Jhana has a little duality – though that’s like saying the air is a little oxygen. It’s enough… In the early Jhanas there is some feeling of duality if they are unstable and one is going in and out of them. Once firmly in the jhana there is no duality. Is Jhana the end? Not necessarily – I’m not done. I’ve changed radically – but done? nah. After Jhana 8 – maybe it’s all done. Maybe duality is gone when you come out of it. I can’t say. Maybe if i spend more time there – i’ll see. or maybe not….

Thank you for the comments Brad! – Vern