Isn't your gripe aboutI have to do better than what?
I just read the headlines, I have not read the gory details.Dark Jhana and Nimitta?
But since you challenged me I looked up your first teacher... Now I understand OP and you better. You belong to the tradition that Bhante Sujato calls
Vipassanavada is not something taught by Buddha. It is entirely based on commentaries. Ajhan Sona says that a Burmese leading monk came up with this method for laymen who did not have time for Samma Samadhi i.e. 4 buddhist jhanas.Vipassanavada,
What I gathered about your first teacher Sayalay Dipankara
According to this Pa-Auk bases his method on commentaries, and not on what Buddha taught.In 1990, she was ordained as a Buddhist nun at Pak-Auk Tawya Monastery, Myanmar. Since then, she was trained to be a meditation teacher. Sayalay Dipankara is experienced in teaching any of the 40 Kamatthana as mentioned in the Visuddhi Magga (e.g. Anapanasati, Four Elements Meditation, Metta, Buddhanussati, Asubha, Marananussati and 8 Samapatthi (1st to 8th Jhana), Kasina meditation, etc) and Vipassana Meditation.
Buddha the Founder has been replaced by Buddhaghosa, right?
How do your meditation centers manage to teach 8 jhanas? Are 8 jhanas reported in the sutta pitaka?
Four formless samapathis are reported in the sutta pitaka. But research has shown that these are not Buddha's teachings. The canon contains stuff taught by teachers other than Buddha. Thanks to hard working scholars some of us know what Buddha taught.
Buddha did not teach the two main Satipathana suttas found in the canon. That was assembled by the sangha at the second council.
I am pretty sure A. Brahms would not waste his time teaching 8 jhanas. (cause there are no 8 jhanas in the canon).
The Pa-Auk method appears to teach 8 jhanas. How do the formless samapathhis help in dismantling Depending Origination of Suffering?
Is not that the point of right samadhi? Are not the Pa-Auk mediation centers misleading the people who come to them in good faith, much like Goenka centers did or still do.
Be well!