When a person reaches the stage of the eighth picture, he doesn't actually disappear from daily life. He does have an effect on things that occur around him. It is not like snow that has melted away, or water that has turned to steam. If it were, it would not be the way of Buddhism. That line of reasoning would come under the heading of nihilism.

There are people who experience emptiness, and then adopt a negative attitude towards things, shying away from daily life, even thinking, "The sooner I die the better." Such a mentality would definitely be a step off the Buddha path. I've seen quite a few people act this way.

One woman didn't want to go back to her family or have anything to do with her husband. That is wrong. Another person was a chairman of the board of a company. He was ready to quit his position and give up everything, including his family. Sometimes people become suicidal. These people have serious problems. Such an experience of emptiness is especially dangerous for people with mental or emotional instability.

The eighth picture is not to be confused with nihilism. Also, at the eighth stage, the person enters directly into the stage depicted by the ninth picture.