The point here is that Pessa is not a monk. He is a white-clothed lay follower, who meditates, even though he considers himself to have less than perfect sila and wisdom, in the way the Buddha prescribes.
Ow, I think we are talking about different persons here. I was refering to a monk in SN 47.3.
Some success, certainly, but I see no evidence that one must have complete success. Neither in the Graduated Teaching, nor in most other endeavours.
Yes, 100% mastery is not needed. However, some, well, lets say, at least 80% is highly recommended. Other 20% you'll develop eventually along the way. And here we go on your next comment:
OK. Still, the same applies to any aspect of the training. If one can doubt the efficacy of meditation, then one can doubt the efficacy of any aspect.
Well, you can doubt anything anytime. However. One can clearly see if there are results or not. What is the results of fulfilment such stage as "learning Dhamma"? You know a lot. Or you know little. Hom much should you know to move further? Well, at least know what is the Path, what is the goal, what tools are there to use, how, when they should be used, etc. When you understand this, that is enough to practise further. Or, take a stage "right views". How do you know you have right views? Again, look at yourself, at what you believe, what you consider right and correct. Compare with texts. Still and doubts, disagreements? You can actually see if have (some) right views or not (
according to texts). Ok. Some next stage. Verbal Behavior. How do you behave verbally in real life? Lies... gossips... rude words? Sometimes maybe? Or maybe not!? You can see quite clearly if you are accomplished here or not as well. Some next stage. Sense Restraint. Okay - how easily do you observe such instructions? Do you easily fulfil them all the time in all situations - so that bad unwholesome qualities do not appear in your mind, because it is so well guarded? Or this is still a big problem for you? Again - you can clearly see how good you are here. And same with meditation actually (and all other stages). How easily do your enter sublime peaceful states, undistracted by thoughts, by hindrances? For how long? Do you do that easily anytime? If so, where are your deerper (or - higher) results like bliss, rapture, jhanas? If you practise meditation (ok, here we mean that word in "intensive" sense) for several years and you have no jhanas - this is a failure. You should go back and see if previous stages are fulfilled (and I'm sure one will find out he/she has a LOT of work waiting to be done
there -)