"When I watch with this silent mind the AV just puffs away like an illusion."
wow...love this wording...this idea has been key for me in my sobriety. "I" am not afraid of "the beast" because I am the one in charge now. I find that if I give in to the panic that the AV tries to create in me and I am fearful then I begin running around like a chicken with my head cut off making all kinds of crazy decisions. Fear means that I am engaging with the AV on some level which gives it a foot in the door so to speak. Buddhism also speaks to "sitting with" temptations/distractions as opposed to running from. I translate this to "yep...I see you. I know what you are up to. It's not gonna happen" I have experienced the same "poof...it's gone" feeling you described.
The shifting tool has also worked well for me.
Also...I will stick to the plan and not the man. My comments really had nothing to do with anyone on a personal level...only that narrow-mindedness in any form has been very dangerous to my recovery in the past.
peace