Vol. 1, by Leo M. Pruden (California, 1968)
pp. 339 ~ 40, Note no. 171.
471 页
terms are well-grounded in the tradition as a pert of
the jhanic formula which not only originated with the
parama-ditthadhamma-nibbanavadins but also was
followed by the followers of the Arupya sama ?
pattis, the Buddha and the later Buddhists.Moreover if
we accept the view of the vaibhasikas, it would follw
that the first jhana is attainable with the help of
the gross vitakka only, and the comparatively subtle
vicara is not indispensable.
We have, therefore, to accept both the vitakka
and vicara as being associated with the first jhana,
and at the same time we have to admit that they, being
successive, cannot be simultaneously present in the
jhanic state.In other words they cannot be regarded as
the features of the first jhana experienced by the
meditator in concentration at any given monent.So it
follows that the expression "savitakkam savicaram" has
to be interpreted in a way that only shows their
relatedness to the first jhana without making them an
integral part of the jhana experienced.This is
possible if we take them as belonging to process
leading to the jhana, but not to the jhanic state.This
suggestion is strengthened if we pay attention to the
drift of the discussion on the Parama-ditt-
hadhamma-nibbanavadins as recorded in the Brahmaja
? lasutta.Here we see that the vitakka and vicara give
rise to the separation (viveka) from kama and
akusaladhammas and this separation in its turn gives
rise to first jhana (vivekajam......pathamajjhanam)
.This shows that the vitakka and vicara become non-
functional before the attainment of the first jhana;
they are not integrated into the jhanic experience,
but only are related to the first jhana through the
intermediary state
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(26) The ancient masters say: "What is vitarka? A
mental conversation (manojalpa) of enquiry
(paryesaka) wich has for its support volition
(centana) or the speculative consciousness
depending on whether it does or does not contain
deduction (abhyuha).This is the grosser state of