mind.What  is vicara? A mental  conversation  of

　　　　   appreciation,of judgement  (paryaveksaka)  which

　　　　   has for its support volition......."Acoording to

　　　　   this theory vitarka  and vicara  constitute  two

　　　　   almost  identical  psychological  complexes:they

　　　　   differ in that the first includes "inquiry"  and

　　　　   the second "judgement".(Leo  M.Pruden, ibid.

　　　　   p.339, Note no.  171.  )

　　   (27) Abhidharmakosabhasyam (P.Pradhan (ed.), pp.60～61

　　　　   under the sutra "vitarka-caravaudayasuksmate".

　　　　　　　　　　  472 页

　　 of  viveka.This   aspects  is  more  explicit  in  the

　　   Dvedhavitakkasutta.

　　　　  The immediate cause of pitisukha in the first jhana

　　   is viveka from kama and akusaladhamma.Concentration of

　　   mind  cannot  be the  cause, fot the  first  jhana  is

　　   accompanied by vitakka-vicara.The preparatory stage is

　　   also   dominated   by   deliberations,  and   not   by

　　   samadhi. Therefore  this  jhana  is  called  "born  of

　　   viveka" (vivekajam).

　　　　  But  how  are  we to  understand  the  meaning  of

　　   pitisukha? The term  pitisukha is a Bahuvrihi compound

　　   qualifying the expression  "pathamam jhanam".But  what

　　   is the relationship between its component parts "piti"

　　   and  "sukha"?Should  it  be  interpreted  as  a dvanda

　　   meaning  piti and sukha? Or should it be taken to mean

　　   rapturous  happiness  ?, a  karmadharaya  compound?We

　　   should  take  note  of the  fact  that  the  religious

　　   strivings  of the  Parama-ditthadhamma-nibbanavadins

　　   were solely  directed  towards  the realisation  of an

　　   agreeable  feeling  which  to them was the same as the

　　   supreme Nibbana. Every  formula of jhanas is a record

　　   of important  spiritual  achievements  and  the jhanic

　　   formulas  are  so  arranged  as  to show  the  gradual

　　   progression　　 from   grosser   feeling   to   subtler

　　   feeling. Seen from this point of view it is reasonable

　　   to conclude  that the term pitisukha  should represent

　　   only  one kind  of feeling;  the piti  which  is not a

　　   feeling, is not an important spiritual  achievement.It

　　   is, therefore, better to take pitisukha  as a karmadha

　　   raya compound  which expresses  clearly the quality

　　   of sukha  to be felt.The  dvanda  compound  would be a