Dear Nina and all Pali friends,

I have found a passage in Patisambhidamagga describing two relevant
'vimokkhaa' from DN 33. In them nimittas are frequently mentioned
alongside with sa~n~naa.

The phrase
"ajjhatta.m aruupa.m, bahiddhaa ruupamidan"
in the third paragraph seems to partly confirm my hypothesis.
I say 'partly' because it is evident from the text that nimittas are
attended to in both cases, form and formless.

I would greatly appreciate any suggestions on the possible meaning of
'nimitta' in this context.

Dimitry

Patisambhidamagga 2.38

212. Katha.m ruupii ruupaani passatiiti- vimokkho? Idhekacco
ajjhatta.m paccatta.m niilanimitta.m manasikaroti, niilasa~n~na.m
pa.tilabhati. So ta.m nimitta.m suggahita.m karoti, suupadhaarita.m
upadhaareti, svaavatthita.m avatthaapeti. So ta.m nimitta.m
suggahita.m katvaa suupadhaarita.m upadhaaretvaa svaavatthita.m
avatthaapetvaa bahiddhaa niilanimitte citta.m upasa.mharati,
niilasa~n~na.m pa.tilabhati. So ta.m nimitta.m suggahita.m karoti,
suupadhaarita.m upadhaareti, svaavatthita.m avatthaapeti. So ta.m
nimitta.m suggahita.m katvaa upadhaaretvaa svaavatthita.m
avatthaapetvaa aasevati bhaaveti bahuliikaroti.

Tassa eva.m hoti- "ajjhatta~nca bahiddhaa ca ubhayamida.m ruupan"ti,
ruupasa~n~nii hoti. Idhekacco ajjhatta.m paccatta.m piitanimitta.m
…pe… lohitanimitta.m …pe… odaatanimitta.m manasikaroti,
odaatasa~n~na.m pa.tilabhati. So ta.m nimitta.m suggahita.m karoti,
suupadhaarita.m upadhaareti, svaavatthita.m avatthaapeti. So ta.m
nimitta.m suggahita.m katvaa suupadhaarita.m upadhaaretvaa
svaavatthita.m avatthaapetvaa bahiddhaa odaatanimitte citta.m
upasa.mharati, odaatasa~n~na.m pa.tilabhati. So ta.m nimitta.m
suggahita.m karoti, suupadhaarita.m upadhaareti, svaavatthita.m
avatthaapeti. So ta.m nimitta.m suggahita.m katvaa suupadhaarita.m
upadhaaretvaa svaavatthita.m avatthaapetvaa aasevati bhaaveti
bahuliikaroti. Tassa eva.m hoti- "ajjhatta~nca bahiddhaa ca
ubhayamida.m ruupan"ti, ruupasa~n~nii hoti. Eva.m ruupii ruupaani
passatiiti- vimokkho.

Katha.m ajjhatta.m aruupasa~n~nii bahiddhaa ruupaani passatiiti-
vimokkho? Idhekacco ajjhatta.m paccatta.m niilanimitta.m na
manasikaroti, niilasa~n~na.m na pa.tilabhati; bahiddhaa niilanimitte
citta.m upasa.mharati, niilasa~n~na.m pa.tilabhati. So ta.m nimitta.m
suggahita.m karoti, suupadhaarita.m upadhaareti, svaavatthita.m
avatthaapeti. So ta.m nimitta.m suggahita.m katvaa suupadhaarita.m
upadhaaretvaa svaavatthita.m avatthaapetvaa aasevati bhaaveti
bahuliikaroti.

Tassa eva.m hoti- "ajjhatta.m aruupa.m, bahiddhaa ruupamidan"ti,
ruupasa~n~nii hoti. Idhekacco ajjhatta.m paccatta.m piitanimitta.m
…pe… lohitanimitta.m …pe… odaatanimitta.m na manasikaroti,
odaatasa~n~na.m na pa.tilabhati; bahiddhaa odaatanimitte citta.m
upasa.mharati, odaatasa~n~na.m pa.tilabhati. So ta.m nimitta.m
suggahita.m karoti, suupadhaarita.m upadhaareti, svaavatthita.m
avatthaapeti. So ta.m nimitta.m suggahita.m katvaa suupadhaarita.m
upadhaaretvaa svaavatthita.m avatthaapetvaa aasevati bhaaveti
bahuliikaroti. Tassa eva.m hoti- "ajjhatta.m aruupa.m bahiddhaa
ruupamidan"ti, ruupasa~n~nii hoti. Eva.m ajjhatta.m aruupasa~n~nii
bahiddhaa ruupaani passatiiti- vimokkho.