A critic of the translation of the Pali terms 'vitakka' and 'vicára'

I have been studying the Pali canon in English translation as a means of
providing canonical support for my subjective contemplative experiences. Through
this study I have come across a few key areas that seem like errors in
translation. The Pali terms 'vitakka' and 'vicára' are two of those words that seem
to be incorrectly translated. I have appended to this post a copy of a
definition for the Pali words 'vitakka' and 'vicára' from NYANATILOKA's, Manual of
Buddhist Terms and Doctrines.

There you will find NYANATILOKA translates 'vitakka' and 'vicára' as
"thought-conception and discursive thinking', (or 'applied and sustained thought')."
I do not believe the historic Buddha was intending that one arrive at jhana
through an intellectual activity, but one of subjective investigation through
meditation, therefore not as a process of thinking and reasoning.

I believe it must be an erroneous translation of the Pali words
"vitakka-vicára" to say that through an intellectual pursuit, such as "applied and
sustained thought" the Buddha said one can arrive at jhana. On the Jhana Support
Group, we have found no evidence to support a belief that "intellectual
investigation," or "applied and sustained thought," or "thought-conception and
discursive thinking" will ever lead anywhere other than ignorance delusion and doubt
(dukkha).

I believe vitakka and vicára, if they lead to jhana, must be better
translated as 'concentration' in which one "turns and returns one's mind," or "applies
and reapplies" one's attention to one's meditation object. It is however
possible that the Pali language might be inadequate to make the distinction
between concentration and discursive thinking.

Thank-you very much for your time. If you care to discuss this further,
then please respond to me either here, or directly off-list, or on the Jhana
Support Group.

Kindest regards,

Jeff Brooks

Jhana Support Group
A support group for ecstatic contemplatives
website http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Jhanas/
Subscribe: Jhanas-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

From the Buddhist Dictionary
Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines,
by NYANATILOKA
http://www.palikanon.com/english/wtb/u_v/vitakka_vicaara.htm

vitakka-vicára

'thought-conception and discursive thinking', (or 'applied and sustained
thought') are verbal functions (vací-sankhára: s. sankhára) of the mind, the
so-called 'inner speech ('parole interieure'). They are constituents of the 1st
absorption (s. jhána), but absent in the higher absorptions.

(1) "Thought-conception (vitakka) is the laying hold of a thought, giving it
attention. Its characteristic consists in fixing the consciousness to the
object.

(2) "Discursive thinking (vicára) is the roaming about and moving to and fro
of the mind.... It manifests itself as continued activity of mind" (Vis.M. IV).

(1) is compared with the striking against a bell, (2) with its resounding;
(1) with the seizing of a pot, (2) with wiping it. (Cf. Vis . IV.).