Dear Jim, Connie and all,
Thank you very much, Jim. This is very useful for me.
I try to translate your examples for Connie, but I stand to be corrected.
Connie, this is instead of a promised sutta (Since Bhante Yuttadhammo is in
retreat). I am away for four days.
op 15-08-2004 23:13 schreef Jim Anderson op jimanderson_on@...:

> I just checked the Pali commentary (reproduced below) on what it has
> to say about the word 'nimitta' in the AN I.11 passage. I think the
> explanatory word 'aaramma.na.m' supports Connie's choice of 'object'.
> 'raaga.t.thaaniya.m aaramma.na.m' could be translated as 'an object
> causing passion or desire'. The .tiikaa explains the '-.t.thaaniya.m'
> part as 'janaka.m' (producing or generating). The passage below gives
> four quotes for 'nimitta' in other contexts as a name for paccaya,
> kaara.na, samaadhi, and vipassanaa respectively.

************
Paccaya, Condition:
****************

> subhanimittanti raaga.t.thaaniya.m aaramma.na.m.

The feature of beauty is the object causing desire.

``sanimittaa, bhikkhave, uppajjanti paapakaa akusalaa dhammaa, no
animittaa''ti
<By a condition, monks, arise evil, unwholesome dhammas, not without
condition>

ettha nimittanti paccayassa naama.m.
Here, nimitta is a name for condition.

Kaara.na, Cause.
**************
``adhicittamanuyuttena, bhikkhave, bhikkhunaa pa~nca nimittaani kaalena
kaala.m
manasikaatabbaanii''ti (ma. ni. 1.216) ettha kaara.nassa.
<With reference to the application of the higher thought, monks, five causes
must be taken into consideration by the monk from time to time. Here it
means cause.
Samaadhi.
********
``so ta.m nimitta.m aasevati bhaavetii''ti (a. ni. 3.9.35) ettha
samaadhissa.
<He pursues and develops this meditation subject of samatha>. Here it means
samaadhi.

Vipassanaa.
**********
``ya.m nimitta.m aagamma ya.m nimitta.m manasikaroto anantaraa
aasavaana.m khayo hotii''ti (a0 ni0 2.6.27) ettha vipassanaaya.
<When he is depending on insight, by applying insight, there is immediately
after that the destruction of the cankers> Here it means insight.

*****
idha pana raaga.t.thaaniyo i.t.thaaramma.nadhammo ``subhanimitta''nti

> adhippeto. -- Mp I 32

Here however, the feature of beauty means a desirable object that is the
condition for desire.
*****
Nina.