Dear Yong Peng,
op 16-07-2005 12:24 schreef Ong Yong Peng op yongpeng.ong@...:

> We have to establish certain things first.
>
> (1) What exactly is cetovimutti?

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N: See Nyanatiloka's dictionary: it can stand for the fruition of
arahatship.
It can also be used for the four brahmavihaaras. In this sutta it stands for
mettaa, in footnote PTS edition. It prevents malevolence.
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Y.P.: (2) asubhanimitta is different from pa.tighanimitta?
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N:Here asubha nimitta is the medicine for being attracted to subha, what is
beautiful.
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Y.P. (3) can sensual pleasure be stimulated without an external object,
i.e.

> by mental construct?

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N: I take this to be a paññatti. There can be attachment to anything, no
matter a sense object that impinges on a doorway or an imagination.
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Y.P.
(4) is imagination a mental construct?
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See above, but it depends what one means by mental construct.
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Now about nimitta, I did another cross reference. Ven. Bodhi uses sign for
nimitta. Ven. Soma uses object.

Vitakka-Santhana Sutta; Majjhima Nikaya No. 20
The Removal of Distracting Thoughts
Translated by Soma Thera
...<When evil unskillful thoughts connected with desire, hate, and delusion
arise
in a bhikkhu through reflection on an adventitious object, he should, (in
order to get rid of that), reflect on a different object (nimitta) which is
connected with skill. Then the evil unskillful thoughts are eliminated; they
disappear. By
their elimination, the mind stands firm, settles down, becomes unified and
concentrated, just within (his subject of meditation). >
The Commentary:
A ³different object²: the word nimitta is used.

The Co explains,<when unwholesome thinking is accompanied by attachment, the
different object (nimitta) he should pay attention to is foulness, asubha.
And when there is attachment to things, such as robes, he should reflect on
the impermanence of things. When thinking with aversion arises towards
living beings he should develop metta, loving kindness. When thinking with
aversion arises towards things he should pay attention to elements.>
****
Nina.