Dear DC and Lennart,

thank you. That is helpful. While there is a possible tug between whose words is the best, I guess we can all better spend time sharing and discussing this intelligently.

vitakka (m) thought, thinking.
savitakka (adj) exerting a thought on the meditation subject.

vicaara (m) deliberation.
savicaara (adj) making repeated thoughts on the subject.

According to Lennart's explanation, vicaara is to stick to the subject but less strenuous?


metta,
Yong Peng.

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, DC Wijeratna wrote:

My understanding of vitakka, vicara, reading Sinhala books and translations is as follows:

vitakka: just a thought about the meditationsubject.
vicaara: thoughts related to the meditation subject

These words seem to occur almost always in connection with Jhaana. I cannot therefore comment on them with knowledge or experience.

Hope this  view also helps.