Re: nimitta, animitta.

Dear Nina,

<< So I am interested in aaramma.naa naama saaramma.nadhammaana.m
visesato uppattinimittanti. I understand what is said about the
difference between nimitta and animitta, at least in theory, but could
you please give a translation of the part I quoted above? >>

I'm afraid I don't understand the line well-enough to give a clear
translation. I have a problem with the word 'visesato'. Should it
be taken as an adverbial (in particular, particularly, especially)?
Also, "aaramma.naa" which seems to be in the ablative singular (from
the object?) is not clear. To get a better understanding I think one
would have to study it in a larger context, that is, to follow it back
to the original word/passage in the MN sutta and also to be more
familiar with the Abhidhamma technical explanations in Pali. I think
'uppattinimitta.m' can be translated as 'the cause of the arising (of
dhammas having objects)'.

My main point in citing the passage was to show a connection between
'aaramma.na' and 'nimitta' as they both share a meaning in common
(cause, condition). I think the meanings of nimitta as cause or sign
get confused. It is possible that 'nimitta' is derived from two or
more roots and this would give us homonyms. The Abh .tiikaa gives the
root 'maa' for the one meaning cause, 'mih' (sprinkle) for the one
meaning sexual organ, but none for the one meaning sign. The word
'nimitta' is also found in Sanskrit and Apte gives 'mid' as the root
in his dictionary.

There doesn't seem to be any detailed explanation of the term
'nimitta' in any Pali text or commentary that I know of.

Jim

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