Re: nimitta, animitta.

Dear Nina,

> > Also, "aaramma.naa" which seems to be in the ablative singular
(from > > the object?) is not clear.
> -----
> N:could it be depending on an object?

I'm not sure. When I first saw "aaramma.naa naama", I took
"aaramma.naa" as a nom. plural but then the normal plural form for it
would have been "aaramma.naani" and this  left "aaramman.naa" as an
ablative singular. However, I wonder if the particle "naama' that
follows is ever used in this way with a preceding non-nominative word.
We can see a Pali neuter noun in a masculine form such as "cattaaro
satipa.t.thaanaa". See below for a translation attempt with the nom.
plural.

> (b)  In MN43 "the signless liberation of mind" is explained in a way
> that clearly connects it with the fruition of arahantship:  there
lust, > hatred and delusion are declared to be "sign-makers"
(nimittakarana), > which the arahant has totally abandoned.

It just so happens that the MN .tiikaa passage we're looking at
belongs to this sutta. It is elaborating on the a.t.thakathaa comment
(Ps II 352) on the word 'sabbanimittaana.m' at M I 297,1. This is
found in the following: 'sabbanimittaana~nca amanasikaaro'
(non-attention to every/any object). Horner has 'paying no attention
to any sign' --p.357. I don't know why 'sign' was chosen as the
a.t.thakathaa makes it quite clear that 'sabbanimittaana.m' =
'ruupaadiina.m sabbaaramma.naana.m'.

aaramma.naa naama saaramma.nadhammaana.m visesato uppattinimittanti
aaha "sabbanimittaananti ruupaadiina.m sabbaaramma.naanan"
ti. --Ps-p.t 2.275 (Burmese ed.)

Translation:
Because, namely, objects (as conditions) are a cause for the arising
of states having objects in particular, he (the commentator) said "
'sabbanimittaana.m' means 'to any object such as a visible object
and so on'. "

'visesato' which I have translated as 'in particular' seems to be
singling out the four immaterial khandhas to the exclusion of
ruupakkhandha and the unconditioned element. Does that make sense? I
have taken 'uppattinimitta.m' to be a sixth case tappurisa.

Thanks for your other comments.

Jim

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