Pali Term: Animitta

[Dmytro]

Hello Pali friends,

First the suttas. The term "nimitta", which means "representation", is discussed in the relevant thread.

Mahaparinibbana sutta

Ahaṃ kho panānanda, etarahi jiṇṇo vuddho mahallako addhagato vayo anuppatto. Āsītiko me vayo vattati. Seyyathāpi ānanda, jajjarasakaṭaṃ vekkhamissakena yāpeti, evameva kho ānanda vekkhamissakena maññe tathāgatassa kāyo yāpeti. Yasmiṃ ānanda, samaye tathāgato sabbanimittānaṃ amanasikārā ekaccānaṃ vedanānaṃ nirodhā animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ upasampajja viharati, phāsutaro ānanda, tasmiṃ samaye tathāgatassa kāyo hoti.

"Now I am frail, Ananda, old, aged, far gone in years. This is my eightieth year, and my life is spent. Even as an old cart, Ananda, is held together with much difficulty, so the body of the Tathagata is kept going only with supports. It is, Ananda, only when the Tathagata, disregarding representations, with the cessation of certain feelings, attains to and abides in the representation-less concentration of mind, that his body is more comfortable.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .vaji.html

Culasuññata sutta

182. ‘‘Puna caparaṃ, ānanda, bhikkhu amanasikaritvā ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṃ, amanasikaritvā nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṃ, animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ paṭicca manasi karoti ekattaṃ. Tassa animitte cetosamādhimhi cittaṃ pakkhandati pasīdati santiṭṭhati adhimuccati. So evaṃ pajānāti – ‘ye assu darathā ākiñcaññāyatanasaññaṃ paṭicca tedha na santi, ye assu darathā nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññaṃ paṭicca tedha na santi, atthi cevāyaṃ darathamattā yadidaṃ – imameva kāyaṃ paṭicca saḷāyatanikaṃ jīvitapaccayā’ti. So ‘suññamidaṃ saññāgataṃ ākiñcaññāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘suññamidaṃ saññāgataṃ nevasaññānāsaññāyatanasaññāyā’ti pajānāti, ‘atthi cevidaṃ asuññataṃ yadidaṃ – imameva kāyaṃ paṭicca saḷāyatanikaṃ jīvitapaccayā’ti. Iti yañhi kho tattha na hoti tena taṃ suññaṃ samanupassati, yaṃ pana tattha avasiṭṭhaṃ hoti taṃ ‘santamidaṃ atthī’ti pajānāti. Evampissa esā, ānanda, yathābhuccā avipallatthā parisuddhā suññatāvakkanti bhavati.

"Further, Ananda, the monk — not attending to the perception of the dimension of nothingness, not attending to the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception — attends to the singleness based on the representation-less concentration of awareness. His mind takes pleasure, finds satisfaction, settles, & indulges in its representation-less concentration of awareness.

"He discerns that 'Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of the dimension of nothingness are not present. Whatever disturbances that would exist based on the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception, are not present. And there is only this modicum of disturbance: that connected with the six sensory spheres, dependent on this very body with life as its condition.' He discerns that 'This mode of perception is empty of the perception of the dimension of nothingness. This mode of perception is empty of the perception of the dimension of neither perception nor non-perception. There is only this non-emptiness: that connected with the six sensory spheres, dependent on this very body with life as its condition.' Thus he regards it as empty of whatever is not there. Whatever remains, he discerns as present: 'There is this.' And so this, his entry into emptiness, accords with actuality, is undistorted in meaning, & pure.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

[Dmytro]

Mahavedalla sutta

‘‘Kati panāvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā’’ti?

‘‘Dve kho, āvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā – sabbanimittānañca amanasikāro, animittāya ca dhātuyā manasikāro. Ime kho, āvuso, dve paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā samāpattiyā’’ti.

‘‘Kati panāvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā ṭhitiyā’’ti?

‘‘Tayo kho, āvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā ṭhitiyā – sabbanimittānañca amanasikāro, animittāya ca dhātuyā manasikāro, pubbe ca abhisaṅkhāro. Ime kho, āvuso, tayo paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā ṭhitiyā’’ti.

‘‘Kati panāvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā vuṭṭhānāyā’’ti?

‘‘Dve kho, āvuso, paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā vuṭṭhānāya – sabbanimittānañca manasikāro, animittāya ca dhātuyā amanasikāro. Ime kho, āvuso, dve paccayā animittāya cetovimuttiyā vuṭṭhānāyā’’ti.



"How many conditions are there for the attainment of the representation-less awareness-release?"

"There are two conditions for the attainment of the representation-less awareness-release: lack of attention to all representations and attention to the representation-less property. These are the two conditions for the attainment of the representation-less awareness-release."

"And how many conditions are there for the persistence of the representation-less awareness-release?"

"There are three conditions for the persistence of the representation-less awareness-release: lack of attention to all representations, attention to the representation-less property, and a prior act of will. These are the three conditions for the persistence of the representation-less awareness-release."

"And how many conditions are there for the emergence from the representation-less awareness-release?"

"There are two conditions for the emergence from the representation-less awareness-release: attention to all representations and lack of attention to the representation-less property. These are the two conditions for the emergence from the representation-less awareness-release."

...

‘‘Katamā cāvuso, animittā cetovimutti’’?

‘‘Idhāvuso, bhikkhu sabbanimittānaṃ amanasikārā animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṃ vuccatāvuso, animittā cetovimutti.

...

Rāgo kho, āvuso, nimittakaraṇo, doso nimittakaraṇo, moho nimittakaraṇo. Te khīṇāsavassa bhikkhuno pahīnā ucchinnamūlā tālāvatthukatā anabhāvaṃkatā āyatiṃ anuppādadhammā. Yāvatā kho, āvuso, animittā cetovimuttiyo, akuppā tāsaṃ cetovimutti aggamakkhāyati. Sā kho panākuppā cetovimutti suññā rāgena, suññā dosena, suññā mohena. Ayaṃ kho, āvuso, pariyāyo yaṃ pariyāyaṃ āgamma ime dhammā ekatthā byañjanameva nāna’’nti.



"And what is the representation-less awareness-release? There is the case where a monk, through not attending to all representations, enters & remains in the representation-less concentration of awareness. This is called the representation-less awareness-release.

...

"Passion is a making of representations [nimitta]. Aversion is a making of representations. Delusion is a making of representations. In a monk whose fermentations are ended, these have been abandoned, their root destroyed, like an uprooted palm tree, deprived of the conditions of existence, not destined for future arising. Now, to the extent that there is representation-less [animitta] awareness-release, the unprovoked awareness-release is declared the foremost. And this unprovoked awareness-release is empty of passion, empty of aversion, empty of delusion.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

Atthakatha explains "animitta" here as either the removal of representations of pleasure and self by vipassana, or the removal of representations of form in formless attainments, or the cessation of defilements which make representations, due to the attainment of fruits of the Path.

Tattha vipassanā niccanimittaṃ sukhanimittaṃ attanimittaṃ ugghāṭetīti animittā nāma. Cattāro āruppā rūpanimittassa abhāvena animittā nāma. Maggaphalāni nimittakaraṇānaṃ kilesānaṃ abhāvena animittāni.

[Dmytro]

Pindolya sutta

‘‘Tayome, bhikkhave, akusalavitakkā – kāmavitakko, byāpādavitakko, vihiṃsāvitakko. Ime ca bhikkhave, tayo akusalavitakkā kva aparisesā nirujjhanti? Catūsu vā satipaṭṭhānesu suppatiṭṭhitacittassa viharato animittaṃ vā samādhiṃ bhāvayato. Yāvañcidaṃ, bhikkhave, alameva animitto samādhi bhāvetuṃ. Animitto, bhikkhave, samādhi bhāvito bahulīkato mahapphalo hoti mahānisaṃso.

"Monks, there are these three types of unskillful thinking: thinking of sensuality, thinking of ill will, thinking of harm. These three types of unskillful thinking cease without remainder in one who dwells with his mind well established in the four frames of reference or who develops the representation-less concentration. This is reason enough, monks, to develop the representation-less concentration. The representation-less concentration, when developed & pursued, is of great fruit, great benefit.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

[Dmytro]

9. Animittapañhāsuttaṃ

340. ‘‘‘Animitto cetosamādhi, animitto cetosamādhī’ti vuccati. Katamo nu kho animitto cetosamādhīti? Tassa mayhaṃ, āvuso, etadahosi – ‘idha bhikkhu sabbanimittānaṃ amanasikārā animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ upasampajja viharati. Ayaṃ vuccati animitto cetosamādhī’ti. So khvāhaṃ, āvuso, sabbanimittānaṃ amanasikārā animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ upasampajja viharāmi. Tassa mayhaṃ, āvuso, iminā vihārena viharato nimittānusāri viññāṇaṃ hoti.

‘‘Atha kho maṃ, āvuso, bhagavā iddhiyā upasaṅkamitvā etadavoca – ‘moggallāna, moggallāna! Mā, brāhmaṇa, animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ pamādo, animitte cetosamādhismiṃ cittaṃ saṇṭhapehi, animitte cetosamādhismiṃ cittaṃ ekodiṃ karohi, animitte cetosamādhismiṃ cittaṃ samādahā’ti. So khvāhaṃ, āvuso, aparena samayena sabbanimittānaṃ amanasikārā animittaṃ cetosamādhiṃ upasampajja vihāsiṃ. Yañhi taṃ, āvuso, sammā vadamāno vadeyya – ‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṃ patto’ti, mamaṃ taṃ sammā vadamāno vadeyya – ‘satthārānuggahito sāvako mahābhiññataṃ patto’’’ti.

"Then, friends, I thought: 'The representation-less concentration of the heart, the representation-less concentration of the heart, they say — now what is that?'

"Then I thought: 'In this a monk, paying no attention to any representations, enters on and dwells in that concentration of the heart which is without representations. This is called "The representation-less concentration of heart."'

"Then, friends, paying no attention to any representations, I entered on and dwelt in that concentration of the heart which is without representations. But as I dwelt thus, the consciousness-conforming-to-representations arose.

"And then, friends, the Blessed One came to me by his powers and said: 'Moggallaana, Moggallaana, Brahman, do not slacken off in the representation-less concentration, make your mind steady, make the mind one-pointed, concentrate your mind in the representation-less concentration!'

"And after that, friends, paying no attention to any representations, I entered on and dwelt in the representation-less concentration of the heart.

"Now, friends, if anyone were to truly declare: 'Through the Teacher's compassion the disciple gained great super-knowledge,' he could rightly declare this of me."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .wlsh.html

The situation when consciousness does not conform to representations is an approximation of total separation of appatiṭṭha consciousness with name-and-form described in other suttas:

"Very well then, Kotthita my friend, I will give you an analogy; for there are cases where it is through the use of an analogy that intelligent people can understand the meaning of what is being said. It is as if two sheaves of reeds were to stand leaning against one another. In the same way, from name-&-form as a requisite condition comes consciousness, from consciousness as a requisite condition comes name-&-form. From name & form as a requisite condition come the six sense media. From the six sense media as a requisite condition comes contact. From contact as a requisite condition comes feeling. From feeling as a requisite condition comes craving. From craving as a requisite condition comes clinging/sustenance. From clinging/sustenance as a requisite condition comes becoming. From becoming as a requisite condition comes birth. From birth as a requisite condition, then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair come into play. Such is the origination of this entire mass of suffering & stress.

"If one were to pull away one of those sheaves of reeds, the other would fall; if one were to pull away the other, the first one would fall. In the same way, from the cessation of name-&-form comes the cessation of consciousness, from the cessation of consciousness comes the cessation of name-&-form. From the cessation of name-&-form comes the cessation of the six sense media. From the cessation of the six sense media comes the cessation of contact. From the cessation of contact comes the cessation of feeling. From the cessation of feeling comes the cessation of craving. From the cessation of craving comes the cessation of clinging/sustenance. From the cessation of clinging/sustenance comes the cessation of becoming. From the cessation of becoming comes the cessation of birth. From the cessation of birth, then aging & death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, distress, & despair all cease. Such is the cessation of this entire mass of suffering & stress."

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html

"Just as if a skilled butcher or butcher's apprentice, having killed a cow, were to carve it up with a sharp carving knife so that — without damaging the substance of the inner flesh, without damaging the substance of the outer hide — he would cut, sever, & detach only the skin muscles, connective tissues, & attachments in between. Having cut, severed, & detached the outer skin, and then covering the cow again with that very skin, if he were to say that the cow was joined to the skin just as it had been: would he be speaking rightly?"

"No, venerable sir. Why is that? Because if the skilled butcher or butcher's apprentice, having killed a cow, were to ... cut, sever, & detach only the skin muscles, connective tissues, & attachments in between; and ... having covered the cow again with that very skin, then no matter how much he might say that the cow was joined to the skin just as it had been, the cow would still be disjoined from the skin."

"This simile, sisters, I have given to convey a message. The message is this: The substance of the inner flesh stands for the six internal media; the substance of the outer hide, for the six external media. The skin muscles, connective tissues, & attachments in between stand for passion & delight. And the sharp knife stands for noble discernment — the noble discernment that cuts, severs, & detaches the defilements, fetters, & bonds in between.

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html