All sutta and pali evidence suggests that it is thinking in general (train of thought). In the context of Jhāna, of course, it is only wholesome, andwithin bounds of the meditation subject(s).ToVincent wrote:Sure, but what is vitakka/vicara?Alex123 wrote: In the above case, since it talks about avitakka/avicāro it implies second Jhāna.
Above 1st Jhāna, while train of thought doesn't occur, there may be very few thoughts here and there dealing with decision to go to higher level or not.
Here we need to be precise about the degree and amount. While there can be train of thought in 1st Jhana, it doesn't need to mean that very few thoughts cannot occur in higher jhanas.ToVincent wrote: What is interesting, is your pericope "cetayamānassa me pāpiyo, acetayamānassa me seyyo" in the dimension(sphere) of nothingness.
The fact that there is thinking (what we usually call thinking",) at that level goes against the "no thinking" after the first jhana.
Here is important thing, "Peak of perception". Beyond which is almost unconsciousness where one of course, cannot form any conscious thought, not even a single one.ToVincent wrote: Now, when the monk is percipient of himself here, then from there to there, step by step, he touches the peak of perception. As he remains at the peak of perception,