Path of Freedom [Vimuttimagga]

Subjects of Meditation 87Q. What are the salient characteristic, function, manifestation and nearcause of sustained application of thought?A. Reflection following investigation is its salient characteristic. Thebrightening of the mind — this is its function. The seeing that follows initialapplication of thought — this is its near cause.INITIAL APPLICATION AND SUSTAINED APPLICATIONOF THOUGHT DISCRIMINATEDQ. What is the difference between initial application and sustainedapplication of thought ?SIMILES OF THE BELL ETC.A. It is comparable to the striking of a bell. The fust sound is initialapplication of thought. The reverberations that follow constitute sustainedapplication of thought. And again, it is comparable to the relation of themind to its object. The beginning is initial application of thought; the restis sustained application of thought. And again, to wish for meditation,jhdna, is initial application of thought; to maintain is sustained applicationof thought. And again, to recall is initial application of thought; to dwellon the recollection is sustained application of thought. And again, the stateof the coarse mind is initial application of thought and the state of the finemind is sustained application of thought. Where there is initial applicationof thought there is sustained application of thought, but where there is sustainedapplication of thought, there may or may not be initial application of thought.It is taught in the Tipitaka thus: "The mind beginning to dwell on anythingis initial application of thought. If, having acquired initial application ofthought, the mind is still unfixed, it is sustained application of thought". 1 Tosee a person coming in the distance, without knowing whether one is a manor woman and to distinguish the form as male or female is initial applicationof thought. Thereafter to consider whether he or she is virtuous or not, isrich or poor, noble or humble, is sustained application of thought. Initialapplication of thought wants (a thing), draws it and brings it near. 2 Sustainedapplication of thought keeps it, holds it, follows and goes after it.SIMILES OF THE BIRD ETC.Like a bird taking off from a hill flapping its wings, is initial application1. Dbs. 10, paras 7, 8; 20, paras 84, 85; Yo tasmim sarhaye takko vitakko sankappo appandvyappandcetaso abhiniropand sammdsankappo—ayam tasmim samaye vitakko hoti.Yo tasmim samaye cdro vicdro anuvicdro upavicdro cittassa anusandhanatd anupekkhanatd—ayam tasmim samaye vicdro hoti.2. Petaka. 142: Yathd puriso durato purisam passati dgacchantam na ca tdva jdndti—esoitthl ti vd puriso ti vd. Yadd tu patilabhati: itthi ti vd puriso ti vd evamvanno ti vdevamsanthdno ti vd, ime vitakkayanto uttari upaparikkhanti: kim nu kho ayam silavdudddu dussilo addho vd duggato ti vd! Evam vicdro vitakke apeti vicdro cariyati, ca,anuvattati ca. — Traced by Prof. Bapat.