What does the word 'nimitta' ('sign') refer to in SN 47.8?
Upvote:2
In the same sutta, buddha said:
tathā hi so, bhikkhave, bālo abyatto akusalo bhikkhu sakassa cittassa nimittaṃ na uggaṇhātiฯ.
Then said about satipaṭṭhāna:
evameva kho, bhikkhave, idhekacco paṇḍito byatto kusalo bhikkhu kāye (=base, object) kāyā-nupassī (=sati-cetasika) viharati ātāpī sampajāno satimā, vineyya loke abhijjhādomanassaṃฯ
So:
cittassa nimittaṃ (base[=object] of consciousness) = satiya paṭṭhānaṃ (base [=object] of sati).
The other name is kammaṭṭhāna (base[=object] of cetanā).
P.S. Sati must arise with consciousness.
I'm sorry for my first mistake answer.
Upvote:2
I think Buddha speaks about sincere attention to the process.
Without sensitivity (sincere attention), you pretend to spend time in the practice, but do not concentrate the mind, do not abandon corruptions.
In Zen it's explained as losing the balance between calmness and alertness.
Calmness not balanced by alertness leads to states of dullness, "like a stone that uselessly soaks in water", "like dry piece of wood devoid of life".
Correct meditation should have attentive, sincere attitude.
Likewise, a skillful cook pays sincere attention to doing everything so that the food will be prepared well.
Upvote:2
this is how i understand the sutta,
(1) A chef may know how to cook according to a cook book, but a great chef would continuously monitor and evaluate his clients according to pallets and mood of the day and adjusts his ingredients accordingly. (where a unskilled chef would just do the same over and over without adjusting his skills)
(2) Similarly to monks (or those who practices mindfulness), a skillful practitioner would constantly monitor and evaluate results. Something that unskilled people are lacked. Unskilled people would practice mindfulness and (if) does not gain pleasant dwellings in this very life, nor does he gain mindfulness and clear comprehension he would not pick up on that sign that he is not gaining results. so sign in this context as i understand it is lack of self monitor of result and progress (there for, he would not adjust his practice accordingly. )
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