nimitta (8284)

nimitta
Entry 8284, Page 297, Col. 2

(nimitta, nimitta)
nimitta¦, nt. (masc., nimittā ime LV 109.8, 193.16, vss; besides the Skt. mgs., the following seem worthy of distinct listings; all seem to be also in Pali, for which Childers must be consulted to correct and supplement PTSD), (1) (sign, mark, and so) external aspect or feature, appearance (but not only visual; cf. AbhidhK. La V-P. i.28 saṃjñā nimittodgrahaṇātmikā, la notion consiste dans la préhension des caractères; comm. nimitta = vastuno 'vasthāviśeṣa, les diverses conditions ou manières d'être de la chose; quite similarly Laṅk), defined, yat saṃsthānā- kṛtiviśeṣākārarūpādilakṣaṇaṃ dṛśyate, tan nimittam Laṅk 228.6--7; each of the 5 objects of sense-perception has or consists of a nimitta, cf. Suzuki, Studies, 156, end: na jātu rūpa-nimittam udgṛhītavān na śabda-ni° na gandha- ni° na rasa-ni° na sparśa-ni° RP 42.3--4; na nimitta- saṃjñāyām api pratitiṣṭhet Vaj 21.10, 19; cf. 8--9 above, na rūpapratiṣṭhitena…na śabda-(etc.); duḥśraddadhaṃ etu…nimittasaṃjñīn’ (gen. pl., for °inām) iha bāla- buddhinām SP 57.7 (vs)…for fools who form notions based on appearances; nimittacārīṇa (gen. pl.) bravīti dharmam SP 120.3 (vs) …to men who follow appearances; anitya-saṃjñānimitta-kāmehi Mv i.54.6, desires for what is impermanent, (mere) name and appearance (wrongly Senart's note); (for the Bodhisattva about to attain enlightenment) śūnyā nimittā Mv ii.341.12; 344.9, appear- ances (esp. prob. as objects of the senses) are void (wrongly Senart); so (Buddha) cakṣuṣā rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā na ca nimitta- grāhī bhaviṣyan na cānuvyañjanagrāhī Mv iii.52.6, and with the other senses, incl. manasā dharmāṃ vijñāya, na ca etc. (10--)11, when he perceives the objects of sense he is not one who grasps appearances or minor marks (Pali also associates nimittaggāhin and anuvyañjanaggāhin in the same way); similarly Śikṣ 357.2, of Bodhisattvas; saced…bodhisattvo…rūpe (and below with vedanāyāṃ, saṃjñāyāṃ, saṃskāreṣu, vijñāne, the 5 skandhas) carati, nimitte carati (he operates in, on superficial appearance) ŚsP 683.4 ff., also…rūpaṃ nityam iti carati, nimitte [Page298-a+ 71] carati 8, etc.; (2) personal, physical mark or trait or characteristic, esp. of the body, but also of dress or orna- ment: mūrdhāto upādāya yāvat pādeṣu nimittaṃ paśyati Mv iii.148.3 (the following details include muñja-mekha- laṃ!); nimittāni 19; as basis for prognostication by soothsayers (cf. nimittika, nai°), te tasya nimittam udgṛhītum ārabdhā(ḥ) Divy 579.20; (3) (sign, in sense of) hint, suggestion of something wanted; sometimes with avabhāsa, q.v., as in Pali, see Childers s.v. obhāsa, 298; avabhāsa-nimittaṃ Śikṣ 131.6 (designed by a monk to extract donations); na bodhisattvo dānapatiṃ vā dṛṣṭvā nimittaṃ karoti Śikṣ 268.6; so prob. MSV ii.36.12 sā kāmarāgādhyavasitā nimittam upadarśayati, showed an intimation (of her desire). Cf. naimittika(-tā, -tva).