Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Parikammanimitta: [nt.] preparatory sign; preliminary object. Formed by parikamma (preparation, preliminary action, arrangement) + nimitta (sign/image).
Orthodox Definition
The Parikammanimitta is the very first stage of the meditation object in the development of tranquility (samatha). It is the raw, physical object that the beginner practitioner uses to anchor their wandering mind.
For example, in Earth Kasiṇa meditation, the parikammanimitta is an actual physical disc made of clay that the monk places on the ground in front of him. In Ānāpānasati (mindfulness of breathing), it is the actual tactile sensation of the air striking the tip of the nose or the upper lip.
At this stage, the meditator’s concentration is categorized as parikamma-samādhi (preparatory concentration). The mind is still heavily plagued by the five hindrances (nīvaraṇa), and the practitioner must exert significant applied thought (vitakka) to repeatedly drag the mind back to this crude physical sign every time it wanders away.
Quote
parikammassa nimittaṃ ārammaṇattāti parikammanimittaṃ, kasiṇamaṇḍalādi.
“The sign which is the object of preparatory practice is called preparatory sign (parikammanimitta), such as an earth-kasiṇa disk.”tadeva cakkhunā diṭṭhaṃ viya manasā uggahetabbaṃ nimittaṃ, uggaṇhantassa vā nimittanti uggahanimittaṃ.
“That same sign, to be grasped by the mind as if seen by the eye, or the sign for one who grasps it, is called grasping sign (uggahanimitta).”tappaṭibhāgaṃ vaṇṇādikasiṇadosarahitaṃ nimittaṃ upacārappanānaṃ ārammaṇattāti paṭibhāganimittaṃ.
“The counter-part sign (paṭibhāganimitta) is similar to the grasping sign, free from kasiṇa faults such as color, etc., and is the object of access and absorption.”— Abhidhammatthasaṅgaha (Chapter IX, Nimittabhedavaṇṇanā)
Textual References
- Textual: Abhidhammattha-saṅgaha (Chapter IX, Nimittabhedavaṇṇanā) – Defining the preparatory sign (parikammanimitta) as the object of preparatory practice.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter IV) – Detailed instructions on exactly how to physically construct the clay kasiṇa to serve perfectly as the preliminary target.