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.
Textual References
- Textual: Abhidhammattha-saṅgaha (Chapter IX: Kammaṭṭhāna-saṅgaha) – Categorizing the preparatory sign as the starting point for all 40 subjects of meditation.
- Commentary: Visuddhimagga (Chapter IV) – Detailed instructions on exactly how to physically construct the clay kasiṇa to serve perfectly as the preliminary target.