釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 5.71

5.71

Furthermore, vitarka means being startled into awakening. When practitioners attain the first dhyāna, because of the various meritorious qualities of wholesome dharmas never before obtained, their minds are greatly startled into awakening. In the past they were constantly scorched by the fire of desires; when they attain the first dhyāna, it is like a person entering a clear, cool pool. However, when this vitarka arises, it is different from the awareness arising from the body faculty of the desire realm. Why? It arises simultaneously with wholesome dharmas such as concentration. Therefore a verse says: 'Like a pauper finding a treasure trove, / Great joy and vitarka stir the mind.' Hence it is said that the initial mind's coarse thought is named vitarka. This should have a slight difference from the meaning explained by the Sarvāstivādin masters; the discrimination is discussed elsewhere.