Dhamma vicaya


In Buddhism, dhamma vicaya has been variously translated as the "analysis of qualities," "discrimination of dhammas," "discrimination of states," "investigation of doctrine,"
and "searching the Truth." This concept implies applying discernment to body-mind phenomena in order to apply right effort, giving way to entry into the first jhana.

History

In the Pali canon's Sutta Pitaka, this is the second of the Seven Factors of Awakening. It is preceded by the establishment of mindfulness and leads to energy/effort Together, mindfulness, discernment and effort calm the mind, and give way to the onset of the jhanas, which are characterised by the remaining four factors of awakening, namely rapture, tranquility, concentration and equanimity. According to the Samyutta Nikaya, this factor is to be developed by paying continuous careful attention to the following states : wholesome and unwholesome ; blameable and blameless ; inferior and superior ; and, evil and good. An alternate explanation in the nikayas is that this factor is aroused by "discriminating that Dhamma with wisdom".
The Abhidhamma's Dhammasai even more strongly associates dhamma vicaya with paññā in its enumeraton of wholesome states :
where "searching the Truth" is C.A.F. Rhys Davids' translation of dhammavicayo.
In later Abhidhamma texts and in post-canonical literature, dhamma vicaya refers to the study of dhamma as physical or mental phenomena that constitute absolute reality.