Vitakka

Vitakka: 'directed thought', 'thought-conception', is one of the 'secondary' not constant mental concomitants see: Tab. II., and may be either kammically advantageous, disadvantageous or neutral. -;There are 3 kammically disadvantageous akusala thoughts: sense-thought kāma-vitakka hating thought byāpāda-v and cruel thought vihimsa-v. There are 3 kammically advantageous kusala thoughts: thought of renunciation nekkhamma-v of hatelessness avyāpāda-v of not harming avihimsā-v The latter three constitute 'right thought', the 2nd link of the 8-fold path.

On the 'Removal of Distracting Thoughts' vitakka-santhāna see: M. 20 tr. in WHEEL 21.

References

Maha Thera Nyanatiloka. Manual of Buddhist Terms and Doctrines, Buddhist Publication Society, first edition 1952.